2Nd Grade - No Homework?

My 2nd grader has homework. Usually a math page and some spelling every night, and then read for 20 minutes. He has to log it. My boys have had homework since kindergarten, but they go to private school.

Now, I am not one of those parents in favor of homework for homework's sake. Homework should reinforce and practice what was learned in class. This is what my kid's homework is.

Talk to the teacher and the principal and see WHY there is no homework for the 2nd graders. They should at least have math and spelling.

My daughter just started 2nd grade and has between 5-20 min of homework 4 nights a week. So far it has been writing spelling words, using spelling words in sentences, and math problems

It may be, if she is advanced, that she is completing everything in school.

Some schools are minimizing homework because it isn't being done at home.... I've actually heard teachers (in middle school) say that the principal told them to not give much homework, because it wasn't getting done, and just causing more problems.

I think the teacher is just giving the parents ideas on how to interact and make "teaching moments" throughout the day... something it seems that you probably do anyway. There were a lot of things we did as parents to "enhance" their education, just through daily life and activities.

School has pretty much just started... it could be that she intentionally hasn't issued "homework" yet....

I would talk to the teacher... send an e-mail or something and ask if she will be sending homework assignments for the students.

Well, it's just my opinion, but we as parents ARE responsible for whether or not our children succeed academically. If you feel that your child needs further reinforcement of the subjects she's studying in school, then by all means drill those some more (spelling words, math facts on flashcards, etc). However, if your child has those facts down, then go ahead and explore subjects that might interest your child. Does she need a math challenge? Have her help with cooking dinner, and when you need 1 cup of flour, hand her a 1/3 cup and ask her to figure it out. Guess what? That's math homework! Need a spelling challenge? The next time you're in the car driving somewhere, have a spelling bee in your car. Give your kids challenging words. Guess what? That's spelling homework. Do they love science? How about going to a museum over the weekend, or after school? Or maybe to the zoo. There are so many ways to get kids curious about new subjects, or think a L. deeper on the ones they know. Your child's teacher recognizes this - bravo to her!

I don't think your child's teacher has abdicated her duties. She's letting you as the parent have the luxury of being able to direct some of your child's studies. If you're not feeling creative, then go to Target and get a Grade 2 workbook - they have several to choose from. But just think - ANYTHING you do with your child can expand her horizons! She's a smart kid - challenge her! You know what makes her tick. Take that and make this homework time special, and make it count! She will get so much more from that than from having to do busy work, which is what homework is for smart kids.

Frankly, I find your complaint odd. Most parents are faced with hours of homework with children as young as 1st grade. IMHO having that much homework tells me the teachers are either not doing enough in school, have too much to teach to satisfy some over paid bureaucrat, or are doing too much repeat work. I don't think 2nd graders should have homework and I frankly admire a teacher/school that agrees. I remember my 2nd grader coming home and we literally sat for over 2 hours a night doing homework. I had to wonder what they did in class all day. THAT is being a teacher at home. Not having suggestions of ways to help you child and you having the option to do them.

Kids need to be kids, not spending hours in class each week and more hours at home doing homework. My middle school child rarely had homework because they had 15 minutes in each classroom to finish work and she actually did the work instead of visiting like most kids did. That I was shocked by, but she did amazingly well on tests and did great in high school.

I do think that it takes parents and teachers to educate a child. It is very obvious which children get help at home and which don't. I think we put way too much on schools these days from feeding some kids 3 meals a day to doing laundry for them (yes some schools do this). It's crazy what we expect out of our teachers these days.

So set down with your daughter twice a week and work on something together. No one is saying you have to be her teacher.

Second grade is still too early for making kids grind away at their subjects at home. It sounds like you are equating homework with academic success: more work = better education.

But academics are not the only way kids learn, and younger children are still making tremendous mental and physical gains when they are simply playing, interacting with family members, and helping around the house. Even if you make no special efforts to "school" her, your daughter will continue to learn, and discover real-life practice in and applications of what she studies in class. It's what normal, active, healthy kids do, at least as long as their intake of mental "junk food" via television and video games is kept to a reasonable limit.

