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lazybug
LIF Adult
Member since 3/12 1013 total posts
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How much homework for fourth grade?
I am a teacher and I am really rethinking what homework and how much homework to give this school year. Having a fourth grader last year really put things in perspective for me. I'm evaluating what is fair and appropriate for a 9/10 year old. If you don't mind, please share what homework your fourth grader got and thoughts about it? Were either of you frustrated? Did you find the amount fair?
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Posted 8/29/18 9:39 PM |
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Cruisin
LIF Infant
Member since 2/16 253 total posts
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Re: How much homework for fourth grade?
My son will be in 4th grade this year and here’s what I’ve experienced in 3rd and what I’ve heard about 4th.
3rd grade was a spelling activity and math workbook page each night. The spelling felt like ‘busy work’ at times (one activity was write the words once and go over it in marker..). Every other Friday there was a spelling QUIZ. Only counted as a quiz grade. The quiz also wasn’t just writing the correct spelling word - the student had to bubble in the correctly spelled word out of 4 choices. I had to do visual studying instead of memorization studying for my son. What I rather have had was an ELA sheet corresponding to the weekly lesson/story because those assessments were hefty (phonics, grammar and a long reading comp passage) and counted as a test grade.
Whah I know about 4th grade: my son got the more desirable teacher! Yaaay! And I have heard numerous people say she is very lenient with homework. At back to school night she tells the parents that she understands if the family is having a tough night and can’t do the homework to just send in a note - she doesn’t want the kids stressing. There is no spelling homework in 4th. It is an ELA workbook page and math page. I’ve also heard that some parents think she doesn’t give enough and it ‘doesn’t prepare them for the work load of middle school’. I don’t know what more they want? It’s not like she can send home a science sheet every night...they don’t do science daily unfortunately anymore. It’s all ELA and math.
So I see your dilemma. You probably can’t win either way. People always have something to say - too little, too much). I’m good with an ELA sheet (as long as it’s corresponding with the weekly story) and a math sheet (from the day’s lesson). Have a great school year!
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Posted 8/30/18 5:58 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
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Re: How much homework for fourth grade?
4th grade we had a ton of homework. But, we also had a very hard teacher, who had a curriculum similar to what an 8th grader would have. It was insane the amount of work these kids were expected to do. I don't remember specifics, but it was over probably an hour and a half each night. He was a good teacher, but he was on steroids or something Many parents complained, and he eased up a bit.
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Posted 8/30/18 8:34 AM |
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Aries14
Can't plan life...
Member since 8/08 2860 total posts
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How much homework for fourth grade?
our school does about 50 minutes for 4th grade but that includes 20 minutes of reading. It was probably more like 20 minutes for my dd. I personally hate a lot of homework bc they come home exhausted from a full day of school and have to pull out more work. I don't mind a little - spelling I get bc it does help them learn how to spell those words for the quiz. And I don't mind a little bit of math bc I like to see that they are doing in class. I can't stand when she has come home with 3 pages of math and write 20 spellings words 5x each . That I feel is too much
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Posted 8/30/18 9:26 AM |
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mommy2B3
2 boys 2 girls!!!!
Member since 7/08 3324 total posts
Name: M
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Re: How much homework for fourth grade?
I live OOS so not sure if this is of any help, but I have a 4th grader currently, so while we haven’t gotten homework yet (just started last Thursday) our district controls amounts of homework. So at 4th grade you are only allowed to give 40 mins of homework (20 of that is reading), my DS teacher gives OWLs ((big Harry Potter fan apparently)) for extra reading over 100 mins a week.
Studies show how homework isnt very important. So I prefer teachers who give meaningful homework when needed to make sure concepts are fully understood, but not busy work.
But as a parent, I find parents are awful and you’re basically damned if you do, damned if you don’t. I have friends who complain about too much or too little, so you can’t please them all lol.
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Posted 8/30/18 9:32 AM |
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nycgirl
Angels!
