Homework over the summer!

[jill]

My child was given a list of work for the summer first reading 30 minutes a day and was given an approved book list ( she loves to read at least) then she has to write a mini book report, write in a journal over the summer daily, practice her math concepts, and review vocab words from the year.

With working full time and her being in camp during the day being kept busy with all the things she loves where do they think we have the time. Not to mention the later the day the less focus she has even with meds. She will be entering the 3rd grade. Also we will not be getting home in the evenings until 5:15 pm then there is dinner and bath etc. Darn schools!

[katiekat]

WOW! That is a lot to expect from a child over the summer. The school just doesn't take into consideration that PEOPLE HAVE TO WORK. The daily jornal thing is ridiculous. My older son is going into 6th grade and has never been given that amount of work to do over the summer. The only summer homework he's ever had was to read. Summer vacation is called that for a reason. Our kids have enough stress and pressure all year long. I think they deserve some kind of a break, not to mention we need a break as well from the homework.

[jj]

Reading 30 minutes a day! It's summer.break!! I think I'd let her do what she wants at her own pace and a couple weeks before school review the math stuff/vocab words and when it's come time to go back to school just tell them flat out you didn't agree with the amount of work they expected over the summer.

[misty]

You said your daughter likes to read. Mine does too & I actually think reading 30 minutes a day is NOT too much to ask....my daughter just reads at least that long in her bed every night before going to sleep. So I think in your shoes I'd make SURE she does the reading (Since she enjoys it anyway) and then just brush up on the math & vocab shortly before school starts back up again. As for the journal & the book reports, I'd just tell the school I'm sorry but we had no time for those. I bet you wouldn't be the only one not doing them!

[charliegirl]

I would ignore it myself. Its vacation and since she likes to read you can make sure she has books she enjoys around, and leave it at that.

I think they are trying to encourage the kids to keep their skills polished, as kids do tend to lose some of what they have learned during long breaks. Still, its summer and they shouldn't have any say in how you choose to direct it for your kids.

[puzzled]

My school has never, in the over 20 years we have been here, assigned any homework over the summer.

We are a reading family, so we do that, but no homework....

I would not worry too much, or stress about it.

[unicorn]

Tiffany got a recommended summer reading list. She does read, because the library system I work for has a summer reading club. It has games and prizes and drawings for baseball & football tickets and also the county gives away about 10 bikes. So a lot of children at least read over the summer.

As you know she is going to summer school beginning July 2nd. I don't know if there will be home work or not with that. I wouldn't think so since it is more to keep her skills up then anything. We will see.

[jill]

I can see they do not want her to lose skills but this is crazy. My plan is to continue reading and helping her gather her thoughts for the what the book was and help her with a couple of sentences as for the vocab I will review with her 1x per week or every 2 weeks. For the math issue I will get a workbook plus we have addition and subtraction bingo games to play and that will be 1x per week (will try) And last the journal 1x per week a few sentences to sum up the week short and sweet.

[bugsmom]

Jill I'm shocked as to what they want your daughter to do over the summer! This is THEIR vacation time and I just think it's way overboard!

The reading, I do believe is a must, but the book report is stepping over the line. I think reviewing her math concepts and vocab would be great, but she can brush up on that when the school year gets closer.

My sons school does not require any school work over the summer, but I am giving him work to do anyway. Every morning I have 2 worksheets on the kitchen table that he has to do before he starts any activity for the day. One is a math worksheet and one is handwriting (which he is horrible at even going into the 6th grade!). I am also making him read, but not daily. He's picked our a couple of books from the library and he has to read them before they are due, which is in three weeks.

I wouldn't fret about the work, do what you can do and leave it at that. Our kids have enough to deal with during the school year, summer is their time.

Good Luck and enjoy your summer!

[lostmyshoe]

Jill,

I agree with everyone else. That is nutz to expect all that work. My daughter actually began to resent reading when she had to read a story and do journals every night for homework in 4th, 5th and 6th grades. Sometimes that idea can actually backfire. She was so happy not to have to do that this past school year and she reads much more now. She loves to read. Our schools have summer reading lists of books she could pick out from the library. It used to be expected in the lower grades but as they get older it becomes an option for extra credit when school starts back. Becca used to do the reading lists but then got bored with the list of books they suggested. She usually reads books she likes on her own in the summer so I don't worry about that at all. My Sis-N-Law pushes her kids to do the reading lists but I think Becca needs a break after the year she's had so I let her read what she wants. The last thing I could ever get my daughter to do after a school year full of them is another report. I work too, so I know how you feel. I think the schedule you are setting up sounds perfect and not too tiresome for your daughter. Some of those work books can actually be pretty fun. I've bought them before for my daughter just to help her refresh before school starts. It also does give us that individual time with our kids we miss when we are at work. Sounds like you have a really good plan. Sometimes schools just get a little too carried away and we as parents have to decide where to draw the line.