Re: first day of kindergarten and homework!

"toypup" <toypup@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


"Rosalie B." <gmbeasley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:2qgrd25fpmfbefidp6suc8sgqngivtqhlg@xxxxxxxxxx
I've been thinking about this.

The school year is a very long time. How much does homework - done or
not done - count in an kindergarten child's grade?

There could be 180 days worth of assignments, plus 180 days of class
work. If a child does not complete all the homework assignments, what
effect will this really have? Will the teacher say that the student
should not be promoted to the next grade because only 80 percent or
only half of the homework is done, if the child can actually do the
work, but just doesn't do it?

Well, they apparently give stickers for homework turned in and they get a
prize at the end of the week if they have all the stickers. DS would be
very upset if he did not get his prize. He was excited and proud of the toy
he got yesterday.

Yes it would matter to the child, and you WANT it to matter to the
child because (as you say) you don't want to wait until HS to start
emphasizing homework. But it isn't necessary for the action of not
doing some homework in kindergarten to absolutely have to result in
not emphasizing homework until they reach high school. It's not an
absolute.

Plus, as I've just thought- won't the child be extremely upset when
down the road he's sick or there is some family emergency and he
doesn't get his stickers or toy? Are they going to keep giving the
toys out forever?

I'm not suggesting that you should allow a child to slack off and not
do the homework.

What I'm asking really is - what will the teacher do if a child does
not complete all the homework? If you have to go out of town suddenly
for some family emergency, and he doesn't get the homework done, can
you write an excuse note? Does the child have to have a note from the
doctor that he couldn't do the homework if he is sick?


Some of the work is graded for a letter grade, but I don't know which, so he
might end up with a lowered grade, if I pick the wrong homework not to turn
in.

Also, I want him to have the idea that school is important, and I think that
would be difficult if I tell him he can disregard some of the work that the
teacher assigns. I believe strongly in setting precedent, so the attitude I
want him to have in HS is the attitude I will attempt to instill in him now.

The goal, it seems to me, would be for the child to develop the skills
that are needed, because the grades aren't THAT important in the world
scheme of things until high school, for college admission, and even
poor HS grades can be overcome with determination.


Like I said, I don't want to wait until HS to start emphasizing schoolwork.

Oh, if you all can believe this, on parent night, the teacher told us about
enrichment homework that was not mandatory. We could give it to our kids
when they have extra time. I just about fell out of my seat.


.

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