Homework Help

[ChablisLover]

DS is coming 6 and is in p2

The homework battle has started again. He gets all his homework for the week on a monday at the mo

I used to try and get the majority of it done on a Monday but this week it has gone pear shaped due to having to do show and tell and doctors appointments so it has turned into a battle as he;s tired and all he wants to do is play.

Any suggestions how we can make it bearable and without resorting to tears on both our parts?

To tell you how bad it was, it took us half hour last night to write 2 sentences out of 7 and the words were in front of him and I helped by jotting down what we were going to write

I really am being driven to the edge.

He will do his maths without an issue its just the english.

He has difficulties with posture so we are using a writing slope and triangular pencils but I feel he doesn't have a good grip - was thinking of buying the grips but he doesn;t use them in school so DH said no.

when he concentrates he does it really well and his writing is improving when he holds the pencil correctly but I am constantly telling him to sit up, hold your pencil right and DH says this sounds like criticism but i say i am trying to help my child do his best and if i can't say that no one else will and it will carry on.

Sorry its so long but i dont want to feel like i am failing him but not helping him

Thanks

[learnandsay]

I think fighting about it is probably counter-productive. If there are good reasons why you can't get it all done then explain these to the teacher. I'm sure you can pick out some representative samples from the homework and get these done. I think at six years old no homework is going to be so important that it's live-shaping.

[throckenholt]

I wouldn't fight it. Do it verbally with him, if he will, otherwise leave it.

Far worse to force it and he learns to hate it.

[Floralnomad]

He's 6 , leave him alone , do what you can get him to do without arguing and leave the rest . Also I wouldn't be concerned about his handwriting and posture !

[ChablisLover]

I don;t want to fight with him over it as I know it will lead to issues in the future

but he generally loves school

and the homework must be finished - its not do what you can but do it all type of school.

we've been to Physio and OT about his posture and it is an issue as he leans over the desk and finds it hard to sit up and they recommended the writing slope etc

I really don't know what to do

[Floralnomad]

Perhaps you don't have the child for that type of school ! We were at that type of school and we moved , they are children and need a life .

[ChablisLover]

this is the local primary school

Not fee paying and it takes everyone and anyone

it is by no means the best school in the town but it is the only school my son can attend (its a catholic primary school )

[iseenodust]

If part of the problem is being tired, can he do it in the morning while you make a 'special' breakfast?

[ChablisLover]

Iseenodust - I have to leave early for work so his dad is in charge and he isn't willing to do that. but thats a whole other argument.

I start early so i can get home early and get this done and spend more time together rather than getting in making tea and bed.

[PastSellByDate]

Hi ChablisLover

Is there a half-way house solution? DD2 hated writing and would get between 10 - 15 spelling words which would require sentences. We opted to try and put as many words as we could in one sentence.

The rules: The word has to be used exactly as given (so no adding new endings or an s). The sentence has to make sense.

DD likes to highlight the spelling words afterwards.

We have a deal that if she uses all the words in a sentence (which she has done once) she can get extra play time on her computer games.

The fighting stopped and teachers are happy that some writing is being done.

HTH

[ChablisLover]

Thanks all.

It was another fight tonight but not do bad as last night.

I really think he has some issues with writing based on his ot issues nd pencil grip - when he holds pen right it's great but his normal grip is awful. I feel it needs corrected and the only way is to keep remaining him and saying to him but I feel like I'm chastising him then

[PastSellByDate]

Hi ChablisLover:

Just an idea, but with DD1 (who's a leftie) her grip was bizarre and we purchased a shaped (slightly curved) dedicated left-handed pen.

They do them in right and left handed and they're sold at most good newsagents.

Because of the odd shape, you have no choice but to hold the thing properly in order to get it to write. Gradually using it improves that natural position of writing with other pens/ pencils. So it may be worth a try.

The other thing to help build up hand strength is to start investing in more detailed colouring books. Geometric colouring books (e.g.: type in geometric colouring books on amazon search) or more fine art type (eg: type in nature colouring books or doodle design colouring books on amazon search) [You can also get these at most good book stores/ news agents). Both require very precise colouring in. We use crayloa twistable coloured pencils - which always have a fine tip - and we find it has really developed control and hand strength.

HTH