Actual research shows that homework in early elementary years does not get the kids ahead academically. Educator Alfie Kohn, champion of fact-based education and major proponent of limiting homework for later years, has a great deal to say about it: http://www.alfiekohn.org/teaching/rethinkinghomework.htm.

It sounds like you are seeing this through a "poor school" lens. Working from the assumption that your child will get a poor education in this district, it's awfully easy to interpret any feedback from the school as evidence that this particular school and this particular teacher are falling short. If a 7yo came home loaded down with an hour or more of work every evening, that could likewise be interpreted as the reasons for the low state ratings.

Since this is where your child is this year, I hope you will allow the teacher to prove her/himself. The year has only begun, and there are some wonderful teachers even in the worst of schools. If your first interactions with her are judgemental or antagonistic, that does not bode well.

Really, you didn't know that Parents are the primary educator of your children. The school is there to back you up. They are your children, not the states. So you have to think up a few activities. It's not like it's rocket science. It's second grade. Have her read for at least 15 minutes each night. Play an add and subtraction game using cards or dice. You should be able to look at the school work coming home to get and idea as to where they are in skills to help you with ideas. Really this is not a big deal.

Hi,
As a parent educator and a parent, I have seen SO MANY burned out parents and kids from too much homework. I remember days when my daughter would cry from exhaustion from school, extra curriculars and homework.

My suggestion is to incorporate learning into the very functional. Have her read recipes and help cook, halve recipes and use math, etc. Have her see how to enter a check and do the math, etc.

I also love the other suggestions of having after school be time for art or music or dance so she can use her linear brain at school and have space to use her creative brain.

It will so serve her in the long run to learn at a young age to live a balanced life; my daughter is 21 and I have seen her and her friends go into adrenal exhaustion in HS/college from overdoing all of the time. My daughter is very smart and ambitious, but being smart and ambitious didn't help her stay in school when had to drop out of college for a bit from exhaustion.
Blessings to you and your family,
K.
Kimberly Smith Cavins, OTR, CPE, EFT-Cert
"From the Heart" Family Healing

Helping people with:
~Parenting or Family Struggles
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Who need Peace, Love, and Connection

Remedy Center for Healing Arts; 4910 Burnet Rd Austin, Tx ____@____.com
"We can do no great things, only small things with great Love"~Mother Teresa

You're taking this wayyyy too seriously. It's second grade. And the second week of school.
As a mom of three teenagers, I would say rejoice in year of no homework. Soon enough it will be more than they can handle.
If the teacher is doing a great job, then maybe no homework is needed-did you consider that?
As long as your child does a L. reading on her own then I would be happy, happy that there was no additional homework.

What a fabulous opportunity to enhance your family time without having to stress out yourself or your child. Take full advantage of the time, it's a gift!

Hmmmm...these are your children, your responsibility. Just because you don't homeschool and have a full-time job doesn't mean you're off the hook and can leave it all up to the school. That doesn't mean 'homework' has to be planned, dull, boring worksheets (unless your daughters enjoy them, of course). Do fun things after school - enjoy the family time! Education should be about way more than school.

What most parents wouldn't give to be in your school district! Homework is stealing family time, and not working to the benefit of the child. Study after study has shown an inverse understanding of material as more homework is added; especially with younger grades. A 2nd grader with no homework and a good teacher is more likely to retain and understand the information than a 2nd grader given homework every evening. Learning happens best when the child gets time off to pursue other interests and process what they learned that day. Drilling is not where learning takes place. If the teacher can't cover everything they need to in class, doesn't mean they have the right to take over your child's home life. This is one of my biggest reasons for homeschooling...I am not going to allow the school to dictate what we do in our home.

I personally don't think 2nd graders should have homework! They should be spending their day at school learning..... not at home doing school work! Home time should be spent with family and playing!!! I know I am going to be irritated at the first bit of homework my child gets! Now, work to do over the summer...... yes, that would be helpful....... but I just don't think homework is necessary for most children! Just an fyi... I am college educated, so I do value an education........ I just think kids spend sooooo much time at school that they need a break when they return home, that's all!

