Home work for a 6yr old

[*Efjay*]

Does this seem like a normal amount of home work for Kindy?

Evan has a little book for reading each week that also has words from that story he then has to read & we tick if he got it right. There are 8 words.
Then he has about 12 more words that he needs to look,cover & write.
These are done each night. He also has a Number for the week which has a few activities on the page that he works on through the week.

Its just this week that he has come home with so many more words. Last term he has about 5 words to look, cover & write. Now he has 20 words to work on.
He is really struggling to stay interested & focused on what he is doing.

Also with the readers he brings home, he isn't reading them he just remembering the story. He shoot through it often just saying what he thinks it says but not looking at it.
He isn't learning to read this way..

DH has been sitting with him every few days reading books like 10 apples up on top, or Hop on pop etc. Evan can read these books well (for a 6yr old)

What is the normal method of teaching to read at school?

Does his amount of homework seem alot?

[Lovenhope]

hi Fiona,

I am a primary school teacher & can only go by what I have given out for kindy homework. All the homework sounds normal, except the 12 extra words. That sounds a little steep. What kind of words are they? Sound families (rhyming words) or sight words (everyday words- mum, home, play school ..)

I have a few questions about the book:
Does it have a level or colour on it? How many words on a page?

To stop him from memorising the story, place a counter under each word. Ask him to touch the counter as he reads the word. This will make sure he is reading the words that appear on the page (not more or less).

If he is reading the sentence. for example;

'The girl played int he park'

You can ask questions like:

Can you find the word park?
Can you find the word that starts with 'g'?
Find a word that has a capital letter. What is it?
Also,
you can write the sentence. chop up the words and get him to put it back together?

Hope this helps. If you are still not sure, make an appointment with his teacher.

[canberramomma]

Seems pretty normal to me. We have a home reader every night that we have to record. Then once a week, we have a homework sheet of words (about 5-7) that we have to make sentences out of and find words in, plus we have to do various numeracy exercises.

It's too much in my opinion. Kids spend 5 hours a day at school. They shouldn't have to come home and do more!

[Junglemum]

Wow, i don't remember any homework except reading until at least grade 4. It seems push, push, push with kids these days.

I totally agree canberramumma, 5 hours is enough!

Not that you asked my opinion FJ! Just felt like giving it.

[*Efjay*]

hi Fiona,

I am a primary school teacher & can only go by what I have given out for kindy homework. All the homework sounds normal, except the 12 extra words. That sounds a little steep. What kind of words are they? Sound families (rhyming words) or sight words (everyday words- mum, home, play school ..)

They are rhyming words.

I have a few questions about the book:
Does it have a level or colour on it? How many words on a page?

Its a photo copy of the book so no level or colour on it. The ones he has atm are 3 lines with about 8 to 9 simple words on each page.

To stop him from memorising the story, place a counter under each word. Ask him to touch the counter as he reads the word. This will make sure he is reading the words that appear on the page (not more or less).

If he is reading the sentence. for example;

'The girl played int he park'

You can ask questions like:

Can you find the word park?
Can you find the word that starts with 'g'?
Find a word that has a capital letter. What is it?
Also,
you can write the sentence. chop up the words and get him to put it back together?

Hope this helps. If you are still not sure, make an appointment with his teacher.

These are great idea's & I iwll try this.

DH is kinda obsessed about Evan learning to read. DH could read before school. (Mind you I am wondering exactly at what level, but who do you ask, His proud mother or DH who would only really remember what he was told KWIM?)
So I think DH is putting a little bit of pressure on Evan to learn & is worrying about why he isn't picking it up as fast as he did. Even though I have reminded him that while he may have been boy wonder as a child, I was in reading groups to help till yr 5.

I probably will try & make a time to speak with is teachers (he has 2) as there are alot of things we have no idea how we are meant to help him with it at home. we are kinda lost LOL

[maz]

Also with the readers he brings home, he isn't reading them he just remembering the story. He shoot through it often just saying what he thinks it says but not looking at it.
He isn't learning to read this way..

that is defently not normal reading Fiona...it is exactly what Wilhelm did until I taught him to tell me certain things in the book....get him CHECKED OUT woman!!!

as for the words...I think that is exessive...maybe he is proving to be a great student in his spelling at school and the teacher is trying to push him....which doesnt make sence in the reading department.

id personally call a meeting with the principal and voice my concerns....dont be stitting there and saying

but maz the thing is

you have to do something now before its to late and he gets into the groove of skimming over stuff to get through school.

AND GET HIM CHECKED by a pead!

