Is the preschool homework trend something new?

[ilikedonuts]

I see at least 5 pictures a day on FB of preschoolers (3 and 4 year olds) doing homework of worksheets, lines of writing, etc.

DD1 never had any homework last year at 3 and she's at a new school this year (almost 4) and they say they don't give homework either.

Is homework common for preschoolers?

[pugz]

we got "homework" but it was just to make an "About Me" page they will put in their book that the kids get to take home once a semester to get to know their classmates better.

[ilikedonuts]

Sept 2, 2015 21:26:58 GMT -5 @starry said:

I hope not.

Is it common for preschoolers to not start until September 15? lol. I feel like DD will never start!

My friends and I were just discussing this today. 2 of the 8 of us hanging out today have kids that don't start until the 14th! 

[jsillyfun]

I have never heard of this. Play based learning is best for this age and unless she was actually enjoying it I would not have my dd do it.

[Willis Jackson]

Yuck. No.

[redheadk]

Sept 2, 2015 21:27:44 GMT -5 pugz said:

we got "homework" but it was just to make an "About Me" page they will put in their book that the kids get to take home once a semester to get to know their classmates better.

We got this, too, but I consider it homework for me, not for DD. Guess I could involve her, it didn't cross my mind!

[pugz]

Sept 2, 2015 21:29:54 GMT -5 redheadk said:

Sept 2, 2015 21:27:44 GMT -5 pugz said:

we got "homework" but it was just to make an "About Me" page they will put in their book that the kids get to take home once a semester to get to know their classmates better.

We got this, too, but I consider it homework for me, not for DD. Guess I could involve her, it didn't cross my mind!

I let DD pick out some pictures and then I quizzed her on what she liked and wrote that stuff down.

except for "the toy I got for pooping on the potty". I did not write that, lol

[Willis Jackson]

Sept 2, 2015 21:28:30 GMT -5 ilikedonuts said:

Sept 2, 2015 21:26:58 GMT -5 @starry said:

I hope not.

Is it common for preschoolers to not start until September 15? lol. I feel like DD will never start!

My friends and I were just discussing this today. 2 of the 8 of us hanging out today have kids that don't start until the 14th! 

DD starts on the 14th. Her school "follows the public school calendar" except they start a month later and end a month earlier. Grumble grumble.

[cinco]

We've never had homework. Going on year 6 of having a preschooler.

[Dumbledork]

It shouldn't be. Preschool and prek are definitely geared more towards play-based learning.

The lead teacher I worked with last year was sending out homework in our state run prek classroom. The state shut that down so fast, and we're in a pretty shitty state for education. If we're saying it's not cool, other states have probably been saying it for at least 5+ years.

Surprisingly, parents were upset that the kids were no longer getting it. o.O

[lilac05]

No homework at DS1's school. And only rarely do I see evidence of that type of work being done at school. Almost nothing comes home, but he's reading at 4.5, so he must be learning something!

[dcn]

I.....would be finding a new preschool.

[Jalapeñomel]

I hope not.

[pugz]

honestly though I think there are parents that WANT their preschoolers to have homework. It's a way for them to quantitatively measure their child's progress. It's messed up but some parents honestly don't know better and don't understand the concept of learning through play. They want to "see" the learning.

[lurknomore]

Our preschool does not. That being said, DD2 loves tondo her "homework". She does workbooks with her older sister and calls it homework. Any chance this is mom-imposed "homework"?

[mlt]

Lord no. If he had homework it would just be one more thing for me to forget on the way out the door in the morning. :/

[ilikedonuts]

Sept 2, 2015 21:39:21 GMT -5 lurknomore said:

Our preschool does not. That being said, DD2 loves tondo her "homework". She does workbooks with her older sister and calls it homework. Any chance this is mom-imposed "homework"?

They insist its from school. I've had a bunch of posts too in FB groups about actual homework for our fall 2011 kids. It just seems so crazy.


We actually have a bunch of workbooks at home, but they are stacked in the closet and only come out when DD1 goes and grabs one and she usually skips everything related to writing in them lol

[redpenmama]

We had our orientation today, and DD's teacher said that they will be sending home optional "homework" -- worksheets that reinforce what they learn in class. They don't have to do them and don't turn them in. (ETA: She is 4 and didn't have this in the 2- or 3-year-old classrooms at the same school.)

We start September 9, but almost all preschools in town but ours are back at this point.

