https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:49:38 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2860709 Thu, 06 Dec 2018 16:46:17 +0000 Becky 2860709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: So we had our parent teacher meeting today and I didn't ask if the math homework was something required by the district, but I did ask about these packets of worksheets that get sent home which DD sometimes skips parts of or scribbles over. I frame it basically as "is this a concern," and the teacher said "I'm not big on worksheets, so they're doing other stuff at the table like number blocks and I tell them if they don't finish it they could work on it at home if they wanted to." I did garner from the meeting that all of these worksheets and booklets they do are required by the district. I'll definitely check out the video later--thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2860689 Thu, 06 Dec 2018 15:23:44 +0000 Pollywog 2860689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Becky: I wanted to follow up on this thread to share a documentary that just came out that talks about why this type of learning really isn't ideal developmentally. You might want to share it with your teacher as a discussion point. She might not realize that there are other ways to hit her objectives.</p> <p><a href="https://youtu.be/fdvdfB_7838" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/fdvdfB_7838</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2858332 Mon, 26 Nov 2018 04:54:53 +0000 Becky 2858332@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Elizabear: This is what I’m thinking is probably going on—that it’s something required and standards-based so the teacher has little-no control. We have done the homework all but once and my daughter actually does it on her own most of the time, but I guess what I don’t love is he new standard. Thanks for the teacher perspective! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2858294 Sun, 25 Nov 2018 15:44:01 +0000 Elizabear 2858294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a kindergarten teacher! We are required to assign it and I try to be as flexible as possible. Four worksheets go home on Monday and are due Friday. Homework is what connects parents to school. It is how you can see daily if the concept/skill comes easily to your child or needs extra practice. Doing homework with your child reinforces the message that schoolwork is important. My 12 years of experience has taught me that when parents and teachers are both reinforcing the importance of following rules and trying your best makes the most successful students! If your child is struggling with number writing, you most definitely should be doing the number writing homework as assigned and probably more! Yes, the standard is much more than we were expected to do at that age but the standard is not going to change so extra practice is needed. Kids don't just develop into being able write numbers and letters correctly. The develop into being ready to be taught. The work you put into it now will pay off! I promise! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2857749 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 18:28:36 +0000 Mrsbells 2857749@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Becky: how long does it take to do? If it takes longer than 15 mins then I would think its too much to have for daily homework </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2857738 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 16:49:03 +0000 irene 2857738@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS was in kindergarten last year, I don't remember we had math work sheets, but there were language arts work sheets and it was once a week, and we had the weekend to do it.</p> <p>I'd talk to the teacher about it, I also always thought it is unnecessary to give out homework at kindergarten. People don't do homework until 2nd or 3rd grade in Europe, and all is well. Kids need to play, but that's just me.</p> <p>In terms of time management, I do want to say there will be increased homework onwards... so next year or the year after, you will still get home after your child's bedtime and he/she may not be done with homework....etc. Something to start thinking about :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2857715 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 15:41:53 +0000 looch 2857715@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: This is an excellent point...I often have to remind myself that not everyone is at the same level when it comes to parenting. Some parents are doing hands on activities, some are doing nothing and the majority probably fall in the middle and do the worksheets.</p> <p>I always talk to my son's teacher, and if needed, the administration. I find it very easy to call the principal or the literacy specialist to discuss supports if I am so referred by the teacher.</p> <p>Do you know if the entire grade is giving the same homework? I know this is how it works at my son's school...regardless of ability, the same package went out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2857709 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 15:27:29 +0000 kiddosc 2857709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Becky: I think you can have a discussion with the teacher without telling her how to do her job. Saying "worksheets are not an effective tool for kindergarten" is your opinion, not a fact and closes off the opportunity for discussion on the topic. Ask her why she is assigning homework to the class, and what she hopes they will get from it. I see value in worksheets and also see how it's difficult to complete them with your schedule. I don't see value in sending home a coloring page. I would try to figure out what the teacher is hoping the kids will get from the homework, and present to her that it is difficult to fit it in and explain that your child is not getting those effects because it is rushed but that you are exposing her to these concepts in real life. </p> <p>Another POV to consider is that while your family introduces these concepts in real life, that won't be the case for all families. Sometimes this homework is a tool to get parents to interact with their children's learning. The teacher has to take that into consideration when deciding a path forward for the class as a whole. