Should a kindergarden teacher assign homework 2 months in advance?

Question

My kindergardner received a packet of papers from her teacher. Each sheet is due on a different week from now until May 11. It is my responsibilty to hold onto this packet and give the homework to my daughter to do when its due.

Alot of this homework is for assignments she hasn't even learned yet, for instance the ones due at the end of April.

Should teachers do this?

Maybe I should add that my daughter goes to a private school and I pay $$$ for her education.

I don't see anything wrong with having the parents help a little but I am a busy person too. There are only 7 kids in her class.

Answer 1

It is a bit presumptuous of the teacher to do this, but it makes her job a bit easier by sending it all home at once. Tho' where I work, as you would expect the kids get a weekly packet on monday due back on friday in their little homework folders the teacher hands out the first day of school/first day of the child's attendance in class.
Obviously, she is putting a lot of faith in each family to keep track of papers for the kinders. But what about the few kids who have such hectic family life that these papers are going to get lost between now and then?? She's gonna have to reissue some packets or allow any kids who don't turn it in to get zeros....which is unfair and unreasonable. Are there any other kinder teachers? Do the other kinder teachers inthe school do it this way too? Maybe all you need to do is ask the teacher to change her policy. She can do homework how she wants it, but she should be flexible to another suggestion from parents too. Can't she make a box for the parents and make this packet available in a "mailbox" at the appropriate week? If she makes it part of her routine to pass it out monday when it's time to go home then it shouldn't be on her mind again until friday...other than absent students picking up work later in the week.
Good luck finding the solution. As another answer said, the teacher cannot ignore a dozen parents all asking the same question if you bring it up after dismissal one day soon.

Answer 2

In my professional opinion, she is putting all the responsibility on the parents to remember the assisgnments. The kindergarten child is not going to remember what is due and when. The teacher could very easily hand out one assignment for the weekend on Friday. This is what I do with my Weekend Science Homework. A paper is put in their bookbag dealing with a topic we studied that week. The parents know the paper is due the following Monday. I think your child's teacher is trying to make less work for herself by sending all the assignments at once. I wonder how she can guarantee that she will be teaching that assignment 4 weeks from now? Many things come up during a school week and I've had to rearrange my teaching day/schedule for unexpected assemblies/delays/snow days etc. Are the assignments suppose to be turned in each and every week? I wonder what percentage of the class actually turns in the papers.

Answer 3

Sending home weekly, monthly, or even quarterly "packets" is quite common.

A lot of parents appreciate them because it allows them to plan homework time according to the family's schedule (i.e. if there is a going to be a busy week, hw for the week can be completed on Sun. etc.). It doesn't matter that the pages at the end are for things she doesn't know yet, she'll know them by the time she gets to that week's work.

It is putting responsiblity on parents. BUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT!!!

And if you lose the packet, simply ask for another.

(My son is in K, and he has HW twice a week.)

Answer 4

Yes, this is just fine. This way, the teacher won't have to worry about numerous assignments getting lost on their way home. Also, you are now informed as to what your daughter is learning and when, so you are better prepared to fulfill your end of your kid's education. Many schools and teachers are doing this now, at many different grades, to get parents more involved with their kid's education (at least some schools near me).

Answer 5

Honestly, I don't think a kindergartner should have homework at all!

But to answer your question, as long as the child has learned the assignment before the homework due date I think it is okay. I don't like it, but think it's okay. You just can't let her try the homework assignment early since they may not have gone over the material in the classroom until then.

I do think that assigning the homework that far in advance is definitely burdensome on the parents. Now it is not only your daughter's homework but your homework as well, as you'll have to remember what day to have her do it and what day to turn it in.

Answer 6

it is ridiculous to give home work to such a small kid. In SKCH- B'lore, teachers never give any H.W. ( writing work) till III std. even during regular school time. Only interesting chart works, drawings/ colouring would be given. Still the school has produced students who have been very successful in thier professions.
So better change the school of yr kid . Let the baby enjoy its childhood.

Answer 7

Get used to it, you'll find a lot of your childs homework through middle school is really for you because its simply over their head.

Answer 8

Think of it like a workbook, where each week your child does another page out of the workbook, tears it out and hands it in.

Answer 9

THE TEACHER IS TRYING TO MAKE IT EASIER ON HIM/HER. THIS WAY THEY ALREADY HAVE IT AND THEY DO NOT HAVE TO REDISTRIBUTE IT LATER. IT'S NOT A BAD IDEA BEACUSE THEN THE CHILDREN WILL KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE SCHOOL YEAR. IT'S JUST KINDERGARTEN, LET'S RELAX. TEACHERS ARE WAY OVER WORKED AND UNDERPAID.

Answer 10

very strange I would speak to the teacher & ask WHY ??
I personally think that is TOO Much for a small child...