Your children and their homework - do you help them?

[SaiyanZ]

My parents never finished school so they couldn't help me. Even in primary school I did everything myself. I don't ever remember being helped at home but I do remember my mum saying no TV etc. until I studied a bit. I ended up an ace student, top in school and top 10 in KZN so they must have done something right

 

[ice_cubes]

i do help sometimes..but somehow i get the feeling that these teahcers r kinda lazy sometimes...they just hand them hoewokr & dont explain anything 2 the kids..then u r stuck tryin 2 explain the principles b4 u can even get de kid 2 understand the homework itself

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

i do help sometimes..but somehow i get the feeling that these teahcers r kinda lazy sometimes...they just hand them hoewokr & dont explain anything 2 the kids..then u r stuck tryin 2 explain the principles b4 u can even get de kid 2 understand the homework itself

i think with your spelling/grammar you should perhaps not help with english

 

[phoneJunky]

The teachers explain just fine, the students generally don't listen and with the classes as big as they are the teachers can't give every student individual attention.

 

[noxibox]

The teachers explain just fine, the students generally don't listen

How do you know that?

 

[phoneJunky]

How do you know that?

I'm speaking of my school experience. And our parents said the same things. IMO the good schools are still good. And how can the teachers suddenly be lazy, the same teachers (most of them) that I had. The replacements don't seem that bad to me either.

 

[noxibox]

I'm speaking of my school experience. And our parents said the same things. IMO the good schools are still good. And how can the teachers suddenly be lazy, the same teachers (most of them) that I had. The replacements don't seem that bad to me either.

Plenty of useless teachers back when I was school, so speaking from experience I'll say there are a good percentage of teachers who either don't bother to explain or that are so bad at it they might as well not bother. And that was at one of the good schools.

 

[SoulTax]

Plenty of useless teachers back when I was school, so speaking from experience I'll say there are a good percentage of teachers who either don't bother to explain or that are so bad at it they might as well not bother. And that was at one of the good schools.

Have to agree here. There are some shocking teachers. All through my schooling career I was an ace student and maths and sciences. I put tons of effort in. I grew up with my dad being able to multiply any two, four digit numbers together quicker than you could punch it out on a calculator. Maths was a passion for me, inspired by my ubringing. I never got below 90% until grade 11. In grade 11 my maths went from 90% to 65% in one year. The following year in matric I had the same teacher, Maths dipped to 50%.
My mother never had the money to put me into private maths classes, so I had to try and fend for myself, with no internet, and our entire school maths department a mess, I could not salvage my maths marks. Science I still got over 80% for, physics was my strong suite. The science teacher was decent enough to teach us the basics however.

This maths teacher used to go next door and ask the other maths teacher (Just as useless) the answer to any question that was asked in class. She did not understand it herself, so could not explain correctly, meaning she misslead the entire class. In a school where the pass rate was 99% that year, only 15% passed maths in matric. The other 85% that took maths failed on higher grade, some had to be dropped to standard grade to pass (Which supposedly adds 10% to your mark). So failing by less than 10% on HG could salvage a pass on SG.

You cannot say that all of that is attributed to bad students, being lazy. When they passed the rest of their subjects with distinctions. The stats point towards the majority of the blame being on the maths teaching department, not the students.

 

[Sonic2k]

In grade 11 my maths went from 90% to 65% in one year. The following year in matric I had the same teacher, Maths dipped to 50%.
My mother never had the money to put me into private maths classes, so I had to try and fend for myself, with no internet, and our entire school maths department a mess

The same thing happened to me 'bud... my maths teacher was a dyke who couldn't leave the geography teacher alone, in my Grade 12 year they moved in with each other and she let the department slide even further....

I am an engineer so the necessity of mathematics was a critical issue. Fortunately when I went to college, the maths lecturer there sorted me out within 2 semesters. By the time I got my diploma I didn't even have to study maths.. I just did it and got distinctions...

 

[phoneJunky]

Have to agree here. There are some shocking teachers. All through my schooling career I was an ace student and maths and sciences. I put tons of effort in. I grew up with my dad being able to multiply any two, four digit numbers together quicker than you could punch it out on a calculator. Maths was a passion for me, inspired by my ubringing. I never got below 90% until grade 11. In grade 11 my maths went from 90% to 65% in one year. The following year in matric I had the same teacher, Maths dipped to 50%.
My mother never had the money to put me into private maths classes, so I had to try and fend for myself, with no internet, and our entire school maths department a mess, I could not salvage my maths marks. Science I still got over 80% for, physics was my strong suite. The science teacher was decent enough to teach us the basics however.

