Job Discussion Forums

[kev7161]

So I was told today by my supervisor that the "government" set down a new law that students in 1st and 2nd grade are to take home no homework and that 3rd-6th grades can have no more than 60 minutes of homework.

Last year, the "government" mandated that all kids were to get a 20 minute, no-study resting period after lunch. I don't know which grade levels "all" referred to. Last year I was teaching 1st grade so I and my Chinese co-teacher would close the curtains, switch off the lights and make all the kiddies put their heads down on their desks for those 20 minutes. However, if I had to leave the room for something, I noted that in some classrooms, kids were reading or chatting or roaming about. I suppose that's a form of resting - - free time. I asked my supervisor about that and he said that it should be "rest/silent reading time". We covered the "rest" part in our classroom, not sure about the "silent reading time" in some of the other rooms.

The homework I'd send home last year was like: practice reading your little booklet we've been working on this week or study your spelling words for a test on Monday or here's a manuscript two-sided handwriting sheet to do. Not much for 1st graders and 1/3 of them wouldn't do it anyway (their spelling test and reading scores proved that to me!). In the meantime, the Chinese and Chinese math teachers were piling it on as per usual.

This year I'm teaching a 5th grade class and, every day, they get anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes of dedicated study time (plus their "rest" time) - - sometimes more. Some of the kids make quick work on what I've already given them that morning. Others just dick around and pretend to be working but they're really not.

I don't know if the "no-or-limited homework" rule is for the English courses only or both English and Chinese work. And how does one gauge an hour's worth of homework? Wouldn't that depend on the student and how studious he or she may be? I often give assignments that the students may have 2-3 days to complete or over the weekend and the only real daily stuff I have is their math homework, which is usually one workbook page of problems.

I haven't yet talked to any of the 1st or 2nd grade teachers, but I'd be interested in knowing if they've heard of this new "law", "rule", whatever. Anyone else teaching little ones that have heard of this?

Don't get me wrong, I know these kids are worked nearly to death, so I'm not against this, but I know a little homework is par for the course when you are a student!

[chinatimes]

For first and second year (7 or under), this makes sense. I don't know why anyone would expect otherwise, especially ESL teachers.

[A593186]

This was done 4 months before this past summer holiday began.

[Non Sequitur]

[kev7161]

[Non Sequitur]

[wonderingjoesmith]