I have a seven year old daughter that is in the 2nd grade. She is very smart, loves to read, and loves school!she recieved nothing but straight A's since she has been in school. My problem is she started 2nd grade a week ago, and not only has my daughter told me that her teacher is very mean, she gets up to EIGHT homework assignments a night. She spends almost three hours doing her work! I think it is way too much! I will be meeting her soon, how do I bring this issue up without offending her.Also she told me that her gym teacher says that they do exercise "to loose weight"!! That is just wrong. She attends a great school, but I can't just let this stuff go!! Thanks for your help!!
2006-09-12 10:30:46 · 20 answers · asked by Jm 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
Yikes! On the "lose weight" comment! That is just WRONG and I can't believe the gym teacher is telling kids that! WOW!
As for the homework, I'd suggest that you ask the teacher how much time she expects that kids be spending on homework each night. In second grade, 3 hours is INSANE! Is it taking that long because the work is that difficult or is she not focusing and getting it done? I think second grade is supposed to be about 30 mins per night of homework here. That's about what my 2nd grader's G/T teacher expects out of her kids.
DO NOT go to the principal before you talk to the teacher. Doing so could put you in an adversarial relationship with the teacher. Have a non-confrontational discussion with the teacher first. (How would you like it if someone went to your boss on an issue before talking to you about it?)
2006-09-12 15:40:12 · answer #1 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell the teacher that your daughter is spending almost three hours a night doing homework, and ask if that is what is expected in the class. If the teacher says it should not take that long, ask for the teacher's help for suggestions to get your child better organized so that she can do the work more efficiently. If the teacher says that is normal, just say thank you, you appreciate knowing that that is what the teacher is expecting. Then your next stop would be the principal's office. Ask the principal if the school is expecting 2nd graders to spend 3 hours doing homework. Then you might want to find out if other parents have a problem with that.
2006-09-12 17:40:54 · answer #2 · answered by rollo_tomassi423 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Calmly explain that you feel the homework is excessive. Ask why
so much work is assigned as homework. If the teacher doesn't
give you an answer that you can accept then set up a meeting with the school principal and the teacher. As for the gym class,
I would express your disapproval on the choice of words. Make a request that the P.E. coach use words like staying healthy, or
building strong bodies instead of losing weight. As a parent
you have the right to stop homework if you feel it is too excessive.
Just send a note along with the homework explaining why you stopped your child from doing all of it. Good luck.
2006-09-12 17:43:35 · answer #3 · answered by Precious Gem 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a daughter the same age and I think the most important thing you need to do is to talk to her teacher and build a relationship.
Is it that your daughter is not completing the assignments in the allotted time in school, or is everyone getting this much homework? If you still have problems with the teacher giving out too much homework make an appointment to talk with the principal. If you have been involved with your daughters school since kindergarten you should be able to have an open and honest conversation with the school administration.
As far as the gym teacher, I would probably schedule an appointment with him/her to find out if this is what she is saying, and reinforce to her that at such a young age you are not trying to warp your daughters self image (we get enough of that from TV and magazines.)
If all else fails, as great as the school is you may need to switch schools to do what is best for you and your daughter.
Good Luck
2006-09-12 23:02:43 · answer #4 · answered by zachandsierrasmom25 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask the teacher how long it SHOULD take to do the homework assignments, and if they are all due the next day. My niece is in 3rd grade and gets several homework assignments, but they are usually given a couple of days to complete them. I would talk to the gym teacher about the comment. It is not good to say something like that because too many kids (Not just girls) have eating disorders because of all of the negative attitudes towards a healthy body weight. Supermodels are not healthy! Tell your daughter that exercise is important for keeping fit.
2006-09-12 17:37:15 · answer #5 · answered by Ryan's mom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're doing the right thing--doing YOUR homework. ;) A co-worker had a similar problem in that her 5th grader was being given 3 hours of homework. The teacher said it only took that long because she wasn't focusing on it and works slowly anyway. I'm sorry, but even at an hour and a half it's still too much, if you ask me.
I found at least one web site that says a 2nd grader should only have 20 minutes of homework:
http://www.homeworkhotline.com/TeachersGuideAssignanappropriateamount.htm. There might even be some more information there, but this is your homework, not mine. ;)
I might also add that as a secretary, we were doing a 3-day meeting where I had to take minutes. Long meetings aren't a bad thing for the attendees because attention fades in and out depending on what applies to them, but the secretary has to listen to and note everything! My boss' wife had been a court reporter for 25 years and on my behalf she threatened him if he didn't break every 90 minutes. That's the maximum even an adult can focus in a single stretch without strain.
I hope you find this helpful.
2006-09-12 17:42:04 · answer #6 · answered by misslabeled 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My son is also in the 2nd grade-he gets only 1 sheet a night to do unless there is make-up work or he needs to redo something. I would just ask her about it-your not going to get any answers beating around the bush. Parents need to be involved. If she doesn't give you an answer or one that you are still concerned about, have a meeting with the building principal. Also let the gym teacher know your concerns-she needs to say to stay in shape. Or perhaps she ment some people do to lose weight and it came out wrong.
2006-09-12 17:41:31 · answer #7 · answered by tea1894 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Oh wow, both of your school headaches are way out of line. I dealt with a teacher who gave ridiculous amount of homework to my third grader and I was honest and blatant. I basically explained that while I wanted my child to succeed in school, a HUGE part of success is the result of passion, and she was inadvertently stifling that passion for both my child and I! I told her I felt any homework (outside of a special project) that consumed more than an hour and half was too much. I explained that my family was important to me and our little rituals whether playing a game, watching a program on TV, or reading, we had to have time to connect at the end of every night because NOTHING, including her third grade agenda was more important. The teacher backed off and actually vented herself about how difficult the school systems were making teachers jobs these days. Long story short, she told me to have Maddie do as much as she could in an hour and call it done. I won. (And she and I got along splendidly afterward.)
As far as the gym teacher...I would give that person a piece of mind, privately.
2006-09-12 17:47:22 · answer #8 · answered by lovemcss 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Students are only supposed to get 10 minutes of homework per grade level, meaning your daughter should only be getting 20 minutes. Talk with her teacher by being open and honest. If she is a good teacher she will acknowledge what you have said and will accommodate you. If talking to her teacher does not change anything, then I would talk to the principal and to the other parents of the students in her class and take action from there. More than one voice can say alot!
2006-09-12 17:40:38 · answer #9 · answered by gel 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a substitute teacher, I can confidently say that this is an appropriate time to contact the principal. You have your child's best interest at heart and don't want any personal biases to get in the way.
By calling the principal, you can comfortably discuss your concerns without feeling pressure to "hold back". You are not trying to report the teacher, you just want to understand the issues of homework load and the "hardcore" workouts in gym class.
Bless you for coming forward!
2006-09-12 18:56:00 · answer #10 · answered by joe_on_drums 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