If it takes your child 10 seconds to do their homework (maths, 2 pages of sums), what would you do?

[scrooged]

please. He's just started there so they don't know much about him. Should I leave it?

TIA

[iwontbite]

i would think good. they don't need homework at that age! lol

if he has just started they're prob just getting to know him and his abilities. so see how it goes. if after a few weeks it;s still the sme then maybe have a chat with teacher

[quickdrawmcgraw]

I think I would talk to the teacher. How long has he been there?

[ICANDOTHAT]

How old is you dc?

[scrooged]

I'm slightly pissed as I've been trying to get him to do it since Friday and it took him 10 seconds A complete waste of my time and his time to be honest.

[OrmIrian]

Be grateful!

[scrooged]

He's in his third week there, he's 9. It was two sheets on working out what 50 and 25% of a number was.

[scrooged]

Would it be out of order to write a note to say how long it took him? I bet it would right? (I have not done it).

[MollieO]

I would do a note saying that ds did homework very quickly and asking how long should he be spending on his homework. I wouldn't put 10 seconds bit at this stage as that just sounds boastful! If they reply saying it should take him 15 mins etc then you can tell them next time how long it took. Hopefully they will be working out how bright your ds is and giving him appropriate level homework.

[Fennel]

I would write that sort of comment in a home-school link book, if you have one. and if you write it for a few weeks the teacher tends to get the message, IME, and adjust things.

[TheFallenMadonna]

Well, at least it wasn't a waste of much time...

I wouldn't write a note. If I were you, I would have gone in before he started and made sure they were aware that he is very able and the level he is working at.

[scrooged]

There's no home-school link book. I was planning on going to see his teacher after easter to see how he's settling in anyway so I could mention it to her then. He seems to be having alot of fun though. It's a very interactive teaching school IYKWIM.

[FairyMum]

I would praise the Lord. 10 seconds. How lucky are you!

[scrooged]

We went to visit before he started, the moment he opened his mouth the teacher said he's quite bright so she has him sussed. I think they must have more then one teacher for things though.

I have wasted all week asking him to do it. I shouldn't have bothered really.

[scrooged]

Sorry, I'm not boasting

[Blarbie]

If they were all right I'd say well done and put a little time at the end of it to see if he can do it faster next time AND let the teacher know how easy it was for him.

[seeker]

I think the important thing is not how long he took to do it, but the fact that you had to nag him to do it and he wouldn't get on with it. I really think that the ONLY use of homework in Primary school is to help them learn how to plan their time - which they will need to do BIG TIME in Secondary.

[LynetteScavo]

This happened to my DS - he was in completely the wrong maths set. I really wish I'd kicked up a fuss. Have a word with the teacher and point out the work is too easy for him. Has he said what level of work he is doing in class?

[scrooged]

He's said they put years 5 and 6 together then split them into ability groups. There are 2 groups, he's in the top one, they are all given the same maths sheet with 2 sides, one harder then the other, he does the hardest side and says he finishes first. I'm not sure how accurate this is though

[MollieO]

Was he reluctant to do it because it wasn't challenging enough or is he usually reluctant to do his homework? Think you need to tackle that too. I know you weren't boasting scrooged

[scrooged]

He showed it to me last week and laughed. He needs to hand it in tomorrow which is the only reason why he's done it tonight. He does normally do his homework if it's sparked his interest.

[Blarbie]

I'd go into school and speak to the teacher. Lets face it at 9 being able to find 50% and 25% can be done without thinking if you have good number knowledge.
I was ace at maths at school and allowed to get on with the Peak books we used back then at my own speed. I loved getting really far ahead of the others. If your son isn't challenged enough he may go off maths altogether. Saying that, teachers have a hard time differentiating work as it is, but then that's no reason your son should suffer.
When I went to secondary school we were unsetted for the whole of the first year and HAD to work through the same little workbooks in a strict order no matter what our ability level to start with. I learnt NOTHING new that year, apart from how to waste time.

[Blarbie]

If I was him I'd have left it til the last minute too, he clearly wasn't worried by it.