This maths teacher used to go next door and ask the other maths teacher (Just as useless) the answer to any question that was asked in class. She did not understand it herself, so could not explain correctly, meaning she misslead the entire class. In a school where the pass rate was 99% that year, only 15% passed maths in matric. The other 85% that took maths failed on higher grade, some had to be dropped to standard grade to pass (Which supposedly adds 10% to your mark). So failing by less than 10% on HG could salvage a pass on SG.

You cannot say that all of that is attributed to bad students, being lazy. When they passed the rest of their subjects with distinctions. The stats point towards the majority of the blame being on the maths teaching department, not the students.

Yes of course you get bad teachers, but at my school they said the teachers are lazy etc. I find it hard to believe that the teachers that did such a good job with me are lazy now. There was claims of teachers being lazy then as well, but only by the weaker students parents. Maybe the rest of the children caught on quicker than the weaker students, but that didn't mean that they didn't explain the content.

 

[wise_guy]

At the end of the day teachers are just doing their job and hope that the child gets a minimum pass.Very few teachers go the extra mile for no pay to ensure your child excels unless its a private school.The onus rests on the parents of the learner to ensure the kid gets top marks and performs at the highest level.
It is for this reason that parents have to play pro active role in ensuring that homework gets done properly and that the child is kept motivated to learn.

 

[Picard]

Teachers aren't superhuman. Just as you get good/average/bad people in all professions just so do you get them in education. Don't expect them all to be of top caliber.

 

[SoulTax]

Yes of course you get bad teachers, but at my school they said the teachers are lazy etc. I find it hard to believe that the teachers that did such a good job with me are lazy now. There was claims of teachers being lazy then as well, but only by the weaker students parents. Maybe the rest of the children caught on quicker than the weaker students, but that didn't mean that they didn't explain the content.

Yes true, but honestly speaking. People change over time. Is it not possible that over all these years they have become jaded? I mean you can start off all enthusiastic about your job, then 10 years down the line, you realize:
- you are being paid **** money.
- you have to put up with kids that have far less discipline
- you cannot punish them with hidings, canings etc....
There are a few more minor points that I am sure people can come up with. Yes a lot of the teachers lack of effectiveness can be attributed to unruly kids, even if the teachers have the best intentions, they cannot get the message accross.

I am going to guess that some of these teachers you mention, that you had when you were in school, are teaching at the same level. So that means that these teachers have been in it over 20 years since you left their classrooms. Considering the last 16 years without corporal punishment have been even more difficult for teachers. I am going to hazzard a guess and say that these teachers have lost their fire, so to speak. Just because they did a good job with you, does not mean that they are still the same passionate teachers they once were. I think they may just be working for a paycheck these days because they feel they are too old to try and start a new career.

 

[SoulTax]

Teachers aren't superhuman. Just as you get good/average/bad people in all professions just so do you get them in education. Don't expect them all to be of top caliber.

I dont think anyone expects them all to be of top caliber. I do think that people who say, "your bad marks are all your own fault and nothing to do with the teacher's effectiveness", is a little harsh though. If its all on you, then why go to school in the first place? Why not just get textbooks and sit at home and read them?

 

[phoneJunky]

Ja, I am sure they are not the same. But they are also more experienced now, and will know what works and what doesn't. And my old school still turns out 99 - 100% pass rate with about the same number of A averages (Or whatever they call it these days) I got when I was matric.

All I am saying is that there could be allot of things why the child doesn't remember what s/he did in class - maybe it is because they have ADD or something in that line. Or maybe they are just lazy. We shouldn't just jump down the teachers throats and call them lazy. Teaching is a very noble profession.

 

[Juice]

I have a daughter in grade 3 and she gets about an hour of homework everyday. If I don't help her through it she gets basically nothing done.

The thing that concerns me about your story, even if your 'experienced' teacher seems to have no problem with it, is that grade 1 through 3 are generally considered to be the kid's "foundation years". EVERYTHING you learn after grade 3 is based on basics learned in the first 3 years. You should not only be able to cope with the basics, but you should really have mastered some of the concepts. I suggest maybe getting a second opinion from an occupational therapist or even just subjecting your daughter's work to closer scrutiny. What are the things she struggles with? Is she bored or despondent?

My eldest is in grade 3 and manages her homework just fine, but her sister has just started grade 1 and while she can do the work when she puts her mind to it, she really struggles to focus on the task at hand. Helping her get through her homework takes constant supervision which is frustrating for the both of us. When it comes to 'helping' I usually let her try something first and if she gets it wrong, I'll explain why it's wrong and let her try again. She has to figure it out for herself.