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2857692 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 14:40:53 +0000 Becky 2857692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: She does usually get it done before I get home. Like on Mondays my SIL gets her off the bus and does it with her. Some days she’ll do it on the bus. It’s getting more complicated though so she hasn’t been doing it solo necessarily as of late. I feel like we haven’t gotten as much in the past week. But we do get these worksheets or packets of worksheets home from school that drive me crazy. She gets these little booklets where it’s basically a coloring book and I’m not sure what the teacher support to go along with it is, but I can tell she rushes through it just to get it done (like, she can color very nicely but in these things she just colors the entire picture one color and is all out of the lines). I’d say she probably brings home 4 worksheets per day (including 1 page homework). It seems like a lot to me. </p> <p>Side note, I was talking to her teacher the other night at a neighborhood dinner (it’s just a group of 4 families with same age kids), and we didn’t do a deep dive but she as saying how one of the challenges with teaching is that so many parents want to tell you how to do your job. I’m not sure how to juggle that—I didn’t say anything about all the worksheets and I’ll wait until parent teacher conferences to hear about what she thinks academically, but even then, how would I say “worksheets are not an effective teaching tool for kindergarteners” after she was just talking about not wanting people to tell her how to do her job? Its additionally awkward that we’re friends now—we met a month before finding out she’d be our daughters teacher and I do really like her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2857668 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 13:26:58 +0000 Anagram 2857668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Becky: I'm going to sidestep your larger homework question (because I have some gripes/complaints about my own kindergarten daughter's homework, and still we've been doing it, so I don't have any great solutions for you there)--but just curious, where is your child while you are at work? Who has her after school on a night like last night when you got home at bedtime?</p> <p>Whether or not I think homework for K is okay/not okay, I realize that you obviously can't supervise homework when you work and get home late. I also don't think the last hour before bed is a good time for homework. But can't your partner/the babysitter/the aftercare program supervise the homework and make sure it's done before you are home?</p> <p>I posted earlier about not liking the homework my K daughter is getting--I still don't like it. Sometimes it seems more like "mommy's homework" since I get home at 4:30 and I am typically the one supervising homework while I make dinner. Like last night was a craft activity that needed parental help and I imagined most of the parents doing this craft for their kids, and that just seems silly to me in this day and age when most families have two working parents. But, we did it--I squelched my perfectionist urge to get involved and let my daughter do it, messy glue and popsicle sticks and everything. Her final product looked like a hot mess, but I totally don't care.</p> <p>One other thing--although I'm in the "no homework for under 3rd grade" camp, my husband is pro homework, which is why we've been doing the homework thus far. ONE small silver lining of the worksheet homework is that by supervising her work, I've caught some writing mistakes that I might not know about otherwise--she used to write her lowercase a's correctly, but the other day while I watched her do her homework, I noticed her writing it wrong every time (like not starting at the top of the letter), so that gave me an opportunity to correct that--I doubt her teacher has time at school to watch her write each letter. But I don't love ignoring my 3 year old while I cook dinner to supervise/help my 5 year old with worksheets almost every night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2857665 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 13:18:02 +0000 Alba4 2857665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is in K, and generally doesn’t have HW. Every day B (of a 6 day cycle) he has show and tell. We have to write down 3 things about his item. He loves to write and therefore demands to write his own sentences, which takes a good 20-30 minutes. It’s annoying and time consuming, but he is proud of what he does. We also have random projects ( we had to put together a family poster with pictures and decorations). He had to be prepared to describe his family and the pictures.</p> <p>I teach middle school Spanish(grades 5-7) and I’ve really lightened the amount of homework I assign. I try not to give any task that takes more than 10-15 min and I try to make it useful or have them make a study material. </p> <p>I’ve read that 10 min/grade level is appropriate. (None in K, 10 in 1st, 20 in 2nd, etc). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2857661 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 12:51:36 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2857661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m a HS teacher in a family of elementary teachers. My son is in L and they have no HW. Worksheets are not good for learning and it bugs me whenever I see them sent home. If I was in your situation I would talk about it during the conferences. My entire goal of schooling for my son is for him to not start to dislike any aspect of school. Forced worksheet he for really young children does not inspire a love of learning. We often do silly math problems with the lights out right before bed...because he wants to...much more beneficial (and sounds like what you’re already doing). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2856837 Thu, 15 Nov 2018 08:18:45 +0000 Mama Bird 2856837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't ignore it completely, but wouldn't stress over it. Other kids are presumably doing the homework, so she may left out if she doesn't.