I teach 2nd grade. Do your research about homework! Study after study shows that homework does NOT improve a students academics. I think you are reading too much into this. I don't think the teacher is trying to "blame you" if your daughter does not do well. I would make sure she is reading for 15 minutes each night and ask her a question about the book, that is not a yes or no question, like "What was your favorite part?" or "If you could change the ending, what would you have happen?" You may also want to practice some math flash cards with her. Good luck!

I don't think children should have the amount of homework that they are given. I argue that they really shouldn't have any at all. A child spends the bulk of each day in a classroom. By the time their parents come home from a long day at the office there is no time at all for family time anymore. There is no time for them to play and run off steam since schools are getting rid of recess and PE. Children aren't getting enough sleep because they get home from school, have a couple hours of homework to complete, some time in there is dinner, they often have after school activities. Now more than ever since schools often no longer offer music classes or anything else that isn't "academic" and part of the "3 Rs".
Having children doing hours of repetitive worksheets isn't the way to teach a child. It's a babysitter. It's lazy teaching as far as I am concerned.

I agree that you need to know what they are learning in class that week so you can present her with the same kinds of things they are doing in class.

If they are working on math and you are working on punctuation it isn't going to do her much good in the whole picture. She needs to have at least worksheets if she is to do any homework.

I would talk to the teacher and tell her you work and don't have time to read a text book every day trying to figure out what chapters they are working on.

On the other hand if your daughter doesn't have to turn anything in you are kind of in a good spot. Who'll know if she does anything or not.

Our girl has only brought home a few worksheets since school started and she brings her spelling words each day.

My honest opinion about homework. Kids should get to be kids, they need to run and play. They need to go watch tadpoles swimming in a puddle, they need to see lightening bugs. They need to ride bikes and go play ball on the corner lot. They don't need to be in school 8 hours a day then come home and do hours more homework. I think that is criminal. They are not adults working overtime. When a child has to spend more time doing school work than an adult at a full time job it's time to stand up and say NO.

WHAT are you complaining about? I would be thankful that I was able to create things for her myself. I have friends who have had emotional break downs because their 1st and 2nd grade children come home with 3 hours worth of home work a day! Kudos to the teacher your daughter got this year! She understands that home life and family time exists!

I am a second grade teacher, and the only homework I ever give is to read for 20 minutes every night. If you do a quick search you will find numerous articles that talk about homework being a benifit only in the upper grade levels. In fact, my school is considering implementing a school wide no homework policy. I will try to come back later and link you to some of the articles, I have to go get my class from PE right now. My assistan principal's theory is: what could you (a teacher) not teach in your 8 hour school day that requires it to be done at home? And if it is that important that it must be taught today (hence it being sent as homework), is it really the best thing to be sent home?

oh my gosh what i woudn't give for that. i think my second grader works hard enough at school and needs to play when he gets home, not spend an hour on homework. but he gets 25 spelling words, has to read for 20 minutes, and has a page of math every night. i would much rather have free time together to pursue other topics like music and foreign languages rather than be dictated by the school what i have to do in the afternoon with my kid.

just read together. go to the library and find interesting things to do. enjoy having the freedom to choose what you learn together!!!

but if you seriously want homework assignments, i'm sure your child's teacher can give some things to you that she feels are at your daughter's level to work on at home. talk to her, express your outrage!! :)

Reading, writing and arithmetic. Easy. Make sure she has something fun to read every night. Make sure it's what she likes to read. Have her write letters to grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. Go to coolmath4kids.com and see what kind of games she likes. They have so many fun ways to reinforce math facts. We need to keep math fun.

Skip the boring workbooks (unless your daughter loves doing them). I love the suggestions you have gotten already about learning as you go about daily life. It sounds like you are the type that involves your kids in everyday experiences. Keep it up! Parents will always be the best teachers.

It sounds like your daughter is able to finish her work at school. Many kids haven't learned how to do that and need to bring their work home for someone to sit over them and help them get it done. You are blessed!