[mum3girls]

As a primary school teacher as well, I'd say it's a fairly normal homework load - but I do wonder about the jump from 5 words to 20? Maybe the teacher is trying to extend him? (Though I would have expected that there would have been some communication sent home explaining if that was the case.)

Maz and FJ, just so you know, memorising the story is a normal reading development stage, but it is important to encourage your child to move beyond that stage - to talk about what's on the page, letter and sight word recognition, how characters might be feeling, how he/she feels about the book, etc. I'm not trying to dismiss your concerns Maz, just wanted to point out that it is a valid reading development stage, and this in itself is normal - most children do it. If you are concerned FJ, I would definitely recommend making sure you have an open dialogue with the staff at your son's school and, if you are concerned with his development, also child health professionals.

Another thought, don't stress too much about homework at this age, it's more about enjoyment and getting into the habit of doing it - as well as a little bit of reinforcing what's going on in school - for your son's benefit and yours. If you can encourage a positive attitude towards homework now - it will set a great foundation for the future.

How long is he spending on his homework per night? At that age, the expectation would be maybe 5 mins, 10 max. And if need be you can space that out, maybe do his reader, have a break, then his words or number sheet.

HTH.

[~clover~]

Hi FJ.
I haven't read all the reply posts yet. Will do in the morning.

Jaz is in year 1.
She has about 15 - 20 words for look, cover, write, check.
She has a few maths questions & a few other things. Usually an A4 page of activities & sometimes some writing as well.
Then her reading. Sometimes its only one book, sometimes two.
Maybe you should talk to his teacher about his reading. Jaz was having alot of trouble, but they got her some assistance & now she's blitzing them. I am amazed at how well she's doing.
Some weeks she doesn't do it all, but its more coz instead of doing it she lies & says she's done it to go play. I usually catch her out, but once in a while she'll come to me on a Friday morning coz she hasn't finished it all.
Unfortunately I've spoken to her teacher about our issues, so she expects this sometimes & gets Jaz to do it on the verandah at lunch. It gives her a bit more incentive to get it done at home.
Sometimes I think it is too much, but I guess if every other kid is keeping up, we should be able to as well.

Though I do remember at the start of the year when we were told 10 minutes of reading & 15 minutes of homework a night. It takes her at least 15 minutes to do her words. So I don't know if she's just dawdling or its more than it should be.

[*Efjay*]

Maz, I do hear you, trust me, BUT lol I will talk it over with the school counsellor when I hear back from her.

Mum3girls, You know I think it takes about 30 minutes now to get his homework done.
Last term, yeah 10 min max. But now its ages. Its hard to break it up as its hard to motivate him to do it in the first place & with 2 (almost 3) other little kids & dinner etc to get ready also its hard to come back to it once you stop.
DH normally does the homework with him when he comes home. DH is a bit better with him for those things. Has more patience & probably a better approach then me. But on the nights DH isn't home till 7 I try & get it done with him.
Its hard, he is home by 4.30 (if he catches the bus home, current novelty which I am sure will wear off soon enough) then home work isn't really being worked on till about 5.30 ish as really, the poor kid just walked in the door! The last thing he is interested in doing is more school work, so I am ok with him not doing it straight away.
But on the days I am helping him, its hard to keep the other little ones away so Evan can concentrate on what he is doing. They literally climb on the table etc to watch, grab his pencil etc.

With his reader. There are 3 groups in his class from what I have been told by one of the mums who helps with the reading is Evan is in lowest of the 3. So why he would be bring home more then others is beyond me. I would hate to see what the kids in the highest group get.

I am trying to set a good homework thing for him. I was bad for homework as a kid so I don;t want to be like my mum doing it for him at the last minute (Yes my mum did a whole assignment for me once in yr 6, the night before it was due. god love her)

Getting him to read the reader book thing is hard. He isn't interested AT ALL in doing that. So this is why he rushes over it & doesn't really read the pages. He even says he read it at school so why read it again?
I really don't think they are an effective way of teaching him to read. Yes ok it may be what all kids do, memorising the words that go with that page etc but I think it would be much more effective to have him making sentences with words that we can change every day. So say he still has a set selection of words each week but then rather having a simple story he will just remember, having word cards we can make into things. KWIM?

Blah.... its soooo hard being a parent of school age kids!

[mum3girls]

Getting him to read the reader book thing is hard. He isn't interested AT ALL in doing that. So this is why he rushes over it & doesn't really read the pages. He even says he read it at school so why read it again?
I really don't think they are an effective way of teaching him to read. Yes ok it may be what all kids do, memorising the words that go with that page etc but I think it would be much more effective to have him making sentences with words that we can change every day. So say he still has a set selection of words each week but then rather having a simple story he will just remember, having word cards we can make into things. KWIM?

