WWYD: Forgotten homework.

[cjcouple]

B forgot his math homework. First time this year. His ride dropped him off so I went out to chat for a minute, came in and he was in full panic mode/tears. So I calmed him down and texted a mom of a kid in his class and she shot me a pic of homework.

As I was reading problems to him to do on scrap paper, I wondered if I handled this wrong. Maybe I should have let him get natural consequences at school. But he was so upset I just immediately jumped to solve the problem.

I mean if it was a recurring problem then I would not have bailed him out but with it being 1st time offense I didn't even consider him not completing it.

Now I wonder if teacher will be annoyed or if she prefers they attempt to call a friend?

Thoughts?

[NandaB]

He left the paper he needed at school, so you had a friend send you the problems so he could still do the work and turn it in on time?

I vote a good way to solve the problem

[cjcouple]

Jan 26, 2016 16:25:54 GMT -5 NandaB said:

He left the paper he needed at school, so you had a friend send you the problems so he could still do the work and turn it in on time?

I vote a good way to solve the problem

Yes.

ETA That is a double yes.
Yes to your answer ans
YES!!!!! I did the right thing. Haha

[Deleted]

One time occurrence, work is still getting done, sounds great to me!

[mamaalysson]

I think you did the right thing. I mean, yeah, if this were an every day thing, I would let him face the consequences, but it sounds like it was just one of those things. And you showed him a great way to solve the problem. Well done, mama! :-)

[cjcouple]

Woot. Thanks all.

[polarbearfans]

You helped him find a solution. If something similar happens again he now knows there it isn't the end of the world and there may be a solution

[nicolewi]

I had the exact same thing happen earlier this year! DD was in a total, crying panic b/c she left her math worksheet at school. She was insisting she would have to stay in for recess for not doing it (first grade), even though it seriously takes her like 1 minute to do it at home. We tried to call the teacher's room but she wasn't there. Called school office and went over to pick it up (luckily we live close and discovered the issue as soon as she got off the bus). Turned out the teacher was there and had just been away for a second, and she was so nice. Told DD (as I had thought) that she would not have to stay in for recess unless it was a recurring issue, and that she could always do it very quickly in between other activities in the morning if it ever happened again. She was super nice and it ended up being a positive experience.

I had the same feelings about "should this be a tough love thing?" but in the end I was very glad we just drove over there, and was sorry for even being crabby about it at all. She has not forgotten homework before or since, and heck, she's only in first grade! I kind of figured, what's the better life lesson? Learning that you are screwed and no one will help you, or learning to problem solve (what can we do about this?) and seeing that people will be helpful, and you can then be helpful to others when you get a chance?

Glad it worked out!!

[lattelady5]

Ditto everyone else. We all make mistakes. I think you did the right thing.

[Deleted]

Also agree. Gold star for a teachable moment in being a problem solver and thinking outside the box

[jag01]

It's not like he forgot it to avoid doing it. It reduced the stress he had, showed him how to problem solve. I'm sure the teacher would appreciate the effort vs not doing it at all. Sounds like a win to me.

[lala]

I think that's fine. I would have only bothered getting it if my kid was really going to be upset because at my kids age (first) homework isn't a big deal and her teacher has made it clear that not completing isn't a big deal.

If forgetting it was recurring or there was a bigger issue, yes we'd deal with it. But I refuse to make homework a big deal for lower elementary.

[erbear]

How old?

I teach middle school and I am all about natural consequences with my parents. I don't think they should rescue (a missed homework isn't the end of the world, and it's a good lesson in responsibility). However, many of my students do what you did - text or email a classmate and ask them to send the questions, and I think that is great. I would prefer that the kids did the asking, but again, my students are 13-14 so a younger kid wouldn't have that same access.

[jnksmom]

I agree that if it was a recurring problem, I would let him face the consequences but a first offense I would have done what you did. As a teacher, I would appreciate that you tried to solve the problem and complete the homework.

[court26]

I would have done the same thing! My son who forgets something everyday on the other hand.....haha

[cjcouple]

erbear he is 9 in 4th grade.

He is usually really good at remembering it and I don't even have to ask him to do it. He just starts after school because he knows he has basketball.

[erbear]

Jan 27, 2016 8:55:30 GMT -5 cjcouple said:

erbear he is 9 in 4th grade.

He is usually really good at remembering it and I don't even have to ask him to do it. He just starts after school because he knows he has basketball.

Seems legit I'd bail my kid out the first time, as long as it wasn't a recurring thing.

[amynumbers]

Honestly, what is learned by letting the kid get in trouble for something as dumb as homework in a young grade?

If I forget something in the real world, I don't just not do it, I need to find a work around. You helped him find a work around. How could anyone consider that bad?

[cjcouple]

Jan 27, 2016 15:33:41 GMT -5 amynumbers said:

Honestly, what is learned by letting the kid get in trouble for something as dumb as homework in a young grade?

If I forget something in the real world, I don't just not do it, I need to find a work around. You helped him find a work around. How could anyone consider that bad?

Good point.