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LuckyStar
LIF Adult
Member since 7/14 7274 total posts
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Kindergarten homework?
What kind of work/homework are other kindergarteners getting?
My DD is in school for 2 hours and 20 minutes every day. She comes home with pictures she draws and “look and find,” which is basically hidden pictures. Today I saw the last 10 mins of class and they watched a you tube video on how to draw a cat.
She gets over an hour of homework every night. Writing, math, etc. According to her, there is no reading, writing or math done while she is at school.
Does this sound reasonable?
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Posted 10/26/20 5:42 PM  |
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queensgal
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Member since 4/09 3287 total posts
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Re: Kindergarten homework?
Is she in virtual school? Why is it only 2 hours?
No this isn’t normal but I also wouldn’t take a 5 yr olds word for it
My son is in K and comes home with artwork and several worksheets each day. Homework is one page of writing letters and 2 pages of math. He takes about 10 mins to do his homework plus the 20 mins for me to yell to get him going. Lol.
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| Posted 10/26/20 6:08 PM |
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LuckyStar
LIF Adult
Member since 7/14 7274 total posts
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Re: Kindergarten homework?
Posted by queensgal
Is she in virtual school? Why is it only 2 hours?
No this isn’t normal but I also wouldn’t take a 5 yr olds word for it
My son is in K and comes home with artwork and several worksheets each day. Homework is one page of writing letters and 2 pages of math. He takes about 10 mins to do his homework plus the 20 mins for me to yell to get him going. Lol.
She comes home with the look and finds and the pictures she draws. I have never seen a worksheet come home. Tonight she had 4 full sheets of letters, watch 2 20 minute stories and draw pictures and write the title and 3 sentences for each and 2 math worksheets. Everything is listed on google classroom as homework so it’s not work she didn’t finish during school.
Today’s virtual special was gym so no homework, but on the days she has art or library she’ll have an assignment for those in addition to the regular homework.
The district is half day in person and half day remote. This was the only option other than full remote.
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| Posted 10/26/20 6:18 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
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..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Kindergarten homework?
Over an hour of homework a night is too much for a Kindergartener but it seems they are making her do some "class work' at home with those short hours? Is she half day virtual/half day in person?.
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| Posted 10/26/20 6:21 PM |
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MrsWoods
LIF Adult
Member since 4/12 1461 total posts
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Kindergarten homework?
My daughter is in Kindergarten from 9-3. She only gets homework on Tuesdays and Thursdays. So far its been a one double sided math worksheet, that basically she has to count and write the number and some intro to common core stuff. Or handwriting practice sheet. Her teacher also emails monthly work that they can do at any pace they want.
Message edited 10/26/2020 6:27:00 PM.
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| Posted 10/26/20 6:26 PM |
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LuckyStar
LIF Adult
Member since 7/14 7274 total posts
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Re: Kindergarten homework?
Posted by NervousNell
Over an hour of homework a night is too much for a Kindergartener but it seems they are making her do some "class work' at home with those short hours? Is she half day virtual/half day in person?.
Yes, but they don’t do any actual school work during the 2 hours. They draw cats.
Which means the homework isn’t reinforcing concepts, it’s teaching concepts.
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| Posted 10/26/20 6:31 PM |
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MrsT809
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Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
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Kindergarten homework?
Our district doesn't do homework for kindergarten. I would ask her if she has a math workbook or any other workbooks she uses at school. Maybe they're just not sending it home? They usually tore the math pages out and sent them home with the hw pages attached in case you wanted to do it on your own. As far as ELA, they did a few sight words a week and I always got home worksheets they did in class identifying and writing the words. They use Fundations and had several workbooks they did at school but you only saw them at open house or when they were finished with the whole book. In school I know they did power points of the letter sounds, sight words, and daily lesson bc the teacher sent those for us to do with the kids when they were closed in the spring. Maybe start by contacting the teacher to ask if they use a specific ELA or math curriculum to see what info you can get from them.
