So fed up with my kid's homework...

[juliahenry]

Ugh. It's hell. They send home math worksheets asking for answers like 'step one' 'step two' but they don't tell you what those steps are and how they want the problem solved. It's half a page to solve 22+10, and I can't figure out what the teacher wants him to do, because, well, it's 22+10.

My kid is almost 8. He's beyond bored (which is probably why he doesn't remember whatever steps they want him to take to solve the problem.)

oh, and he's getting books sent home for reading marked with a first-grade level. He's supposed to read for 20 minutes a day as part of his homework. He reads at a fifth-grade level and his school knows this. Today's homework book took 90 seconds. 

I've been in touch with the school. They are "still evaluating everyone's reading levels" and "starting off slowly with the math just to get them used to it". 

Its killing us. I'm seriously considering just sending a note to let the teacher know that ds will not be doing his homework until it is at grade level. Not even at his level - just at grade level. I won't, because I am mostly a good sport, but man...it's hell.

[panicked]

Is he in the gifted program? If he's that advanced, he should be, and should have an IEP.

[janiejones]

Sept 30, 2013 15:35:06 GMT -5 juliahenry said:

Ugh. It's hell. They send home math worksheets asking for answers like 'step one' 'step two' but they don't tell you what those steps are and how they want the problem solved. It's half a page to solve 22+10, and I can't figure out what the teacher wants him to do, because, well, it's 22+10.

My kid is almost 8. He's beyond bored (which is probably why he doesn't remember whatever steps they want him to take to solve the problem.)

oh, and he's getting books sent home for reading marked with a first-grade level. He's supposed to read for 20 minutes a day as part of his homework. He reads at a fifth-grade level and his school knows this. Today's homework book took 90 seconds. 

I've been in touch with the school. They are "still evaluating everyone's reading levels" and "starting off slowly with the math just to get them used to it". 

Its killing us. I'm seriously considering just sending a note to let the teacher know that ds will not be doing his homework until it is at grade level. Not even at his level - just at grade level. I won't, because I am mostly a good sport, but man...it's hell.

Isn't October tomorrow?
Call them on that shit, they are wasting everyone's time.

[tripleshot]

DS's 2nd grade teacher assigned the class to read 114 pages (5 chapters) out of the science textbook over the weekend. DH and I both thought DS wrote it down wrong because who would assign that much? DS double checked today and it was right. Wtf.

[game blouses]

That is really annoying. There's nothing worse than being bored and unmotivated in school, especially because it sounds like he had been doing very well before this school year. Can you augment his reading with books from the library until things get better?

[game blouses]

Sept 30, 2013 15:43:57 GMT -5 tripleshot said:

DS's 2nd grade teacher assigned the class to read 114 pages (5 chapters) out of the science textbook over the weekend. DH and I both thought DS wrote it down wrong because who would assign that much? DS double checked today and it was right. Wtf.

That's more than I had in AP Biology, and we had all summer for that!

[juliahenry]

Sept 30, 2013 15:39:24 GMT -5 panicked said:

Is he in the gifted program? If he's that advanced, he should be, and should have an IEP.

He has what's called a DEP - differentiated education plan, as opposed to an IEP. DEP is what the school board here uses to designate gifted, but separate gifted classrooms don't start until 4th grade.

While I wish they would teach appropriately for the DEP, things are such a mess that at this point,  I just want him to get stuff that's on grade level.

oh, and yes, our local school district is "nationally ranked" (whatever that means) and is widely considered to be the best in the state 

[Captain Serious]

The math is part of a new way of teaching math where they aren't just interested in whether or not the kids get the right answer, but also how the came up with the answer they got. They want kids to be able to explain what they did while solving the problem. There is no specific answer they are looking for, other than an explanation.

[ohiowan]

Sept 30, 2013 15:35:06 GMT -5 juliahenry said:

Ugh. It's hell. They send home math worksheets asking for answers like 'step one' 'step two' but they don't tell you what those steps are and how they want the problem solved. It's half a page to solve 22+10, and I can't figure out what the teacher wants him to do, because, well, it's 22+10.

My kid is almost 8. He's beyond bored (which is probably why he doesn't remember whatever steps they want him to take to solve the problem.)

oh, and he's getting books sent home for reading marked with a first-grade level. He's supposed to read for 20 minutes a day as part of his homework. He reads at a fifth-grade level and his school knows this. Today's homework book took 90 seconds. 

I've been in touch with the school. They are "still evaluating everyone's reading levels" and "starting off slowly with the math just to get them used to it". 