</p> <p>We got very similar homework in K and I don't remember it taking very long. But DS has been doing homework since 3 (mixed-age group in day care) so the idea wasn't new. He did complain non-stop that the math is easier than what he did in pre-K, but I couldn't help him much there - hard to squeeze in extra lessons when you get home after 7 PM. They did a few new concepts after the middle of the year though, so he wasn't quite as full of complaints. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2856836 Thu, 15 Nov 2018 08:12:05 +0000 Maysprout 2856836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When my daughter started Kindergarten, she was still taking naps so the adjustment was pretty big for her. She wasn’t getting enough running around time at school so she was a mix of exhausted and wild. Then they had lots of homework. The one good thing about her homework was that they usually just had a chunk that was due by Friday so we could work on it when we wanted. We had a lot going on her K year so occasionally if they sent a worksheet home they wanted the next day, we wouldn’t get to it. Usually it came back until she did it, but teacher said she was fine with that arrangement.</p> <p>We had a bunch of K on our street that year, one mom was super anti-homework and just let her kid pick and choose if and how he did his work (meaning it often wasn’t done), one mom HELPS (meaning she often did the work for her kid), some are super type A and everything is by the book. None of that has seemed to matter much from what I’ve seen, all the kids are at a fairly similar level and where they differ has been apparent since they were in pre-school. But all the parents are involved and concerned about their kids education and they go to a good public school, so when the kids are falling behind on something it’s quickly picked up on by either parents or teachers, and that’s what seems to matter. No 5 year old is learning anything of substance for 10 hours a day by sitting in a classroom. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2856832 Thu, 15 Nov 2018 07:18:27 +0000 annem1990 2856832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Former primary teacher here.<br /> I did 1 year of K and then several of 1st.<br /> The research on this topic is completely mixed. There is evidence to support both sides. Although my school did not give homework in K, I'm really not against it and see the benefits. At this age, more than anything it's so important for parents to have interest and practice concepts with their child. While I have no doubt you are doing this regardless, there are lots of parents who don't. A simple 5-10 minute worksheet a couple of times a week can do wonders for "forcing" parents to invest a little time in their kid's education. Not every parent/child needs that, but you of course can't single anyone out. It's definitely not going to hurt and it can give parent's insights into how their child is performing independently.</p> <p>I now teach English to Chinese kids online. Wow their schooling is different. Even in primary, they go to school for 10 hours/day and some Saturdays. They have TONS of homework, lessons, etc. Compared to much of eastern Asia, we have very little schooling. These countries do tend to score better on standardized testing because of the huge emphasis on education. I remember a post a while back about why the US has worse test scores. Of course there isn't one answer, but the countries who score higher have much more rigorous academics and a lot less time for fun. I guess this is a long winded way to say "You can't have your cake and eat it too." :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2856822 Thu, 15 Nov 2018 03:39:13 +0000 808love 2856822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do both. Home math stuff and school math stuff. Life is like that. Jobs are like that. Some things you do bc you want to and some things you do because you have to. It is not uncommon for a kindergartener to go through adjustments. You can give the teacher, school and child support by not second guessing school procedures in front of your young child. When they get older and can advocate, that is a different story. You need to help build a child’s trust in the place they are at without you. You can meet with teacher and question them to their face, privately and tactfully, if you feel the need. So yes,put your energy toward helping your child adjust. If you know it is wrong, you will know. But don’t just act on fear and temporary difficulty. Build resilience and try to see the logic. I don’t give much math homework but a lot of research says to encourage bringing up knowledge in brain repeatedly for retention. That is what homework is for, to help reinforce what is learned. Rule of thumb is 10 mins of HW plus 20 mins of reading per day for kinder. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2856801 Wed, 14 Nov 2018 21:53:19 +0000 katsupgirl 2856801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a 1st grader currently. Last year she had packets of homework that were due the following week. I’m not a huge fan of busy work but we did it and didn’t stress if she missed a couple of pages. </p> <p>My reasons for doing homework are:<br /> 1) it’s something they have to get used to doing and like @Foodnerd81: I don’t want to send the wrong message.<br /> 2) I don’t want to put my DD in an awkward spot at school by not doing it. </p> <p>It’s such a tricky situation trying to balance it all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2856798 Wed, 14 Nov 2018 21:22:10 +0000 SproutBee 2856798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Fellow Kindergarten mom here. Disclaimer that my kid attends Catholic school. I know the local public school has a no-homework policy for Kinder. I think they just encourage daily reading. Our catholic school started homework after about 1-2 months into Kinder. It’s usually 1 writing worksheet and 1 math worksheet Monday through Thursday. Plus we have weekly sight words and weekly beginner reading books to practice. It is a lot. I admit, I don’t like the nightly worksheets and mostly wish we didn’t have them. Since it is required though, I try to see the positive - it gives me a chance to both be aware of what they’re learning in school and allows me to have a direct window into how he’s doing as I see him complete it and give him some one-on-one teaching when needed. Honestly the worksheets take less than 10 minutes, too, so we deal. So yeah, I kinda wish we only had to work