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Home : 2004 : November : 13

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By JMO

It seems maybe when you gave the parent the option of the extra day she took it the wrong way. I would probably send home a note of explanation giving detailed instructions to the parent. You may have meant one subject
or one assignment - math, but the parent took it to mean everything. I think with you saying that then you have to honor that even if it's not what you meant. Sometimes we say things we wish we hadn't and we take it as a learning experience. I know last year, I had a pushy parent and she didn't think her son was capable of doing my book reports. She pushed for letting me know he was

reading on a log only, which both was required of all students. I agreed because for that month I had made a boo boo and came up with too hard of book reports. They looked cute but should have been class projects. Anyway, it continued for the entire year. I knew it was my mistake for not being specific enough. I try to be very specific of my expectations to parents now. Remember what the other person said that you should have a why for everything you do including homework. You may have to CYA to administration at some point. I, too, think 75 facts (even easy) are too much even for two days. At my house, days off are holidays and the only thing that is required is reading each night before bed. One year my son's teacher sent home a journal for Christmas break and I liked that. I stick with the same philosophy in my classroom. I send home either reading or writing on holidays and that's it. I teach 3rd and I do send home fact sheets sometimes. We do timed tests and my students are given 5 min. for 100 problems. Some can do it and some can't. I send the facts for extra practice and I send home 30 at a time. They are also required to read for 15 min. each night. In 3rd grade, my homework is read for 15 min. each night, one night of short math, one night of short spelling, and one family game night (usually phonics).