Please don't let your kids ever get a hint that you don't like their school, teacher, etc. Find ways to compliment your kids' teachers so they will respect that profession. And be positive and supportive when you meet with the teachers. After the teachers have a chance to get to know your child's learning style and abilities, then ask what you can do at home to reinforce what is happening at school.

Have fun with the no formal homework thing. I would love that!!! And to answer your question, yes I think teachers are responsible during school time and then YES, it is up to us.

Even in school, with homework, kids advance at different levels.

Education starts at home. Ever hear that? You definitely are your child's teacher. And you have a responsiblity to enrich her learning at home AND to make sure she is learning at school. The school doesn't love and care for your daughter. YOU do. So education is your responsibility. You can't just send a kid to school and do nothing.

You can bake with her at home (that's learning math and following directions), you can get a book outlining what someone her age should know. And use that to talk to her about the world and her place in it. There are workbooks for each grade level.... you can get them at Walgreens even. Get one and have her do a worksheet a night if it makes you feel better. Go for a walk and look at leaves and trees and bugs and birds! I had a great book once about grade school kids and classic art. It was a page a day you could read to your child with a picture of the art discussed. It was a great way to introduce my daughter to something she wouldn't get in school. The next time we went to the Art Institute she actually knew things! It was cool.

Embrace the fact that you are in charge of your child's experiences and use that wisely.

Go to Micheals and get some of their kits.
Puzzles
books, books and more books
Teach her to sew, crosstitch, needlepoint, knit, again at MIcheals' learn to sew kits.
Teach her how to cook
have her sister do math flashcards with her
Enroll her in an art class or a sport or a language class through the park district
Get those teach me to draw books and lots of colored pencils and art pads

She is in 2nd. THe teacher has her for 8 hours, isnt' that enough? I homeschool and my 8th grader gets homework (Algebra), my 5th grader usually does not.

She is ahead of the game academically. I would let her just enjoy being a kid. She isn't going to be any less successful of a person in life without 2nd grade homework. Just make sure she has plenty of good reading material, a few fun and interesting enrichment activities, and plenty of rest and free time. If you really want her to have "homework" why not just ask her teacher to point you to some resources for appropriate work at her level?

Relax and enjoy the non "homework time". Use the time instead to read books together and maybe have your daughter start a journal. Take time to write in it also. My kids love to read what I have written about them and what they are up to. Do addition and subtraction activities and flashcards. Next year work on times tables and division.

I would love it if our schools would scale back on homework and instead allow kids to play,explore, read and spend more time with family when not on the school's clock.

Good luck and best wishes!

At our school, the younger kids don't have homework for the first month. Could it be that formal assignments just aren't happening yet?

Sounds like what my 2nd grader is assigned as homework, except there is accountability for my son. There's no consequence if homework is not turned in, but they do earn points which can be used to "buy" incentives if it is turned in. I think it's an appropriate amount of work. Read 10-15 minutes and answer one question about the story (from a list provided), practice spelling words (20 options provided), and one additional item each night, such as make 7 different math sentences that equal 15 or explain the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance. Sounds like the teacher has already given you the ideas, so just pick a different one each night. If you truly need more ideas, go to spellingcity.com, and coolmath4kids.com.

We actually had a no-homework policy at our school through 3rd grade. Up until that age, kids should be able to get all the work finished during school hours. Yes, you are a teacher and a parent. You can do cool things at home with your daughter to enrich her life, not merely go over and over things she's already learned.

I'm sure you can go over spelling words and have her tell you what she learned that day. Also, get a good book series (like L. House on the Prairie) and read to her at night and talk about the book. And let her play.

A lot of teachers (especially in a public school setting) are being encouraged NOT to assign homework. The reasoning is that too many students/families have so much else going on, that they don't do the homework, and the students' grades suffer as a result. Some teachers (like your 4th grader's and myself) don't listen and assign homework anyway, but it is definitely becoming very common for homework to be very minimal, even up through 8th grade. I don't like it, and I don't like what I think it means for the future of our students. (That is obviously a generalized statement as there will always be some students that excel no matter what background they come from.)

