“How will Sophie do in third grade?” she asked.
posted Wednesday August 26th, 2009
This evening at dinner, I asked Sophie how her day at school was. I’ve asked the question many times before, but have never gotten this response:
“BOOOORRRING!” she bellowed, with all the panache of any saucy 6-year-old. I know very well that it wasn’t any such thing, but I was tickled with the answer. Sophie’s anything but bored these days — she’s exhausted.
Tonight I found her passed out on the couch at 7:30. Monday night Ray found her that way at 6:30. It’s partly the heat and partly the full days — tomorrow will begin at 7:30 am with physical therapy; yesterday ended at 5:15 when music therapy was over. There’s a lot in between.
And so much that won’t fit.
I sit with Sophie and we do her bit of homework — reading a book with a few words on each page — and across the dining room table, Annabelle is slaving. Third grade comes with an explosion of homework (the teacher calls it “home learning,” but I refuse!) and expectations. Suddenly my little girl has an “agenda” with assignments written in it; algebra problems; spelling words like tortoise and wrench. Tonight she had to find an ad in a magazine and write about whether it’s designed to persuade, inform or entertain.
The other day, Annabelle looked up from her work and read my mind. “How will Sophie do in third grade?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” I told her, trying to keep my tone light. Even now, I can feel Sophie slipping away from her class. Maybe. After she read her book aloud tonight (I’ll admit she did darn well with “The Hat”), I handed Sophie an envelope I found in her backpack. Inside were little pieces of paper with a letter on each, and instructions to form words from a list. We laid out the half-dozen pieces and I looked at Sophie.
“OK, spell the word TAP,” I said, with no expectation that she would. She did, immediately, looking — well, looking bored.
Of course, if this was fiction, that’s where this little tale would have ended — a gift of an anecdote, wrapped with a lovely bow. But the truth is that after she spelled TAP, I suggested she spell AT. She spelled TA instead, at first looking confused, then cracking up and saying, “Ta ta!” From then on she was either unable or unwilling to do any more spelling.
To be fair to Sophie, it was about 15 minutes later that I found her passed out on the couch. There. That’s not a bad bow, huh?
Note: The photo above was taken several days earlier, but in a similar scenario to that described.
I would be passed out too. It’s a lot of work. I hate busy work that kids get these days for homework. Really? They have to write their spelling words 10 times each? Hey teacher you try that and see how you like it week in and week out. I agree – boring.
Well, I disagree Karen… Homework is an extension of what school learning is, research shows that the more kids see things and practice, they master it! I think the way Sophie’s teacher did spelling was great, rearrange letters to show how to spell words is great way to practice. What happens when children fail their spelling because they didn’t have enough practice? Don’t talk badly about teachers!!!! We are trying to help your kids learn and master their standards. I do not think it is busy work, we have so many standards and curriculum to accomplish that sometimes things need to be practiced and done at home.
I would like to reiterate here that I don’t think Sophie or Annabelle’s teachers have done anything wrong. To the contrary — I am thrilled. Now, that is not to say that I like the situation the teachers have been thrown in — having to “teach to the tests,” which here in Arizona are odious, to put it mildly. But one of the many reasons I fought to have Sophie at the school she and Annabelle are at is because it gets the state’s highest marks, based at least largely on standarized tests. I know that’s not going to come without homework. That doesn’t mean I like homework — who does? — and no one warned me that third grade would be a shock. But last week, when I stopped to tease Annabelle’s teacher about “home learning”, I complimented her on her creative assignments — and I meant it! She has great ideas for making it fun, or least not so hard. (Which doesn’t mean I don’t groan when I see it all written out in Annabelle’s agenda. I’m human! And there’s good TV on right now!) Similarly, Sophie’s assignments in first grade have been right on. If anyone should be bashed, it’s me — for being a working mom who doesn’t start homework til after dinner. Let me have it; I’m fair game here. For the record: Annabelle got a perfect score on last week’s spelling test (after a lot of spelling homework) and Sophie keeps demanding MORE homework. I still stand by the point of the blog post, which is to say that none of us, Annabelle included, know what to expect when Sophie hits third grade. (And apologies for “blogging on my own blog,” to paraphrase Maya.)
Hey, I am sorry if you think I was beating up on teachers. Far from it – I think they do amazing work. As far as my comment about busy work, I was speaking from an older students view. I should have clarified it. Yes, my girls’ homework has benefited them. Yes there were times when some of the work was just busy – busy but with a purpose. I get it.
I also agree that Sophie’s teacher has it right on for spelling. No bashing you either Amy – I think you rock!
I’m willing for one hour of homework, no more! There is life beyond schools and testing. My child goes to bed at 8. I get home from work at 5:30, we eat at 6- 6:30- that leaves only one and a half hours!
My daughter is just starting 3rd grade at age 9 this year. Her teacher gave me a funny warning it seemed about kids cliqueing up at this age and I told her that was part of her job to support inclusion in the class. I’m a bit nervous- going from tables to desks! yes, she falls a bit behind each year academically but is so happy to be in school and learn- her learning curve just keeps on going steadily in the right direction and that is what I think is important. It’s her self esteem I guard with passion- she’ll need that possibly more than some of her academics.