The end of the term is Thursday. Yesterday Kiki came home with a note that details exactly how much homework she hasn’t done during the last two months. We spent all day today working on it. Fortunately for my sanity and Kiki’s well-being my friend Janci came over to tutor and referee. There are still piles of homework to be done. I am not looking forward to making her do it. At. All.
Oh and Patches threw up. on me.
Not the best of days. Thank goodness for friends and cookies.
<Insert slightly vague and rambling rant about useless homework.>
I was forever getting into trouble at school (mostly in maths classes) for ignoring most of the busywork and only doing the homework I thought I needed. This was usually a couple of the exercises in each section we were given and anything that looked interesting. I wasn’t always correct in choosing the ones I needed to do, but it meant I could actually do fun and interesting things in the evenings rather than a big pile of boring and unnecessary homework.
Then again, spending the afternoon in detention wasn’t much fun either. I was also rather unpopular with a few of my teachers after I explained my reasoning, but such is life.
Yay cookies! *wanders off for some ice cream*
<Insert slightly vague and rambling rant about useless homework.>
I was forever getting into trouble at school (mostly in maths classes) for ignoring most of the busywork and only doing the homework I thought I needed. This was usually a couple of the exercises in each section we were given and anything that looked interesting. I wasn’t always correct in choosing the ones I needed to do, but it meant I could actually do fun and interesting things in the evenings rather than a big pile of boring and unnecessary homework.
Then again, spending the afternoon in detention wasn’t much fun either. I was also rather unpopular with a few of my teachers after I explained my reasoning, but such is life.
Yay cookies! *wanders off for some ice cream*
As I’ve watched my kids go through school it is interesting to realize that most of what they consider busy work actually does have a point, but it frequently isn’t the point that they are expecting. If nothing else, knowing how to get work done even when it is tedious is a valuable life skill.
As I’ve watched my kids go through school it is interesting to realize that most of what they consider busy work actually does have a point, but it frequently isn’t the point that they are expecting. If nothing else, knowing how to get work done even when it is tedious is a valuable life skill.
I’m wondering why the teacher waited until now to let you know she was missing so much. I know they are very busy, but it seems like weekly communication would be better than once every two months. I guess you’re lucky she’s letting your daughter make up the work.
I’m wondering why the teacher waited until now to let you know she was missing so much. I know they are very busy, but it seems like weekly communication would be better than once every two months. I guess you’re lucky she’s letting your daughter make up the work.
Weekly communication only works if the child actually hands over notes rather than allowing them to disapear into her pit of a backpack.
Also, Kiki is 11, it is time for her to begin keeping track of her homework by herself. I’ve been pretty sure that she was getting behind, but allowed it partly because I was busy and partly because I believe that experience is the best teacher. If she can learn the consequences of letting things slide now, she’s less likely to do it in high school when her grades have a much bigger impact on her future.
Weekly communication only works if the child actually hands over notes rather than allowing them to disapear into her pit of a backpack.
Also, Kiki is 11, it is time for her to begin keeping track of her homework by herself. I’ve been pretty sure that she was getting behind, but allowed it partly because I was busy and partly because I believe that experience is the best teacher. If she can learn the consequences of letting things slide now, she’s less likely to do it in high school when her grades have a much bigger impact on her future.
A-ha!
Sounds like a good plan. 🙂
A-ha!
Sounds like a good plan. 🙂
That’s a lesson I still haven’t picked up, by the way. I (and my parents!) derided much of my fourth grade schoolwork as “busywork” intended to keep a brighter-than-the-rest-of-the-class child occupied so that the teacher in question didn’t have to worry about teaching me things. This was also true – I had learned some significant chunks of the fourth-grade curriculum in third grade due to a gifted/talented program that my fourth-grade teacher didn’t want to bother with – but you’re right, there was a valuable life skill I never learned.
That’s a lesson I still haven’t picked up, by the way. I (and my parents!) derided much of my fourth grade schoolwork as “busywork” intended to keep a brighter-than-the-rest-of-the-class child occupied so that the teacher in question didn’t have to worry about teaching me things. This was also true – I had learned some significant chunks of the fourth-grade curriculum in third grade due to a gifted/talented program that my fourth-grade teacher didn’t want to bother with – but you’re right, there was a valuable life skill I never learned.
This works, by the way. I let a lot of my middle-school grades slide. I was so very ashamed of a C that I got as a result in middle school that I shaped up and Got Things Done in high school.
This works, by the way. I let a lot of my middle-school grades slide. I was so very ashamed of a C that I got as a result in middle school that I shaped up and Got Things Done in high school.