Homework Blues....

[redneck_woman]

Ok, my 7yo is in the 2nd grade, very bright and smart kid. Very good reader, speller and is a fast learner. Here is how bright and smart the kid is, his spelling list for this week consists of these words, not going to list all just some: rosebush, volume, Steven, eleven etc. etc. He is given his homework assignments every Friday and when he gets home I go over the words with him. So far with every spelling list he has brought home, on the first try with the words he spells everyone of them right. He is reading (I am making him read, not required by school) one of the series from the Junie B. Jones Big Fat Mouth. He reads a chapter or two a night.
Now the issue, when it comes to sitting down and doing his HW, (writing sentences, math, various worksheets) he whines and cries. I don't feel like doing it, my head hurt's, I'm hungry, I'm thirsting, my hand hurts. But once he gets going and gets focused he is fine. I went through the samething with him last year and now going through it again this year. My patience's is growing thin with him and I just don't know what to do. I have tried soooo many different things with him, reward wise but it does know good. Need some advise before I go

 

[bresamil]

Ok, my 7yo is in the 2nd grade, very bright and smart kid. Very good reader, speller and is a fast learner. Here is how bright and smart the kid is, his spelling list for this week consists of these words, not going to list all just some: rosebush, volume, Steven, eleven etc. etc. He is given his homework assignments every Friday and when he gets home I go over the words with him. So far with every spelling list he has brought home, on the first try with the words he spells everyone of them right. He is reading (I am making him read, not required by school) one of the series from the Junie B. Jones Big Fat Mouth. He reads a chapter or two a night.
Now the issue, when it comes to sitting down and doing his HW, (writing sentences, math, various worksheets) he whines and cries. I don't feel like doing it, my head hurt's, I'm hungry, I'm thirsting, my hand hurts. But once he gets going and gets focused he is fine. I went through the samething with him last year and now going through it again this year. My patience's is growing thin with him and I just don't know what to do. I have tried soooo many different things with him, reward wise but it does know good. Need some advise before I go

You are not alone, but I can't say it will get better. My eldest has an aversion to picking up a pencil and putting it to paper. He's very bright, but just hates the writing. He'd rather have oral tests and conversations.

 

[stylin]

Ok, my 7yo is in the 2nd grade, very bright and smart kid. Very good reader, speller and is a fast learner. Here is how bright and smart the kid is, his spelling list for this week consists of these words, not going to list all just some: rosebush, volume, Steven, eleven etc. etc. He is given his homework assignments every Friday and when he gets home I go over the words with him. So far with every spelling list he has brought home, on the first try with the words he spells everyone of them right. He is reading (I am making him read, not required by school) one of the series from the Junie B. Jones Big Fat Mouth. He reads a chapter or two a night.
Now the issue, when it comes to sitting down and doing his HW, (writing sentences, math, various worksheets) he whines and cries. I don't feel like doing it, my head hurt's, I'm hungry, I'm thirsting, my hand hurts. But once he gets going and gets focused he is fine. I went through the samething with him last year and now going through it again this year. My patience's is growing thin with him and I just don't know what to do. I have tried soooo many different things with him, reward wise but it does know good. Need some advise before I go

I am with you!!!! My 7 year old daughter goes to Private School and has at minimum 1 1/2 of homework Mon thru Thurs. 30 minutes she is 'Ok" then I get every excuse in the book!!!!

 

[punjabigyrl]

I am going through that. My boy has tons of excuses like, I'm thirsty, sleepy, hungry and yeah homework is for people who don't understand the stuff in school and I know. So, the rule is, you don't do your homework you don't get to watch TV, play outside, play psp, computer etc. It is working.

 

[redneck_woman]

I am going through that. My boy has tons of excuses like, I'm thirsty, sleepy, hungry and yeah homework is for people who don't understand the stuff in school and I know. So, the rule is, you don't do your homework you don't get to watch TV, play outside, play psp, computer etc. It is working.

Have done that also and I get well I hate TV anyway or the PS is stupid.

 

[frozenrain]

My son is good about doing homework generally. However I am willing to help if he is stuck ONLY if he reads entire text and does not skip read hoping for me to answer questions. So I make sure he spends some time reading and trying to answer questions and then I will help find answer. However then I must find away to help him without dictating to him-make sure he understands and uses his own words...
It would be nice maybe if the school could hand out a help sheet for parents explaining the METHOD they are using in maths .So we can help explain to our children...
When I went to the open day I told the teacher how very helpful the MSA practise test had been that had been handed out the weekend before the tests. As I had gone through it with my son and then made up some questions myself that were similar for extra practise. She seemed very surprised and said that she would have to do the same this year... I just thought it would be standard procedure...

