Why do children in 3rd grade get so much homework?

Question

My daughter just started 3rd grade. Ever since she was in Kindergarten, always in the Public School System, she was subjected to these "Reading Writing Workshops"! I don't mind they have some homework, but she also likes to play and there is so little as no time for it!! Do you agree?? She is stressed out!!

Well Luna: Math, Composing a story to a book she was assigned to read at home (she has to write 2 pages)!

Yes, every day, she gets these assignments. Her teacher says, this kind of homework shouldn't take her more than 20 minutes but I really sit down with her for almost 1 hour daily!

To cdragil8: Are you for real? I love them being in school and learning but I also stronly believe that they should have the right to be children and enjoy their family!

So far, Fixer hit the nail in the head. Yes, after my kids come home, they play for about one or and a half. They need to totally "unwind" from rules and books and school. I agree with Fixer's opinion 100%. Thank you!

Answer 1

For you misguided souls... Keep in mind that an excess of anything is NOT good for you. Education isn't what it used to be when we grew up in simpler times. Kindergarteners have homework, first grade stuff is being taught in preschool, and fourth graders learn the stuff they shouldn't learn until middle school. That's ridiculous. And there comes the cutbacks on recess and PE(and expect the children to sit still for ever long hours-if they can't do that, they solve it by drugging them-and how dare they blame child obesity rates when they ARE part of the problem), and standardized testing for second graders.

A child does not grasp logical reasoning until the ages of at least 6-7 before they should be introduced to formal education. And numerous studies agree that in the years before that, play and sensory is most important in development to begin logical reasoning. Now it's seem this stage is skipped altogether. And standardized testing is virtually child abuse for second graders as a medium "of knowing whether they can read and do math" as a excuse for overzealous educators. Sure, they might be the best in filling in bubbles, but can they learn and if so, are the tests accurate in any way other than testing memorization. Because anyone can memorize a bunch of stuff, color in bubbles, without the slightest hint of what actually's going on. It's virtually child abuse because those who can't handle the stress face emotional suffering and the fear and disgrace of failure. And get this, the teacher's manual for testing second graders explain how to clean vomit(kids throw up from stress) from the scantrons so they are readable. And they feel nothing but apathy for the poor child.

One of the reasons for the radical change for the worse in education is the whole concept of why test scores and performance remains low. And to supplement this deficiency, there comes the half-assedly thrown in one-size-fits-all policy known as No Child Left Behind that addresses not one bit on how to improve education for everyone, how to reform issues(overcrowding, maintenance, order) and being able to conform to various learning styles for the kids. As a result, schools have to do anything possible under unreasonable pressure and circumstance to boost their percentages. And they do this by either dumbing down the standards or setting the bar too high and loading kids up with homework.

The second big reason apart from the idiotic No Child Left Behind law is an increasingly competitive world. Now this I especially hate. An increasingly competitve world equals a just as competitive society on the home front. Thus, people are obsessed with achievement and work and the economy. Is the frenetic pace for the better? Absolutely not. With what people expect out of kids today, the US is still falling behind in education. And other countries don't repress or overload their kids' learning the way it's taking place here. You can come up with as many tests and as many cool hi-tech gadgets and incentives you want, but the only way to make education any better is to fix the problems such as poor funding, overcrowding, crime, maintenance, then teach BETTER, not MORE in a lighter but more consistent manner. If kids aren't liking it, they probably aren't going do it or do well. And this can have implications later in life. We overprotect our children nowadays(and even THAT can be a bad thing in not setting up the kids for the future to be risktakers), but we are incapable of protecting their emotional well being.

For the worse, unreasonable policies followed by competitiveness is unhealthy. In doing so, people become blinded because the issue doesn't reach them. Childhood is simply being forgotten, since God knows the people are all about 'maturity' and 'discipline' without setting a reasonable standard for the children's needs and natural activeness. Some people devote their entire lives and still don't get the status they want. The people with 4.0 and over GPAs? They might not even get into a college of their choice? That's how hard it is nowadays.

If this keeps up, eventually the schools will be more and more like a prison than a learning environment. Children who faced mental torture and stress will grow up to hate school, drop out, not get anywhere with their lives, and face a variety of psychological problems associated with their stress etched into their memory forever.

Childhood is short. Maturity is forever. Kids are active, they need to go out an run and play to be happy. So how do you cope with these times? Sometimes it's best not to try to please everyone's expectations. Or, reorg the priorities(a radical change to cope with radical zeal). As soon as child comes home, he/she can have the day completely to herself to do whatever she pleases. But in the evening hours it's time to do that homework since she wouldn't be out playing at night.

Since society has to always label and repress the weak, being a child is hard. And it only gets harder and overwhelming once it gets to high school.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

We had the same problem in 4th grade. It wasn't so much the grade level but more this particular 4th grade teacher who assigned quite a bit of homework every day. More than the other 4th grade teachers.

I think a reasonable amount of homework is fine. Spelling words, reading, a little math, but some teachers go too far.

Kids have to have time for activities, friends, and family. We struggled for that kind of down time! But we got through it. If anything, my daughter did learn how to prioritize her time and tasks better. So maybe some good will come out of it.

The 5th grade teacher has a much better balance. So, try to tough it out.

Answer 4

Homework For 3rd Graders

Answer 5

Odd.
I don't recall having a lot of homework in middle school and down.

What EXACTLY are their homework assignments?
The most I remember is when I got very sick & got behind.

EDIT: Wow. I read Fixer's answer.
& honestly, if that's how the world is becoming, we're either going to have a bunch of tight*sses or a bunch of kids who got sick of school.
I don't understand what you mean by compose a story.
Do you mean she reads something, then she has to make up her own story?
If so, ugh. I may have been a good writer back then, but not all kids are. I honestly hope her teacher doesn't expect a work of historical art (( my way of calling something great )) from your daughter.

Answer 6

I agree with you 100%. I think it is ridiculous the amount of homework they get. They are in school all day, they come home and do more work! There is little time to play, do any other activities, or just have time to chill out!!
It is absurd. I would talk to the teacher and/or principal. Tell them how stressed she is. They are taking the fun out of learning!

Answer 7

Could you be a little more specific on how much homework she's receiving? As an elementary teacher, I'm curious as to how much homework her teacher is giving her.

Edit: "2 page story"~ is that a one day assignment?? If so, yes, that does seem like a lot.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

children 3rd grade homework

Answer 10

I agree with you. Too much homework is unhealthy for children, especially young children. My oldest daughter (in grade 8) knows kids who have been in TOO many "learning" activities since they were in grade 1. They're in Kumon math, foreign language schools, you name it. All they do is their structured activities and their homework (which is considerable in middle school, especially). But we've noticed that most of them aren't particularly bright. And they're lacking imagination and energy. They're too exhausted to enjoy their childhood! Kids learn by playing, too, and kids need time to be with other kids and their families. Some parents homeschool their kids they get so fed up with all the homework. Some homework is fine, but can't the bulk of it wait until they're older? Or do we want them to become compulsive workaholics? If I were you, I'd speak to your daugher's teacher. She will scale down the homework for you. (This is what my next-door neighbour did, and it relieved a lot of unnecessary pressure from their child.) Good luck!

Answer 11

It is because the world of today demand us to get mature very earlier on and because the world requires a well taught society which can cope on their own at a much younger age.

I agree with each and everyone that this was not how things was done when we were their age. We had time to play and just be a kid. Now you have to learn with your child, because they learn things you did not learn at all in school.