Member since 3/09 7721 total posts
Name:
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Re: How much homework for fourth grade?
We have a “no homework” policy in elementary school. That said, teachers that are pro-homework have been giving suggested apps that they recommend rotating: a math app, reading app (raz kids) and typing app. You can do it or not. It usually will take about 10 minutes per subject (so only 20 minutes a day) if the kid concentrates and I use typing as a reward app because it’s a game format. I do sit and watch them doing the reading app because it shows me their deficits. Also, kid is supposed to read 20 minutes a day, but we all read the last 20-30 minutes of the day.
I get both sides of the coin, but I personally think doing homework consistently is important and I schedule activities based on homework/learning time for two kids. It does mean that I do less extracurricular activities than the average parent in our school.
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Posted 8/30/18 11:12 AM |
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lazybug
LIF Adult
Member since 3/12 1013 total posts
Name:
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How much homework for fourth grade?
I also hate homework. I don't think my school/district would ever go the no homework route. I just want a healthy balance. I realize that you can't make every parent happy, EVER. I just watched my own DD, who is on grade level struggle to complete assignments. It took her so long, she was exhausted, I was exhausted...and I'm an educator. It's true that teachers have more patience for their students than their own children. I think I am going to follow my gut and scale down a bit this year. I like to be on the same page as my grade level but this is something we can't all agree on. Thanks everyone for their input.
Message edited 8/30/2018 10:48:14 PM.
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Posted 8/30/18 10:47 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54915 total posts
Name: ..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: How much homework for fourth grade?
So I just got a letter home from DD"s third grade teacher ( I know you asked about fourth thought) and she said it will be an average of 40 min a night then they are expected to read for 20 min a night.
IMO that's too much. I'd say 20 min of actual homework and then I start to lose her and she gets antsy, frustrated etc. 30 min tops.
But 40 is too much plus 20 min of reading.
IMO it should be 20 min homework/20 min reading, done.
Message edited 9/6/2018 11:29:13 AM.
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Posted 9/6/18 9:51 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Re: How much homework for fourth grade?
Posted by NervousNell
So I just got a letter home from DD"s third grade teacher ( I know you asked about fourth thought) and she said it will be an average of 40 min a night then they are expected to read for 20 min a night.
IMO that's too much. I'd say 20 min of actually homework and then I start to lose her and she gets antsy, frustrated etc. 30 min tops.
But 40 is too much plus 20 min of reading.
IMO it should be 20 min homework/20 min reading, done.
I agree with you! Sadly in 3rd, we had as much homework as fourth grade. It was a joke. Especially compared to other classes in the very same school.
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Posted 9/6/18 11:09 AM |
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MrsS2005
Mom of 3
Member since 11/05 13118 total posts
Name: B
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Re: How much homework for fourth grade?
DS had to read for 20 or 30 minutes every night. He had a spelling test every week with 20 words. He also usually had 1 or maybe 2 double sided sheets to do most nights. He did the work during aftercare and I’d check it, but I don’t think it took him that long to complete. He doesn’t struggle with homework though.
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Posted 9/10/18 12:08 PM |
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BriBri2u
L'amore vince sempre
Member since 5/05 9320 total posts
Name: Mrs. B
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Re: How much homework for fourth grade?
Posted by BargainMama
Posted by NervousNell
So I just got a letter home from DD"s third grade teacher ( I know you asked about fourth thought) and she said it will be an average of 40 min a night then they are expected to read for 20 min a night.
IMO that's too much. I'd say 20 min of actually homework and then I start to lose her and she gets antsy, frustrated etc. 30 min tops.
But 40 is too much plus 20 min of reading.
IMO it should be 20 min homework/20 min reading, done.
I agree with you! Sadly in 3rd, we had as much homework as fourth grade. It was a joke. Especially compared to other classes in the very same school.
That is way too much IMO. At 8 years, they don't have 40 minutes plus another 20 after that to focus on hw in them. Especially those kids who have FTWP and can't start their work until one of them gets in after 6pm.