I do agree that it shouldn't be HOURS of homework, but I do think there should be a L. bit of SOMETHING coming home.

Remember it is just the first couple of weeks of school, so things could change. My initial thought is: ASK THE TEACHER if this is the norm for the whole year. When I taught 2nd grade, there was a spelling homework andor a math homework, plus the kids had to read 20 minutes each night. Is this teacher brand new or is she a hippie or something who feels 2nd graders can just learn/practice on their own?

I say take a deep breath, calm down, talk to the teacher and just explain that you and your husband can't create worksheets for your daughter. You can read with her for 20 minutes and monitor her homework and check her homework, but cannot do all the rest too.

I have a 2nd grader and a 4th grader too, and they really don't have much homework.

2nd - 15 minutes of reading a night, 1 spelling activity a night.

4th - 20 minutes of reading a night, 1 spelling activity a night, 10 minutes of multiplication a night.

Both of their teachers said they believe school work should be done at school; they are there for 7 hours and should be able to accomplish all the work in that time. If they don't finish an assignment it's homework, that's the only time they will get homework (other than special assignments like science fair) that's not reading, spelling, or math facts.

I would recommend finding some on-line educational game sites for your 2nd grader. Both my kids love ABCya and cool math games for kids. They usually play them several times a week, so they are reinforcing what they learn in school but it doesn't feel like homework.

ETA: I love Kim C's response! Remember that homework doesn't have to be worksheets. Kim C's answer reminded me that we frequently play math games in the car with the kids. We call out problems for them to solve, they'll do it for 30 - 45 minutes at a time! Cooking is another great math activity. Sign spotting or I Spy in the car or at restaurants can help reading skills, "I spy the word poached" or for older kids "I spy a word that means 'to stay'"

For a second grader, reading for 20 minutes a night, a list of 10 spelling words per week, and a few math problems per night would be about it.

I like the idea, though, of using this time to explore in a more open way. I really felt we were tied down to repetitive tasks (like math worksheets) when we could have spent our time doing more interesting, and still educational, things at home.

My kids had many classes in which they didn't have assigned homework unless they didn't finish their lessons in class.
There was always weekly reading or a vocabulary list, but beyond that, actual homework, not so much.
Then, with other teachers, homework every night.
It just depended.
I didn't care if my kids had homework or not, I always had an assignment for them. It usually involved looking words up in the dictionary and telling me what they meant.
I'd give them 5 or night or so.
It was mainly to get them in the habit of learning to look things up.
I'd give them the phone book and make them find phone numbers for certain businesses.
It was all about teaching them to use reference materials.
I taught my kids at least what they were taught at school if not more just by virtue of having a mom who thirsted for information.
If they didn't know how to spell a word, I handed them the dictionary.
As a single, full time working mom, I still had time to read with the kids and have them tell me what the story was about and go over the different depths of the story with them.
Everything is a learning experience when you think about it. Taking walks and finding leaves and researching which leaves they are.
On a cloudy day, study the different types of clouds.

I never looked at it as having to create homework.
If your kids help you in the kitchen, they will learn fractions.
If you save change and get coin rolls, they learn about money.
This is all every day stuff that kids happily learn because it's just part of what everyone needs to learn.
And it can be fun.

Just my opinion.

Our school doesn't give homework until third grade, and even then it is minimal.

