homework projects

[darlene]

Hi all. How do you feel about projects that are sent home to be done? Our dd has to build a catapault (that will work!) as a home assignment. I totally disagree with projects being assigned like this. Of course there will be some kids who actually do the project on their own, some that won't do it at all, and those that their parents will do it. How does a teacher even begin to give students a valid mark when the project is returned? I would rather get a note home saying "please send ..... supplies to school as your son/daughter will need them for a in school project." Then allow kids time to make the project in school. That way if there was something they were struggling with, it would be a perfect opportunity to ask the teacher for help. Wouldn't that make them all on a level playing field then????
JMHO
:)

[Diane]

Does the note say anything about parents being able to help? I remember when my dd's were in elementary school it seemed like they were ALWAYS being assigned projects, most of which I felt the kids could no way do on their own without a lot of help from their parents. I never minded helping my kids a "little" bit but didn't think it was right or fair to "take it over" and do it all by myself. IMHO if I did this I'd more or less be telling my kids that I lacked confidence in them... that I didn't think they could do it or do it GOOD enough. I only ever expected my kids to do the best job they could do and that they should be proud of it. What I saw happening was that a lot of these projects did nothing but become a big competition BETWEEN THE PARENTS to see who could do the "best". It's always SO obvious which projects had been done completely by the child's parents, and which ones had little or no help at all. Once I even heard a child complain that her dad wouldn't "let" her help because he was afraid she'd screw it up... LOL It's really quite pathetic when you think about it.

I really see nothing wrong with a project or two once in a while... and I never once minded spending a little bit of extra time helping them with these projects, but the PARENTS have to remember that this isn't a competition, and let their kids do what their suppose to do, at least the majority of it. LOL :)

[Edited by Diane P. on 02-23-2001 at 08:35 PM]

[AnnW]

Grrrr...I hate this! All it does is show how well Johnny's dad can build a catapult!!! LOL Parents help kids today way too much..heck, how many parents sit with their kids doing their homework till every problem on the page is right? How the heck is the teacher supposed to know if she isn't getting the lesson across if the kids are always turning in perfect homework?? (sorry, I digressed! LOL) As long as the teacher can tell the difference between the kid and the parents' work and grade accordingly, then I have no problem, but most of the time the moms get an "A" and the kid gets a "B".

[MK]

So far I haven't had much experience with this, although I totally agree with what you guys are saying. This is our first year of public school, and so far the teacher has only sent two projects home, with a letter explaining that parental involvement was REQUIRED. The whole point, I gathered was to include one more strategy for parental involvement and teaching(which I thought was good). The first project was a Mystery Book Project. We had to read the book with our children (for some kids the book was above their reading ability, so it had to be read to them) and help the kids fill out the form included with information about main characters, sequence of events, and the child's favorite part of the story. Then the children finished the project at school and put on a special presentation of their "book reports" for the parents. The second one (that I spaced and didn't have time for because I was having a busy week at work)was a paper doll that our children were supposed to dress to represent a specific career choice. We were supposed to discuss career choices with our kids and help them do research to find out what the duties of that job would be. We didn't even do it with our son, but it will be of no consequence- the teacher only "counts" test scores and behavior points. And we've discussed career possibilities and aspects with our son numerous times, so it's not like he isn't already thinking about it.

[Lynda/WA]

I wish DS would get more homework and that it was more important. right now he gets one easy assignment on Tuesdays (ie find 3 things that are sets at your house and draw them for example a 6 pack of soda, draw it and write 2 X 3 = 6) I am having a really hard time teaching him to pace himself and get a larger project done. He doesn't have any. For the first couple of months he wasn't doing even that homework. He had lied and said it was extra optional stuff or just wouldn't bring it home at all. The teacher never said anything even during his confrence. Then one day she sent home a packet that listed various projects. All of his homeworks had 0. I talked to her and she explained the homework came home on Tuesdays but since DS had no problems she wasn't concerned about it.

Anyways - the system I like best was the one his Kindergarten teacher used. She sent home a grid with 7 items each week. The child could choose any 5 per week and turn it in at the end of the month signed by the parent. Each item took less than 10 minutes. It made it easy on me since if we were busy I didn't worry. His first first grade teacher did a larger project over a month (ie make a dinosaur scene using any medium you wish) It was more for fun not a grade. I think she anticipated that parents may or may not help. If they did it was just a chance for the parent and child to work together. His second first grade teacher sent home a packet on Fridays. It was due the following Friday. Second grade teacher never did any homework. She's the one that told me she wanted NO parent involvment.

I like some homework because it gives me a chance to see what they are doing instead of just quizzing DS. And I prefer when it isn't something given one day due the next. Also I prefer something hands on since they do enough paperwork at school. To be honest I'd love it if DS was given a catapult project. I'd probably ask his teacher if he could bring in his Mindstorm (beginning robotics) one that he made on his own. Off course I'd want to go in so he could demonstrate it the take it home with me since the darn thing is so expensive. Maybe leave a photo for class show. It would be obvious that he did it since I couldn't explain the system and he can. As many science books as we have I'd probably get him to do one together with me as well just for the interaction and to show I think his work is important.

[kat]

Darlene,
I totally agree. In one area school here, the 6th grade has to build a castle to scale. In the paper last year was a picture of a castle on a trailer made out of concrete blocks .... Now who do you think built that thing? Hope Dad got a good grade. LOL