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| Posted 10/26/20 6:34 PM |
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PitterPatter11
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Kindergarten homework?
My son did not have HW last year in K.
I would say the first 1-2 months was review for him: letter and number recognition, shapes, using scissors and glue. There are some kids who have not mastered these skills before K so they all need to reviewed. Starting in October, they introduced Fundations which is more or less phonics. He learned the different sounds. 1-2 sounds per week. His teacher starts the "Go Math" curriculum with shapes so he learned how many vertices were in a triangle, square, etc. He also started with 1 sight word a week and then had 2-3 sight words per week. 50 total by the end of the year.
They did also practice drawing. I think it reviews shapes and teaches them how to use a pencil correctly. My son was very into drawing last year around this time.
He gets so many worksheets sent home: math, ELA, drawings, etc. This year might be weird with paper work due to Covid concerns... Granted fomite transmission is rare, but schools are being overly cautious. My son's teacher does not seem to have any concerns about handling work.
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| Posted 10/26/20 7:11 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
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Re: Kindergarten homework?
Posted by LuckyStar
Posted by NervousNell
Over an hour of homework a night is too much for a Kindergartener but it seems they are making her do some "class work' at home with those short hours? Is she half day virtual/half day in person?.
Yes, but they don’t do any actual school work during the 2 hours. They draw cats.
Which means the homework isn’t reinforcing concepts, it’s teaching concepts.
Seems to me like they are using the half remote day to make you teach what they should be teaching during the hours she is in school.
Doesn't surprise me at all to be honest judging by the half assed education my daughter got last spring when she was remote.
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| Posted 10/26/20 7:25 PM |
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LuckyStar
LIF Adult
Member since 7/14 7274 total posts
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Re: Kindergarten homework?
Posted by PitterPatter11
My son did not have HW last year in K.
I would say the first 1-2 months was review for him: letter and number recognition, shapes, using scissors and glue. There are some kids who have not mastered these skills before K so they all need to reviewed. Starting in October, they introduced Fundations which is more or less phonics. He learned the different sounds. 1-2 sounds per week. His teacher starts the "Go Math" curriculum with shapes so he learned how many vertices were in a triangle, square, etc. He also started with 1 sight word a week and then had 2-3 sight words per week. 50 total by the end of the year.
They did also practice drawing. I think it reviews shapes and teaches them how to use a pencil correctly. My son was very into drawing last year around this time.
He gets so many worksheets sent home: math, ELA, drawings, etc. This year might be weird with paper work due to Covid concerns... Granted fomite transmission is rare, but schools are being overly cautious. My son's teacher does not seem to have any concerns about handling work.
Yes, Fundations. There is a template with the lines that we print out every day on google classroom and that's where they do the writing. The kids put the homework folders in a file rack when they go in to air out and the teacher empties them right before the kids leave.
This is how I know they don't have workbooks at school.
I guess as a follow up, would you guys email the teacher? We are new to the school (most of the other kids have older siblings). I know one of the other "new" moms is looking into private school. I don't want to come in guns blazing but I also think this is absurd.
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| Posted 10/26/20 7:27 PM |
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queensgal
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Member since 4/09 3287 total posts
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Re: Kindergarten homework?
Ok so it sounds like this isn’t actually homework per se but the half day of home schooling. The amount of work doesn’t seem unreasonable if it’s supposed to be 1/2 day of school + homework time.
I would def talk to the teacher and try to better understand the curriculum.
To play devils advocate - they may be prioritizing activities in the classroom that foster some interaction or hands on learning and sending the worksheet type stuff home. I’m not a teacher and don’t really know but there could be rhyme or reason to this. At least ask and see how they address your concerns.
Sorry this is hard. Home schooling is so hard. We had to do it for my older one in the spring and did the best we could for our preschooler. It was awful while trying to work at the same time. Hugs.