I dont't think the teacher is being fair. DS's 2nd grade teacher was like this last year and I would get so annoyed. She was so heavy with the hw almost every night. It was overload, and led to awful melt downs.
He wasn't learning how to deal with any of it, so I don't buy that whole getting them ready for middle school BS either. They are older by then and can handle it more. The younger kids don't need to be bogged down like this.
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Posted 9/13/18 10:03 AM |
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BriBri2u
L'amore vince sempre
Member since 5/05 9320 total posts
Name: Mrs. B
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Re: How much homework for fourth grade?
I would LOVE a no HW policy. My nieces in Seattle have this, and have had this since day 1.
The school feels they learn enough throughout the day and that after school is for family, rest and extra curricular activities.
The school just encourages nightly reading at a minimum of 20 minutes.
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Posted 9/13/18 10:07 AM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54915 total posts
Name: ..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: How much homework for fourth grade?
Posted by BriBri2u
Posted by BargainMama
Posted by NervousNell
So I just got a letter home from DD"s third grade teacher ( I know you asked about fourth thought) and she said it will be an average of 40 min a night then they are expected to read for 20 min a night.
IMO that's too much. I'd say 20 min of actually homework and then I start to lose her and she gets antsy, frustrated etc. 30 min tops.
But 40 is too much plus 20 min of reading.
IMO it should be 20 min homework/20 min reading, done.
I agree with you! Sadly in 3rd, we had as much homework as fourth grade. It was a joke. Especially compared to other classes in the very same school.
That is way too much IMO. At 8 years, they don't have 40 minutes plus another 20 after that to focus on hw in them. Especially those kids who have FTWP and can't start their work until one of them gets in after 6pm.
I dont't think the teacher is being fair. DS's 2nd grade teacher was like this last year and I would get so annoyed. She was so heavy with the hw almost every night. It was overload, and led to awful melt downs.
He wasn't learning how to deal with any of it, so I don't buy that whole getting them ready for middle school BS either. They are older by then and can handle it more. The younger kids don't need to be bogged down like this.
I don't get home until 6 so yes, its a nightmare. By then she is tired and cranky and not interested. And forget what time we eat dinner. And yes, at that age, they don't have the attention span to work for 40 min then read for 20. So you know what? If the reading time suffers, so be it. I really don't give a shit. She reads great and she can read more on the weekends if need be.
I saw in the paper that Long Beach started the no hw policy. I hope more districts follow suit.
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Posted 9/13/18 10:16 AM |
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Sash
Peace
Member since 6/08 10312 total posts
Name: fka LIW Smara
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Re: How much homework for fourth grade?
As I much as I would love a no HW policy that would be a nightmare since my son can't do what he is suppose to do. So when he is doing his hwk I can tell whether he is paying attention in class or not.
My son has about 40 min of hwk last year, the only thing I hated was when he has test they would give the same amount of hwk. To me if you he has two test to study for, the hwk amount should be reduced.
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Posted 9/13/18 10:57 AM |
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Sash
Peace
Member since 6/08 10312 total posts
Name: fka LIW Smara
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Re: How much homework for fourth grade?
In 5th grade hwk has been taking us 3hrs but thats because he has been acting like a little jerk.
I think it should really take an hour the amount he has been getting.
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Posted 9/13/18 10:59 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Re: How much homework for fourth grade?
Posted by BriBri2u
I would LOVE a no HW policy. My nieces in Seattle have this, and have had this since day 1.
The school feels they learn enough throughout the day and that after school is for family, rest and extra curricular activities.
The school just encourages nightly reading at a minimum of 20 minutes.
I wish!
Our district DOES have no h/w night once a month on Tuesdays though. NO teacher in the entire district is supposed to assign homework on that night. In 4th grade, our kids ALWAYS had a test on the following Wednesday, so no homework turned into studying for the test.
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Posted 9/13/18 11:50 AM |
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