So I understand completely how worrying it is to make sure they do it properly.
I guess only thing is-no telly, no games,no play until it is done and maybe as part of getting their pocket money is to tell them that homework must be done nicely without complaining monday to friday.

Oh and as for the excuses.Make sure your son has snack and drink before doing homework and say that this is so you are not hungry or thirsty and can concentrate. Even though of course you do just verbally explain it. I sometimes do that before night time -to say clearly here is your drink before bed so no keep getting up for drinks-bedtime excuses...
Good luck to you!

 

[redneck_woman]

I am probably to blame for his disposition....I have felt sorry for him for the past couple of years and have not been as strick as I should have been. He has been through 3 major operations, father left has had know contact, just diagnosed with migraines, hospital stays etc. etc... Whats a mother to do?

 

[frozenrain]

I am probably to blame for his disposition....I have felt sorry for him for the past couple of years and have not been as strick as I should have been. He has been through 3 major operations, father left has had know contact, just diagnosed with migraines, hospital stays etc. etc... Whats a mother to do?

That is tough Just be as gentle and firm as you can be consistency is the key!
Sorry that your son has been through so much .
As for the migraines. I used to suffer from them and I think an artificial sweetner was triggering them off. I had quite a few headaches growing up and I think it may have been I was given squash to drink which had artificial sweetners in it.NOt saying that is the cause but it could be and might be worth to do a food and drink diary and maybe look to see the ingredients-it could be an intolerence.
So hopefully he will grow out of the migraines. I can understand your fear that he may be feeling ill but you also worry he maybe pretending to get out of homework. Which is tough. I remember once I had a real bad headache and my dad just thought I was feigning it which was not nice-he was usually kind but that always stands out in my memories to me...NOw it is very rare for me to get a headache-about 2 times a year so there is hope!
So I probably have not helped but really do check in case it could be an intolerance. I hope I have understood you and am not patronizing.
At least he has a very good mum who cares that he is doing his homework.
Goodluck.

 

[punjabigyrl]

I am probably to blame for his disposition....I have felt sorry for him for the past couple of years and have not been as strick as I should have been. He has been through 3 major operations, father left has had know contact, just diagnosed with migraines, hospital stays etc. etc... Whats a mother to do?

Hope your son feels better.

 

[smdavis65]

Hope this can help

Ok, my 7yo is in the 2nd grade, very bright and smart kid. Very good reader, speller and is a fast learner. Here is how bright and smart the kid is, his spelling list for this week consists of these words, not going to list all just some: rosebush, volume, Steven, eleven etc. etc. He is given his homework assignments every Friday and when he gets home I go over the words with him. So far with every spelling list he has brought home, on the first try with the words he spells everyone of them right. He is reading (I am making him read, not required by school) one of the series from the Junie B. Jones Big Fat Mouth. He reads a chapter or two a night.
Now the issue, when it comes to sitting down and doing his HW, (writing sentences, math, various worksheets) he whines and cries. I don't feel like doing it, my head hurt's, I'm hungry, I'm thirsting, my hand hurts. But once he gets going and gets focused he is fine. I went through the samething with him last year and now going through it again this year. My patience's is growing thin with him and I just don't know what to do. I have tried soooo many different things with him, reward wise but it does know good. Need some advise before I go

My son has a problem with doing homework when he first gets home. I let him eat a snack and chill out (about 30 min) when he first gets home. If he's spending a lot of time on certain problems, I tell him to take a break, usually about 5 minutes. He usually does better after...

 

[flomaster]

So what I get out of all this is that I should not let my daughter grow to the age of 7?

Really hope it works out for you. My son has similar issues and when he was in elementary school he got so pee'd off at me for sitting him down I thought he was gonna stab me with his pencil.

 

[RoseRed]

So what I get out of all this is that I should not let my daughter grow to the age of 7?

Really hope it works out for you. My son has similar issues and when he was in elementary school he got so pee'd off at me for sitting him down I thought he was gonna stab me with his pencil.

Mine took two flippin hours to do her spelling this evening. She was too busy I had to finally tell her to stop talking and get it done.