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| Posted 10/26/20 7:38 PM |
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MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
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Re: Kindergarten homework?
Posted by LuckyStar
Posted by PitterPatter11
My son did not have HW last year in K.
I would say the first 1-2 months was review for him: letter and number recognition, shapes, using scissors and glue. There are some kids who have not mastered these skills before K so they all need to reviewed. Starting in October, they introduced Fundations which is more or less phonics. He learned the different sounds. 1-2 sounds per week. His teacher starts the "Go Math" curriculum with shapes so he learned how many vertices were in a triangle, square, etc. He also started with 1 sight word a week and then had 2-3 sight words per week. 50 total by the end of the year.
They did also practice drawing. I think it reviews shapes and teaches them how to use a pencil correctly. My son was very into drawing last year around this time.
He gets so many worksheets sent home: math, ELA, drawings, etc. This year might be weird with paper work due to Covid concerns... Granted fomite transmission is rare, but schools are being overly cautious. My son's teacher does not seem to have any concerns about handling work.
Yes, Fundations. There is a template with the lines that we print out every day on google classroom and that's where they do the writing. The kids put the homework folders in a file rack when they go in to air out and the teacher empties them right before the kids leave.
This is how I know they don't have workbooks at school.
I guess as a follow up, would you guys email the teacher? We are new to the school (most of the other kids have older siblings). I know one of the other "new" moms is looking into private school. I don't want to come in guns blazing but I also think this is absurd.
Unfortunately 2 hours flies in a kindergarten class. You also may have kids that have never been in school before or held a pair of scissors in their life. I can see the first month being just learning routines but I would think by now they should be getting a little more done. I know my kindegartener had 2 or 3 fundation workbooks last year and they did the program's PowerPoints to learn letter sounds, letter formation, sight words. None of that was stuff that came home. We were given the letters and words at the start of the week though. I'm being as lenient as possible with teachers this year but if they're really doing a little as you think ever single day for weeks on end that would be a problem for me.
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| Posted 10/26/20 7:39 PM |
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MissJones
I need a nap!
Member since 5/05 22136 total posts
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Kindergarten homework?
My daughter has a suggested schedule with reinforcement work posted on google classroom.
Today was math, which included a cute video on the #4, 3 pages in her workbook (that we keep at home) and a math mat which has her make the #4 with play doh and sort 4 things.
She also had to read a book from her book baggy (read the pictures is pretty much what it is, lol).
I then added another math activity and had to read to me the scholastic news article she brought home.
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| Posted 10/26/20 8:29 PM |
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PitterPatter11
Baby Boy is Here!
Member since 5/11 7619 total posts
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Momma <3
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Re: Kindergarten homework?
Posted by LuckyStar
I guess as a follow up, would you guys email the teacher? We are new to the school (most of the other kids have older siblings). I know one of the other "new" moms is looking into private school. I don't want to come in guns blazing but I also think this is absurd.
Fundations comes with workbooks. Your district has just chosen an online model I guess.
I would ask what skills they are learning/reviewing in class. I would try not to take a guns blazing approach. It is very likely that they are practicing sounds and then doing the worksheet at home to review the sound. 2 hours is barely any time at all. By the time they get the K kids settled, the day is practically over. I am sure they are doing morning meeting and things like that which can take at least 30 minutes. They are probably practicing number and letter recognition as well as some sounds. The drawing does assist with fine and gross motor skills. I am sure there are students who don't have the dexterity to draw pictures and by guiding them through the drawings, they will be better able to write letters. My son in 1st grade comes home with at least 2 guided drawings a week so I assume it is part of their curriculum.
I will also say that your district has put the teachers in an impossible situation. I am a teacher and feel that most are working in these conditions. They have probably been provided with no guidance. I am somehow teaching virtual and in-person simultaneously. It sounds "easy" but it is impossible. My students and I are all drowning. I am not sure there is alternative though....
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| Posted 10/26/20 9:11 PM |
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