Is It Just Me Or do Kids Now A days have more Homework.....?

Question

Then ever before my daughter is in the 1st grade and she has a ton of homework when I was little I never had That much Homework what do you think?

Answer 1

Absolutely! I remember I didn't have any homework till third grade growing up, and that was just a Bible verse to memorize.
My second grade daughter has a reasonable amount I feel, but I'd like her to have NONE. She should still be able to come home from all day of school and just chill.

Answer 2

Before my kids were old enough to attend school I always heard homework horror stories. Once my kids started school I was pleasantly surprised to find that they don't get tons of homework -My twins are in 1st grade - the only homework they have is every Monday they get their spelling word list - they have until Thursday to write 5 sentences using 5 of the spelling words. They have a spelling test once a week - and occasionally have reading homework, and an occasional math paper. To me, it's not a lot. They go to an excellent public school - there are maybe 20 kids per classroom. My other daughter is in 4th grade and I don't feel she gets a lot either.

Answer 3

We have this conversation at our house often! Kids do have more homework. The expectations of what kids know, state and federal testing, etc. is much greater than it was even 10 years ago. No Child Left Behind (NCLB) has increased the need for teachers (even at first grade) to teach to standards and tests, in order to make "Adequate Yearly Progress" (AYP). There are lots of state and federal dollars attached to the whole thing. Teachers don't have the same amount of time to cover the basics, so the need for homework has increased substantially. I remember learning to read in first grade - now first graders are expected to be able to read. If it is too much for you and your child to do at home (and sometimes, it really is!), talk to your child's teacher about the expectations and the benefits. We struggled when my son was that age - homework packets came home on Monday, and were due on Friday, but with activities during the week, there wasn't time left over. I talked to the teachers, and the packets started coming home on Friday, giving us a weekend to do some of it. It really helped to have a few extra days. Good luck!

Answer 4

I never had homework in elementary school and had little in junior high/high school. In elementary at the most it was a partially completed math worksheet or some spelling words to practice.

Students are getting more and more homework these days because the schools are focusing on standardized testing scores more than actual learning. So I guess our children will be able to fill in circles but won't know anything about the real world...

Answer 5

I dont think its just you,I am almost 50 and we had at homework that lasted almost to bedtime.We usually had to read a chapter in every subject and then take the test at the end of the chapter.Not including the studing for an upcoming exam.We used to carry at least 5 or 7 books home each night.Its tough,but just remember,it doesnt last forever and study as hard as you can,you will thank yourself years down the road.Good luck and keep up the good work!!

Answer 6

Yes, they have much more homework these days. I only had about 2 hours of homework each night in elementary school, but when in middle school I had 4-5 hours of it each night. In high school, I had 7-8 hours of it, which was a royal pain in the a**. I'm in college now and I don't work nearly as hard as I did when I was a teenager.

Answer 7

Things have changed considerably since you were in 1st grade. Take a look at what you are messaging on. When I was in 1st grade computers were HUGE and there was no way anyone had them in their homes! Televisions with remotes were few and far between and the remotes were about as big as a T.V. guide, they were only black and white too. When I was in 1st grade a "music disc" was a flat piece of grooved vinyl with a hole in the middle of it, you placed this piece of vinyl on a "turntable" and an "arm" with a needle attached that made the music...1st graders today are a lot smarter than they were even 10 years ago...Frankly I think they can handle it.

Answer 8

It is both the parents and the kids that have more homework. My 2 boys bring home something every day for me to do or sign to verify that they did it. the schools are getting tougher on parents than they did back in the day to be involved in the learning process. But isn't that why we send them to school? Hey I heard some schools in CA have banned homework. They say it's too much work for school aged kds to have to deal with homework and home life. and I agree completely.

Answer 9

When I was in 1st grade back in the mid-70s, I would not do my work in class so I could bring it home and have "homework" like the "big kids." It had nothing to do with my ability; I was just the youngest of the big kids before my brother, who is 4 years younger than me. Talk to her teacher. Make sure she's not doing something like this.

Answer 10

The United States is trying to make up for its perceived lack of competition with countries like Japan and Germany. Our tests scores are lacking, so school districts think the answer to is pile on homework and take away recess. Studies show, however, that students who are allowed to take a break and get exercise before starting up with work again are better able to concentrate and learn. Even Japan and Germany know that.