Schools are not going to stop giving out homework. As she gets older it's only going to get worse. You are crippling her by doing her homework for her. She needs to learn that there are consequences for her actions, or lack there of. If she looks bad, well then maybe she will learn that sometimes we have to do things even when we don't want to. Do you want to be re-learning algebra when she's 14? LOL. Seriously, I know you are trying to help, but the best help you can be is letting her learn for herself. And don't let her manipulate you or guilt you into doing otherwise.

O.K try to look at Home work as an assessment of understanding. Homework allows the parents,teacher and child to know how much a child is taking in. If a child wont do homework one has to ask why?

What is the child having difficulty with and trying to avoid? Is it writing, reading or calculations? Is it a lack of cognitive or comprehension skill?

By doing your childs homework you may be unintentionally masking a real difficulty that your child needs help with. All teachers know that children in school can discretely copy from friends, but with home work they usually show their true ability. Parents doing it for their child does'nt help.

If I were you I would speak to the school and find out what you can all do to help. Is the homework too difficult! Is the homework too easy! Is your child a good independant reader! Is your child a good speller! Do the maths add up consistently! If a child is finding difficulty in any of these areas they could be showing signs even mildly of

Dyslexia,Dysgraphia or Dyscalculia.

I would ask for the school to do an Educational sreening to help uncover any difficulties.

Just some thoughts.

Luv Winnie.xxxx

You cannot make her do her homework..  But you should not be doing it for her.  Let her wear the consequences for not doing it..  Maybe the only way to get her to do it of her own accord is to let her look bad.

Talk to her teacher and explain the situation.  Let them know that you are trying to foster a sense of responsibility.

Yeah I have to say that I agree that homework is vital. It re-inforces everything they learn at school and helps to further their learning. My oldest was having trouble with his writting, due to warts on his hand it was hard for him to write, he used to get so upset and his hand would hurt so bad, he hated doing homework. Once they were gone his wrtting was still pretty bad for a long time but with perseverence at home we got him to where he should be and he got an award at assembly last week for such a huge improvement.

I do sit with my son while he does his homework (he's 7) just to encourage him if he needs it and to make sure he's not getting distracted. Plus if he's finding something hard then we'll talk it through till he understands it but I never give him the answer.

Good luck

Amanda

I personally think that homework is a nessesity. they need to complete these things and it gives US parents a chance to help with their education.

U doing her homeowork is saying to her, hey when hings are tough in life give it to someone else to do.

I would stop doing it for her and let her cop the consiquences at school.

I had to get home within 15mins of school ending so I didnt get thumped, then make afternoon tea or my family clean up and do my homeowrk before tea was ready to cook that I had to cook. I managed to pass high school and I did quiet well and I hated homework, But I did it.

what you could do is show her what the japanese do. they go to school 6 days a week from like 7am -5pm and then have homework. I tell this to my son when he complains about having to read and do his mastery file words. They need the extra help at home.

Hey hunni

I know Homework is a real pain. B hates it to but just keep perservering with her and don't make the mistake I made by letting her get away with stuff because of the ITP. B got away with SOOOOOO much lol and it really made it harder for her later on. Homework really does have it's purpose especially if children are getting behind for different reasons.

BIG HUGS for you really glad to see you around

 Lexi xxx

I understand where you are coming from.. not wanting your child to look bad, but, we do have to be realistic and not dig our kids out of every hole they make for themselves.  She's 9 and has a full understanding of the consequences of not doing the homework, otherwise she wouldn't ask you to write her a note.  Try meeting with her teacher without your daughter knowing and ask the teacher to give her more tasks for homework if she doesn't complete the previous days.  After a day or two, I am sure your daughter will realise that it is much easier to complete the initial tasks set immediately.  One bit of advise for you... STOP doing her homework.. you have already been to school and passed... let her do it now... 

I think a little homework is ok, Aaron is starting high school next year and I know he will have a lot then, this year all he has to do is 2 pages of maths, spelling words and reading every night.

he reads every night anyway when he is in bed, sometimes it seems to be to much he has sport and scouts every week night so sometime time managment is needed and we will get to Thursday night and the maths isnt done and its due on Friday morning.

it is a pain but it has to be done, next year it will be worse...

Anita XXX 

oops this is a tricky one if your daughter manages that then next she will hate school and not want to go.

somehow you have to find a way to turn it into a fun thing  homework in primary school is teaching children to get "into that routine " for secondary school. there are so many children that get to secondary school that cant read write or spell properly.

whilst school education system is responsible if you want your child to be average or ahead and not  struggle then parents do need to sit and help the child  its not easy as you have found  my children are now grown  oldest son has 2 degrees and the 2nd son which is my youngest is doing his 2nd degree at the moment.

both were totally different when it came to homework and academic skills my youngest hated doing homework tried to get out of it. but we always sat down together and allocated time to be done.

he was only allowed to watch tv once he had done a certain amount . both my children also went to a  langauge school on saturdays and they always had heaps of homework to do even in primary school . they had history geography religion grammer  and reading and that was just their language school

when they were learning their tables i bought a nice colourful chart from the market and i would test them. they knew their tables befor they were taught at school so this gave them a head start in class.

these days you have computers there is no reason why you dont give your daughter excercise homework to do on the computer it turns into a fun thing.

she could read to you at bedtime thats what i used to do with the boys. i was also working full time so bed time would be reader time.  9 years old is the age that she needs to be doing homework so that its not all daunting for her down the track.

writing a letter to exempt her from it wont really help in the long run.

annie

I think home work is a good thing.. Not to much, but at least some..

I think of it as a refresher, keeps it fresh in the mind... It also helps us parents see what is going on at school, and how well our kids are actually doing, and where we think they may need some improvement. And we can also see how excellent they are doing and where we are proud of them.

I hated homework too... But got it done..  Home work also helps study for those lovely pop quizes that teachers love to give out..
I wish I studied more, I might have a better time spelling if I had.. Mind you my school at the time did not think Spelling was that important, as long as I could be understood.. Problem was.. My spelling was that bad I could not be understood, yet it was hardly corrected. In fact my parents did most of the correcting.. When I showed them my home work...

Hi,

Personally I agree with homework for primary students, and I set independant study for my eldest (my only school age child). Reading, writing and maths. All parents are different, but if the school is setting the homework, then you sending a letter to the school telling them she doesn't have to do it is only going to make you look bad, not her.

I would start making her do it, and when she starts getting in trouble with her teacher for not doing it she might start, teachers set homework at her agegroup, I take it she's grade 4? are trying to prepare kids for high school workloads but subtly.

Good Luck!

Deb