Horray for your daughter's teacher!!! She is exactly right. There is NO evidence, study or focus group that shows that kids that have homework learn more, are smarter, get into Harvard, name your goal. All it proves is that they remember what the teacher said a few hours ago and are applying it in the EXACT same way they learned in school. How often in life/work does that happen? Check the box on the worksheet. BIG DEAL!! How fun that your daughter gets to read and learn to answer open ended questions from you. That she has to think logically or criticaly. She gets a break from school til she has to get up in the AM and do it all over again. I almost never had homework until I was in junior high, and even then it was minimal. It wasn't until high school that that started. And guess what? I got into a really good college!! And I got to play when I got home, and have a snack, and read, and go outside with my dog Britt. So enjoy it. Your daughter is learning at school and you can do or not do as you wish. Unless she struggles with spelling, I doubt you need to do anything with that. They practice in school every day before the test so for most kids that's plenty. If not, and it makes you feel like she is getting what she needs, get out a piece of paper and pencil and say the words to her and have her write them out. Have her write them in a sentence. "Write" them in a plate of corn meal or shaving cream for fun. If you have magnetic letters, sit on the floor with her with a snack and let her spell them on the fridge. See if she can spell them orally in different accents or a silly voice. Let her make them into a cheer. You can do the same with math. Fun stuff. She'll be OK. I'd even go so far as to talk to the 4th grade teacher and ask her if your other child's homework is really necessary. With a few exceptions, probably not. You go girl- show your kids and teacher you CAN think outside the box!! Whooohoooo!

The first line of education is the parents. Have you never heard that before? You are the teacher's best support and you are your child's first educator. Your teacher is asking you to take part in your child's education. Not to come to class to teach, but to be an active participant. I don't see why that's such an outrageous approach to homework. It's brilliant, actually. My girls' all have homework that's a mix of traditional and what you're describing.

Is the work done in class meeting your expectations? Is your child learning well and enjoying second grade? Both are important. If so, what's the issue?

Have you talked with the teacher?

Homework for the sake of homework is silly. Homework to introduce and prepare a child for a new topic or homework to reinforce the day's work is valid -- but, really, homework assigned just so the kids has something to do at home is not helpful. Let he go outside and burn off all her 7yo energy instead (which is equally important).

By the way, my perspective may be a L. different because my kids are older. They've had some great teachers and some OK teachers -- and one really bad teacher. None of it correlated to how much or how L. homework was assigned. It's the whole experience that counts. And, yes, my educational expectations are high (as a former teacher myself). My "baby" is in her senior year of high school, takes only AP and honors level classes this year, is fluent in 2 languages and is studying Plato in her philosophy class -- not exactly an academically unprepared kid. And in second grade she had no homework for the first month or so and then had it only intermittently.

It'll be OK. If you have concerns, ask the teacher.

Updated

Is the work done in class meeting your expectations? Is your child learning well and enjoying second grade? Both are important. If so, what's the issue?

Have you talked with the teacher?

Homework for the sake of homework is silly. Homework to introduce and prepare a child for a new topic or homework to reinforce the day's work is valid -- but, really, homework assigned just so the kids has something to do at home is not helpful. Let he go outside and burn off all her 7yo energy instead (which is equally important).

By the way, my perspective may be a L. different because my kids are older. They've had some great teachers and some OK teachers -- and one really bad teacher. None of it correlated to how much or how L. homework was assigned. It's the whole experience that counts. And, yes, my educational expectations are high (as a former teacher myself). My "baby" is in her senior year of high school, takes only AP and honors level classes this year, is fluent in 2 languages and is studying Plato in her philosophy class -- not exactly an academically unprepared kid. And in second grade she had no homework for the first month or so and then had it only intermittently.

It'll be OK. If you have concerns, ask the teacher.

It's great that she is ahead of the class and able to do her work at school. It is scary though that she might get into the habit of not having "homework" to do. I would go to one of those teaching stores and get the second grade book and give her a couple pages each night to do. and also plan on setting aside 15-20 minutes a night of reading time and do the spelling words. I would also perhaps contact the teacher and ask for the spelling words and the work she thinks is appropriate for your daughter to work on. sad but she might have gotten a classroom full of kids who are behind and is struggling to bring most of them up to speed.

I agree with JessInTexas, our daughter had spelling words, then sentences with the word in it/ Spelling test each friday.

Reading at least 1 book a week. (read each night at least 20 min.. till book is finished then start new book)

A page of math each night except fridays.

Later in the year projects. etc..

I do know some schools allow the kids to do their work in class, so they do not have to take it home..

I would ask the teacher about this.
Of course so many parents complained about homework.. maybe this school has responded in this way.. The parents can now decide how much homework they want their children to have each night.

