21 pages of hw for 3rd grade. Venting

Im not a teacher, but a parent. My third grader came home with 21 math sheets to be done over the vacation. I am fuming. They did this over the holiday break in Dec. What is this. I know the state math tests are coming up, but come on. Any other teachers doing this.

Re: 21 pages of hw for 3rd grade. Venting

I agree..i understand if a teacher wants to give review work, but 21 pages seems a bit excessive to me IMO

Re: 21 pages of hw for 3rd grade. Venting

Way to much IMO...you should ask the teacher why she/he thought this would be appropriate

Re: 21 pages of hw for 3rd grade. Venting

That's ridiculous!

Re: 21 pages of hw for 3rd grade. Venting

That seems really excessive. Did the teacher attach a letter explaining why?

Re: 21 pages of hw for 3rd grade. Venting

I teach 8th grade math and even with the assessment coming up we did not assign any work over break.

That is absolutely crazy!

Re: 21 pages of hw for 3rd grade. Venting

It was the whole 3rd grade. They seem to think that the state scores in math and the ELA's were way to important. I have 2 older kids and they didn't even get hw. Im only having him do 2 sheet a day. Imagine people who paid alot of money to go on vacation and then had to worry about this. Thanks

Re: 21 pages of hw for 3rd grade. Venting

That is WAY excessive. I would have him do some pages, not all and write the teacher a letter explaining your feelings.

Message edited 2/18/2007 10:58:16 PM.

Re: 21 pages of hw for 3rd grade. Venting

i offered my students a practice packet of Math problems that I created for them to work on but it was OPTIONAL.... many of them actually like to have work over the vacation because they are bored.... but I would never give assigned homework over a break.

Re: 21 pages of hw for 3rd grade. Venting

I dont even like giving daily Hw and would NEVER give vacation work!

KIDS NEED BREAKS TOO!!!!!

Whats the punishment given for not doing it? I would take a stand- test grades are not as important as a child's mental health

Re: 21 pages of hw for 3rd grade. Venting

I teach third grade and do assign weekend HW to my kids. However, I felt they needed a break as much as I did and I didn't give HW over the vacation. I have been killing them with math in school. I don't want them to burn out.

Re: 21 pages of hw for 3rd grade. Venting

I teach first and there was a math packet but those that want to can do it. There are many over achievers in my class that love hmwk but it is not that many pages.
I do give weekend homework this year since the group I have is very low and need extra support.
I also gave a biography assignment over the vacation so it is nore fun.
I hope they are having fun

Re: 21 pages of hw for 3rd grade. Venting

Just asking for professional opinions cause I have a low group too


What exactly do kids get out of doing extra HW when they might not understand a topic as it is?

Also, would you still do this in a district where there is next to no parental involvement (many of my kids parents work all night and never see their kids' hw )

Re: 21 pages of hw for 3rd grade. Venting

I teach 6th grade ELA but I know the 6th grade math teachers gave out the 6th grade practice test to be done over the vacation - I think it was two packets and it was pretty lengthy.

I believe the rational was that the test is 1 1/2 hours, so the practice test shouldn't take more than that amount of time....

Re: 21 pages of hw for 3rd grade. Venting

Weekend Homework includes a minute math sheet, they can do alone.
Also, usually a mini book report. Who is the character, setting, extension of story, etc.
Most can do it alone and I know the children that do not have any parental support and I have them do with me during guided reading time or during caledar routine. My distict is very low income and parent support so the homework given must fit the needs of the families too!

Re: 21 pages of hw for 3rd grade. Venting

I teach 3rd grade. I gave a math packet and told them to do just a little every day if they could. 21 pages is a lot (I gave about half that) but maybe the teacher was thinking over 10 days it's only 2 pages a day. Unfortunately there is only a week between the break and the test. I think they need the continuity of practive right before the test. That's how I see it. I honestly don't expect every page to get done. But I don't tell them it's optional because if I said that my students would disregard it altogether and not even open their folders all week. I know a few other 3rd grade teachers that I work with gave out a couple packets which I thought was crazy. Kids burn out just like adults do.

Re: 21 pages of hw for 3rd grade. Venting

I teach 3rd grade...I was required to give 2 packets and a research project...If it were up to me I would have just told them to read every day and thats it...We had to have the packets inspected on Friday Sometimes its not the teacher's fault

Re: 21 pages of hw for 3rd grade. Venting

wow that's insane, just in the teacher's defense the principal may be requiring this.....good luck

Re: 21 pages of hw for 3rd grade. Venting

yeah, i was thinking this might be coming from administration