[whitepicketfence]

My girls have never had homework in preschool.

Even in kindergarten so far, DD1 only gets 1 worksheet per night to do and it typically takes her less than 5 minutes to complete.

[annieh22]

Ours starts really late as well 9/16.

Last year, the teacher sent weekly worksheets home (coloring, tracing letters) and called it "homework" but it was just for fun if your child wanted to do it. She encouraged us to do them when the kid wanted or save them for the summer.

Certainly not real homework. They just like to have sheets to do sometimes. At least my kid loves to.

[GotWine]

My 3 year old will start preschool on the 14th. The 3 year old program is play based and there will be no homework.

My niece had homework in her 4 year old pre-k class. It was always something quick and easy from what I remember.

[DarcyLongfellow]

I would flat out refuse to make my preschooler do worksheets for homework. That is not a good way for kids that age to learn.

We did have homework in pre-K, though (the year before K). Every week she had to go through magazines to find a picture of something that started with the letter of the week. Then she had to cut it out, paste it on a sheet the teacher sent home, then write what the object was. Then the kids would take turns standing up in front of the class and explaining their picture. I was fine with that homework because it was reinforcing fine motor skills as well as academic learning, plus it was interactive and sort of fun. Not just rote memorization or busy work.

We actually didn't even really have homework in K. She had a (different) short little book that would come home each night that she was supposed to read to us.

[origami]

My kids were in a 3yr old preschool class last year. The first half of the year there wasn't real homework. Just stuff like the "About me" page and a drawing here or there. The 2nd half they sent home these little booklets the kids were supposed to write letters/shapes and draw pics in. We didn't have to turn them in though. We had a "reading" log we had to turn in, but it was us reading to the kids (or them memorizing the story). This year they're in the 4yr old PreK class and so far it's the same.

ETA: I would flip out about real homework.

[july]

I hope not. The most we have gotten was little craft activities to take back to school, like the about me posters or family tree. I have a hard enough time doing those.

Also I don't think my kid could sit down long enough to do homework.

[mainelyfoolish]

The only homework DD ever had in preschool was bringing in an item for the "letter of the week" to share and tell. Even in kindergarten and first grade, she never had any homework. I think now in second grade, she might start to get some homework. It's going to be a rude awakening for her!

[Deleted]

What? No.

The school I work in and the one Rubes will attend doesn't even do worksheets at actual school.

There is a homework of the month project but it's usually easy stuff like "find 3 items that start with the letter A and tell a parent" or an all about me sheet or parts for an art project to assemble. Nothing ridiculous.

[Deleted]

Sept 2, 2015 21:27:44 GMT -5 pugz said:

we got "homework" but it was just to make an "About Me" page they will put in their book that the kids get to take home once a semester to get to know their classmates better.

DS just started preschool on Monday, he's in the 3s class. He's had two "about me" projects so far, a paper bag to decorate and fill with objects, and magazine cutouts to make a placemat. I will raise hell if our school expects worksheets or something similar.

[Deleted]

Sept 2, 2015 21:30:57 GMT -5 pugz said:

Sept 2, 2015 21:29:54 GMT -5 redheadk said:

We got this, too, but I consider it homework for me, not for DD. Guess I could involve her, it didn't cross my mind!

I let DD pick out some pictures and then I quizzed her on what she liked and wrote that stuff down.

except for "the toy I got for pooping on the potty". I did not write that, lol

Last night DS and I flipped through a magazine to cut out pictures for him to make an "About Me" placemat today. He picked out a bunch of stuff he doesn't actually like. For example he pointed at a picture of broccoli and said "oooh cut dat out mommy, I wuv brokwli!" YOU FIBBER I'VE OFFERED YOU BROCCOLI A HUNDRED TIMES AND YOU'VE NEVER EATEN IT.

[starlily]

The preschool class at our daycare had optional homework. They did play based learning in class; the worksheets were just reinforcement. There were never any deadlines or grading.

Examples: trace one line of letters; circle 'x' number of objects; color the items 'x' color; draw a line between the dots.

DD1 thought the worksheets were fun. She'd usually ask for more to do when she finished them.

She's currently in junior-k and they have a similar set-up. We don't mind it.

[Deleted]

Unless my kid thought they were super fun (and even then I would side eye the teacher) I would be refusing homework. That being said, play based is really popular here so I doubt it will come up.