I am a teacher and this does not sound normal to me either. Is this true of all the 2nd grade teachers or just your child's teacher? Find out. Find out which teacher in the grade level has the highest expectations of the students and move your child into that class. I have always given brief but clear homework. They should be reading nightly and usually doing books for AR points or something, a math practice sheet and something to do each night with their spelling words. Does she have spelling words?
It may not be the whole school, it might just be that teacher hasn't got much going on. Ask for a conference first and express the same concerns that you expressed here. If she is not going to get anything going on ever then immediately go to the next level which is the principal and ask for your child to be moved. Find out from friends and neighbors first who is the teacher that has the most on the ball in 2nd grade. Then you will be prepared for who you want your child moved to. Do not be ugly but do not back down. Say you have high expectations for your child and you want the same thing from the teacher and this flaky dream up your own homework thing is just not working for you.
Your child does not have a year to waste. I would not sit around waiting to move to another school or district. There has got to be something more going on somewhere at that school.
There has been a lot of negative media attention lately about children having too much homework and so maybe this is a reaction to that. The countries that have the highest achievement rates are the ones where children do work outside of the classroom and parents over see the homework. But I agree that I would not want to have to dream it up each night.

Well I don't know about you but i'am my childrens first "teacher".I have a second grader they have brought home work sheets to be returned the next day,he has spelling words that he brings home on Mondays we are to study them together after he has completed writing them 3 times saying them aloud & spelling them out loud the purpose to this exercise is to recognize what he sees hears & spells,this occurs nightly test is on Friday & he has aced them.He also brings home parent sheets to help us understand what they are being taught in class since curriculms change & our children are being taught differently than we were in school it is to help us parents with words by definition I often catch myself teaching him the way I learned & he corrects me that isn't the way he is learning so I need to adjust the way I teach at home.I'm sure the homework will be flowing in soon,

I would send an email to the teacher to find out what is going on. There may be a reason why they don't have homework right now, or maybe your child is finishing it in class when there is extra time. I know my son is able to do a lot of his homework at school. Or maybe she is planning on assigning some but the lessons are not warranting it right now.

I know that with our school district they send home a newsletter and information with suggested activities to do with your children to help enforce what they are learning but this does not take the place of homework. I've never done these activities with my son because he always has good grades and a good grasp of what is going on, I'm thinking these tools are to help kids who are a L. behind or need more help academically. I'm wondering if that is the type of stuff you are seeing. I would say if your daughter doesn't need the extra help, don't do the activities. I also work and have absolutely no time to create exercises and math problems for my son. I wouldn't even know where to begin with that!

Maybe you can set up a teacher conference to discuss your concerns, hopefully she has an explanation and can clear it up for you.

We live in Austin. My child had homework in kinder but it was mostly just reading and site words. It is still new in the year so I am not totally certain what homework is going to look like. I do know that reading and site words are a huge part and there is "optional" homework on their website. I do hope that at least a L. math and writing homework comes home. I imagine it will, but I'm not sure yet. We will definitely be printing out the optional homework. I'm with you, I would like a L. homework as my child is more cooperative when it comes from the teacher. However, I don't want them to be bombarded either; because I want them to be kids and have a break from work, work, work.

I dont think so. I would be speaking with that principle asap. I do not speak proper english, I dont know my multiplacation tables, I can t spell. I am hoping I can relearn some basics with my child. As these things were not taught to me. I cannot imagine homeschooling my kids and expect them to learn anything from me! I have thought about paying someone smart to educate them. It sounds like your 2nd grade teacher is slacking major. Or that the school is being pc about education. they need to step up as they are failing our kids.

I know this is really really late but there is a website: education.com that you can actually just print out some worksheets for different grade levels. Maybe you can check that out? Then you can "give" some homework without having to put a lot of effort into it.

Probably the teacher is doing her job!! She is covering the material IN CLASS and she is not sending the kids with homework to do everything by themselves.....lol....no ofense....
It is a good moment to encourage her to READ on this free time.