Its killing us. I'm seriously considering just sending a note to let the teacher know that ds will not be doing his homework until it is at grade level. Not even at his level - just at grade level. I won't, because I am mostly a good sport, but man...it's hell.

I would choose an independent reading book at or above grade level for him to read on his own in addition to the assigned reading. I know it's frustrating, but there are probably a wide range of reading levels in the class and if the teacher wants to teach a group concept or technique, the book needs to be accessible to everyone.

If the directions aren't clear, definitely email her or call to clarify because there's a good chance other students/parents are having the same issue.

ETA: DON'T encourage him not to do his homework until it's grade level!

[juliahenry]

Sept 30, 2013 15:49:25 GMT -5 Captain Serious said:

The math is part of a new way of teaching math where they aren't just interested in whether or not the kids get the right answer, but also how the came up with the answer they got. They want kids to be able to explain what they did while solving the problem. There is no specific answer they are looking for, other than an explanation.

Thanks. This might be it. 

Its still pretty ridiculous for 22+10...

[aprilsails]

I know what they are trying to do with the 'steps' process in the math homework since it is the new cool way to teach this stuff but I still have a hard time when it is something as simple as 22+10. Poor kids.

I would send the teacher an email to explain that DS isn't being adequately challenged at this point and you look forward to more appropriate level homework.

I would then go to the library and get some better books. My Mom also did side projects with me. Like I would pick an article from a National Geographic that I found interesting (say about the lynx) and we would find books on that subject and she would have me look up the area and weather, population, etc. I would then put together a 1 page factsheet (by the time I was 10 these got bigger).

My school didn't have the ability to give me an IEP until I was in middle school so my Mom kind of created her own program. She also hated homework for the sake of homework and preferred a self-directed approach where my brother and I chose subjects that mattered to us. My brother was a full-blown Vietnam war historian by the age of 12.

[Deleted]

Do the kids not get to pick their own books? Weird that he's not, especially since he's reading at such a higher level. I would ask her to allow him to read another book on top of what she's sending for homework.

As for the homework, it's not really a good idea to tell him not to do it. That just sets a precedent for future fights over homework.

[thebuddhagouda]

My dad regularly gave me extra "assigned" reading when the books the school assigned weren't challenging me. I never had to write reports or anything on them though. I'm pretty sure I would have been all "Eff that noise, dad"

[thebuddhagouda]

Sept 30, 2013 16:17:41 GMT -5 @booby said:

step 1

stack the numbers on top of one another

step 2

add the right-most numbers and carry second digit, where applicable

step 3

add the second-from-the-right digits (includig any carry over)


etc
etc


like, this isn't hard to understand what the steps are. give me a break.

I don't think it's hard, but I DO think it's completely pointless. If you can add it in your head without ever even needing paper, there shouldn't be steps. It's just dumb. I thought so as a student, and I will think so when my kids have to start doing it. I'll still make them do their homework but it will never not be dumb.

[redheadk]

Sept 30, 2013 16:02:43 GMT -5 juliahenry said:

Sept 30, 2013 15:49:25 GMT -5 Captain Serious said:

The math is part of a new way of teaching math where they aren't just interested in whether or not the kids get the right answer, but also how the came up with the answer they got. They want kids to be able to explain what they did while solving the problem. There is no specific answer they are looking for, other than an explanation.

Thanks. This might be it. 

Its still pretty ridiculous for 22+10...

How long has this been going on? Could she be reinforcing the process of writing the explanations using simple math?

[JayhawkGirl]

Sept 30, 2013 16:17:41 GMT -5 @booby said:

step 1

stack the numbers on top of one another

step 2

add the right-most numbers and carry second digit, where applicable

step 3

add the second-from-the-right digits (includig any carry over)


etc
etc


like, this isn't hard to understand what the steps are. give me a break.

I thought the same thing when my neighbor brought her 3rd grader's math homework home. They don't stack numbers and carry now. They get to the next set of 10, so 22 plus what is 30. 8? Okay, 10 minus what is 8? 2. Okay, add that. It's nuts to me. And I agree- suddenly a quick math problem takes a half page of logic.

Then there was a second method they had to show. I just forget what it was.

Her kiddo's assignments come home with "dear parents" at the top. Sometimes they have 20 minute online videos to watch to see how to teach their kids the homework. My Mom's involvement in my homework was buying poster board a couple of times a year. So different now, and every parent I talk to is stressed. I can't imagine how the kids must feel and how quickly the burnout will come.