Repetition is actually really important in early reading development. I know it can get a bit frustrating, but you can make it fun as well. Maybe play games, get him to find a specific word on the page, find a word that rhymes with .... (fill in the blank), find as many words that have a specific letter in them. Take turns reading with him, get him to make up his own story to go along with the pictures. (Sorry, my brain's running in slow motion tonight , I can come up with more suggestions tomorrow if you want?)

[*Efjay*]

Well this homework thing isn't getting easier, We are going to talk to his teacher. Its taking over half an hour (an hour tonight) to get it done. Evan is stressing out. DH is stressing out ( I think he is making it worse to be honest).
I told DH that the rule from now on is once Evan is getting beyond frustrated then stop & that it for the day. Even if there is stuff left. But DH is worried about him getting behind. But I am worried about homework becoming a terrible **** fight each night to get it done.

The other kids are missing out on time with Dad, everyone is stressed out by the end of it all. Bed time goes stupid because Evan is all worked up. Its just stupid.

Also, this week his home work pages didn't look the same as usual so again Evan freaked out because he thinks it was just read & a tick for getting the word right but we think its the same read, cover, write check as in previous weeks. But He totally lost the plot worrying he was doing it wrong & would get into trouble.

I really don't like my 6 year old stressing out so much over the bloody word Wet!

[Lovenhope]

You poor thing. That is not what homework should be about. If I could choose what homework is given I would definitely cut it back. I think reading is the only priority. I think talking to the teacher is a great idea. I would love to hear her comments.

It sounds like there could be a clash between DS and DH. what is he like when you do the homework with him.

Good luck!

[AliBaby]

Oh you poor thing. It should definitely not be a stressful thing for your family and im sure your son's teacher doesnt mean it to be stressful for you guys.

Here are a couple of my suggestions as a kindergarten teacher:

I think it might be an idea to go back to focusing on his sound knowledge and the sight words. Sight words are learnt from memory but he will l need to know all his sounds to be able to attack unfamiliar words and sound them out. If he is having trouble with this then I would go back to the basics with him.

In regards to the battle with homework. Try a reward chart on the Fridge at home. If he sits down and does 10minutes a night then he gets a sticker for the day. If he gets a sticker each day then he gets something special at the end of the week.

Does your son like computer games?? If he does like the computer I can give you a list of computer games related to reading that he could try out to help him along.

The homework amount is a little excessive. I set my kindy kids a sound a week and they find pics from magazines that start with the sound, sight words (minimum 3, maximum 5 a week). they used to just copy them out. Now they write sentences with them (as they can actually write more now) and a maths sheet. they also have 2 readers for the week.

I also reward my class when they bring there homework in by giving them a smilie for our lucky dip on Fridays.

It is a great idea to stop when he is getting stressed as it wont be worthwhile doing when it gets to that point. Try and get a routine that maybe he comes home and plays/watches tv and at 5pm he stops and sits at the dining room table and does 10minutes of homework. Kids work well with routines as they know what is expected of them.

The games others have suggested are great ideas as well. You can pretend to be book detectives and search out letters/words/full stops, etc.

Good luck FJ. Thinking of you guys.

[*Efjay*]

Dh is actually better with him with the home work. I tend to get annoyed faster. But DH is also a little obsessed I think about him learning to read so rather then putting a dot & moving on to the next word he has to read he sits & makes him do it till he gets it. Not in a mean nasty way, but he will sit & encourage him to sound it out etc. DS usually (eventually) gets it. But I think he is spending too much time working on each word.

We do need to be more strict with the routine. But DH isn't home at a set time each day so it makes it hard.

Rewards for homework I don't think will work well. He is at a stage where he "Doesn't care!!" So I know if I was to say do this blah blah & get that, if he doesn't want to do it, he will just say I don't care. He is a spoilt brat at times LOL!

He loves computer games. So yes any suggestions there would be great!

[Lovenhope]

I would definitely make an appointment to see the teacher. If he is taking a long time to read each word, then the book is too hard. That would explain why he is frustrated & not enjoying what he is reading. I would drop him back to easier books until his confidence is lifted and reading is less stressful. He will get there

[*Efjay*]

I think it smore the books are boring LOL. He can read the sme sort of words in normal kids books we have at home. Just isn't interested in reading these things that come home. they are plan & boring.

This is a store, a shoe store. This shop sells shoes.

Just an example from this weeks book

[AliBaby]

A program called reading eggs is great and your son might be interested in it. Check out Segment Publishing : Design.Develop.Host or look it up on google for a great learn to read program. This program is funa nd has great games teaching children to read.

I will let you know some more as well, but this one I know works really well.

[*Efjay*]

great, will book mark that for sure.