Juice

 

[noxibox]

Definitely get a second opinion. It may even be that she is unusually bright or creative and a standard school typically caters for neither. It would not be unusual for a smart child to get poor marks because they're bored.

Ja, I am sure they are not the same. But they are also more experienced now, and will know what works and what doesn't. And my old school still turns out 99 - 100% pass rate with about the same number of A averages (Or whatever they call it these days) I got when I was matric.

All I am saying is that there could be allot of things why the child doesn't remember what s/he did in class - maybe it is because they have ADD or something in that line. Or maybe they are just lazy. We shouldn't just jump down the teachers throats and call them lazy. Teaching is a very noble profession.

Of course, but we also have those who love to claim that modern children are less disciplined, which is said of every generation, and of course there's the old magic corporal punishment which apparently made education work, although then one has to wonder how good schools continue to be good schools with students getting good marks.

And indeed you were guilty of automatically blaming the children.

There was claims of teachers being lazy then as well, but only by the weaker students parents. Maybe the rest of the children caught on quicker than the weaker students, but that didn't mean that they didn't explain the content.

Then perhaps the teachers were lazy. I had teachers who explained to a degree adequate for the brightest students, and leaving it at that. Completely unacceptable. If someone needs it explained in 50 different ways for them to get it, then that is what you have to do. I'm sorry that the classes are too big at some schools and teachers are underpaid, but they signed on for this. The saddest thing was watching teachers who clearly really, really wanted to be teachers, but were absolutely terrible at it. Maybe they could be helped with additional education.

I saw the same thing at university. There were those lecturers who explained something once, a few of the top people got it and they considered their work done, but the truly dedicated lecturers would only be happy when even the person struggling understood.

 

[phoneJunky]

Definitely get a second opinion. It may even be that she is unusually bright or creative and a standard school typically caters for neither. It would not be unusual for a smart child to get poor marks because they're bored.


Of course, but we also have those who love to claim that modern children are less disciplined, which is said of every generation, and of course there's the old magic corporal punishment which apparently made education work, although then one has to wonder how good schools continue to be good schools with students getting good marks.

And indeed you were guilty of automatically blaming the children.

Yes I was, but that was just in response to people automatically blaming the teachers.

Then perhaps the teachers were lazy. I had teachers who explained to a degree adequate for the brightest students, and leaving it at that. Completely unacceptable. If someone needs it explained in 50 different ways for them to get it, then that is what you have to do. I'm sorry that the classes are too big at some schools and teachers are underpaid, but they signed on for this. The saddest thing was watching teachers who clearly really, really wanted to be teachers, but were absolutely terrible at it. Maybe they could be helped with additional education.

I saw the same thing at university. There were those lecturers who explained something once, a few of the top people got it and they considered their work done, but the truly dedicated lecturers would only be happy when even the person struggling understood.

You can't teach all the kids at the weakest students' pace. Then you won't finish the syllabus. That is why the teachers tell the parents that they should consider extra classes, which most schools (or cluster of schools where I am from) offer for almost no compensation. And even if the schools don't offer extra classes, there is allot of old teachers that still teaches allot of children during the week. I know my fathers school gives this extra classes for free on Saturdays (but only for the matriculants). You have to make a decision that is the best for the majority of the class and shouldn't keep the rest of the class back. One of my teachers, that also administers the library, still gives classes for free on Wednesdays in the library and my class made her cry for the first time she was at the school.

All I am saying is children is naughty by nature, and with the classes getting as big as they are, the teachers won't get through to everyone.

 

[ice_cubes]

i think with your spelling/grammar you should perhaps not help with english

The teachers explain just fine, the students generally don't listen and with the classes as big as they are the teachers can't give every student individual attention.

with this particular school, the teacher just hands them an assignment & doesnt explain anything. Tells them its homework & leaves... then when they ask her 2 explain she tells the kids "didnt your parents go to school"?

 

[bwana]

You can't teach all the kids at the weakest students' pace. Then you won't finish the syllabus. That is why the teachers tell the parents that they should consider extra classes, which most schools (or cluster of schools where I am from) offer for almost no compensation. And even if the schools don't offer extra classes, there is allot of old teachers that still teaches allot of children during the week. I know my fathers school gives this extra classes for free on Saturdays (but only for the matriculants). You have to make a decision that is the best for the majority of the class and shouldn't keep the rest of the class back. One of my teachers, that also administers the library, still gives classes for free on Wednesdays in the library and my class made her cry for the first time she was at the school.

At my eldest's school they break the class into groups of four, dependant on their abilities, and each group learns at their own pace.