[iamali]

As far as the reading goes - you have other books at home for him, right? Or a library. So he finishes his school book, make him read something else. I don't quite enjoy my kids' h/w either, but I just deal, you know? I also have a kid in 4th grade and look at his math and go "wtf are they doing it this way??", but I don't want to put an idea in his head that it isn't worth doing or whatever.

[juliahenry]

Oh, he went and read a Percy Jackson novel for the rest if his homework. The kid reads a lot, it's just that at school, they are given very limited options and no help choosing. And all of the books are grades 1-2 as far as level.

And the math isn't difficult, it's just ridiculous to have four lines of "explanation" for a really basic equation. That, plus I don't know how you stretch it out into an actual answer without just answering the question.

Dd says he's been answering the questions when asked in class, but they don't want him to answer with a number, which he finds frustrating. I'm sympathetic. If he was being asked to do long division, I know that he would benefit from explaining it. But detailed work around adding 10 to a number? Without an explanation that will allow a parent to help? Pointless IMO.

[murdock]

The math steps could be the teacher or school's interpretation of 2.NBT.9 ( 2nd grade integrated math) of the Common Core.

I'm on the app and having a hell of a time copying and pasting it. Sorry, it says something about explaining addition steps.

ETA: teacher's Duh!!
Anyway, just a guess.

[MWOS]

lol, it's totally pointless to make your kid think about how he got an answer

[Deleted]

The math stuff to me is just confusing/stupid for how they're presenting it.

But I'm w Booby, it's what you do anywya.

Maybe making kids more cognizant of the steps will help. I dunno, I'm not a math teacher.


The reading thing is ridiculous and I think you need to get on them to challenge him more. Or maybe start supplementing at home or something b/c wow. That's really, really frustrating

[Deleted]

This is odd to me.

If it took your kid 90 seconds to do homework and he's bored out of his mind, well good thing it only took him 90 seconds, I guess?

I loved being a good reader in school. My homework was boring and I finished it very quickly. Then I got to read a library book of my choice that was much more advanced.

I'm not sure why he should be excused from homework, even if it's below his level. Doing homework serves more than just the purpose of improving his math and reading skills.

Maybe I just went to a really crappy school. lol

[wildfloweragain]

I have not a lot of good to add here because I am teaching the common core and think it is wrong.

However, if you are not sure what to do, look at your state's education website and they will have the whole module there as well as resources for parents. Ours is www.engageny.org

Good luck.

[Marmee]

Ugh! My kid just started 3rd grade & now is doing Singapore Math. She has pages & pages of this kind of thing yet has little clue what to do. She wants to stack numbers & carry the 1 like she was taught in Montessori.. All this writing everything out & "mental math" is supposed to be the best way but it drives me nuts. My H & I can't even help her as we don't know what the fuck they are asking for half the time. Oh & her spelling words...don't even get me started.

[Deleted]

Sept 30, 2013 16:40:09 GMT -5 murdock said:

The math steps could be the teacher or school's interpretation of 2.NBT.9 ( 2nd grade integrated math) of the Common Core.

I'm on the app and having a hell of a time copying and pasting it. Sorry, it says something about explaining addition steps.

ETA: teacher's Duh!!
Anyway, just a guess.

This is exactly what I was thinking. It might seem silly to go to all the extra trouble, but that's what common core wants. So they get used to explaining their answer.

[Alyssa]

I would understand explaining multiple steps if it he was in algebra and had to break down the quadratic formula....but 22+10? Really?

[Deleted]

It seems trivial, but again. It serves a point. Just like I ask my kids to explain to me what a proper noun is. And what an adjective is. So when I do proper adjectives, they'll remember that an adjective describes a noun and a proper noun references a specific noun and is capitalized so a proper adjective is capitalized and describes a particular something.

[TheSeaward]

this reminds me of when my 2 youngest were learning how to round up/down. here is what they learned draw line, make marks that represent 1 thru 10. now mark where 3 is, is that closer to 1 or closer to 10, if it is closer to 1, round down.

really, that is necessary?

if the number is larger than 5 round up!

[MWOS]

how the fuck do you expect to do algebra or calculus or whatever if you haven't practiced the fundamentals of math from every stage of the game?

jesus I am going to flip a table

[Deleted]

Sept 30, 2013 17:11:51 GMT -5 TheSeaward said:

this reminds me of when my 2 youngest were learning how to round up/down. here is what they learned draw line, make marks that represent 1 thru 10. now mark where 3 is, is that closer to 1 or closer to 10, if it is closer to 1, round down.

really, that is necessary?

if the number is larger than 5 round up!

Sounds like the teacher was slipping in using a number line in conjunction with rounding.