on sight words and reading, but since it’s required I try to see the positive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2856797 Wed, 14 Nov 2018 21:13:51 +0000 pinkb 2856797@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is in Kindergarten and we have homework 3 nights a week. 2 nights being math worksheets and she has to write her pin#, birthdate, phone#, and address. They are not expected to write perfectly, backwards numbers and all. I don't agree with all the homework but I am not willing to not have her complete it. We have already had our conference as well as another talk with the teacher about other things. But the homework won't be going anywhere for us. It's how our school says they meet the standards for the testing in the future. I don't agree with it but I am also not in a place to move to another school either. So for now we do it but we aren't super strict on correcting every mistake and we don't spend a whole lot of time on it. She has learned so much more from class than from the homework.</p> <p>ETA after her day at school homework can be a very big challenge. Her brain is just not into sitting and doing it. we have been trying a lot of different things to try and help with that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2856790 Wed, 14 Nov 2018 20:51:49 +0000 Pollywog 2856790@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it isn't best practice or following what the research says is developmentally appropriate for getting kids on track. I have some great resources in process that I can share on this next month. </p> <p>For now, talk to her teacher. Ask why she sddigbs homework and talk about your concerns </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2856780 Wed, 14 Nov 2018 20:04:51 +0000 Foodnerd81 2856780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Becky: so, as an unseasoned parent, non educator, here is my fear about not doing it- I have a very strong willed child. I’m afraid if i told her we weren’t doing the homework because I felt we had more important/ better things to do, she would take that to mean she could decide when to do homework/ practice/ etc, regardless of what the teacher or coach or parent says. It’s a weird line of fostering independence and free thinking and what works best for your family, and of teaching them respect authority (within limits) and that sometimes you have to do things you don’t feel like.<br /> I realize that’s not helpful. But that’s why i would want to convince the teacher that the homework should be recommended but not required or something. Because I’m also with you that this seems like too much for K. I’m also hoping other parents or teachers chime in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2856767 Wed, 14 Nov 2018 19:14:01 +0000 Becky 2856767@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: I said I wouldn’t do homework when I didn’t have a kid in school and now that I do I’m scared not to! I’m hoping to hear from some teachers or from parents who have refused to do homework. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2856765 Wed, 14 Nov 2018 19:11:51 +0000 Becky 2856765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I haven’t talked to the teacher yet, but parent teacher conferences are 12/6 so maybe then. But she sent a note home the first night they got math homework to say they’d be getting it and please do it. Also awkward because we socialize together but I need to get over that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2856761 Wed, 14 Nov 2018 18:56:06 +0000 Foodnerd81 2856761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Becky: that does seem really young for math homework. Have you had a chance to talk to the teacher about it? Like, is this something extra you CAN do if your kid wants to, or is like a required thing? I really can’t see a barely five year old coming home from an entire day at school and still having an interest in doing that. BUT on the other side, in my town some kids still do half day K. In those cases, I could see working on worksheets like that in the afternoon. </p> <p>But, I am by no means a seasoned parent in this. My oldest turned 5 at the end of the summer and we waited an extra year for K because she just really wasn’t ready. And thinking about doing this with her seems challenging. She *knows* the pattern you mentioned but getting her to sit and do that for 20 minutes after a long day would be really hard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2856759 Wed, 14 Nov 2018 18:40:42 +0000 erinbaderin 2856759@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think kindergarten is too young for homework, and I wouldn’t be doing it unless my kid wanted to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opinions-on-kindergarten-math-homework#post-2856758 Wed, 14 Nov 2018 18:27:06 +0000 Becky 2856758@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I’ve posted before about being a little unhappy about our school situation. DD is in K, and turned 5 on 10/31 so is the youngest by a bit, and is in a good public school system but still I’m not thrilled. </p> <p>Recently she’s been getting a math worksheet for homework about every other night. Tonight it’s got strands of numbers and you’re supposed to write the missing number (1 2 _ 4 5 for example). Last night it was groups of shapes with a number next to them, and you were supposed to circle the right number of shapes. I got home from work after bedtime last night so we didn’t do the homework. Tonight she’s exhausted and wants to play a card game. I think a card game is more worthwhile than a math worksheet. </p> <p>We actually do a fair amount of math at home—my husband is a financial advisor and big on it, and we try to weave math concepts in when we can. I feel like real life applications are more appropriate at this age. She also struggles with writing some of her numbers backwards which upsets her. I think this added “stress” isn’t worth it because aren’t a lot of 5 year olds just learning how to write at all?</p> <p>Anyway, I’d love feedback from teachers and/or seasoned parents. Should I shirk the math homework in favor of what I think is working better for her/our family? She’s not falling behind and has a good grasp of addition, counting by multiples. What are your thoughts on math worksheets and worksheets in general for 5 year olds/kindergartners? </p>