babble » blogs » Strollerderby
Strollerderby
Do Kids Really Need Summer Homework?
Does summer homework drive you crazy?
It’s almost August. While I can’t believe the summer is already half over, I’m also realizing that the great summer homework packs will be due before we know it. Every child in my son’s school has a summer homework assignment consisting of reading and math. He has a packet of math worksheets and a summer reading list. Luckily, he just has to read and record the books, but quite a few kids have written book reports to hand in that first week in September.
I really wonder how necessary summer homework is, along with vacation homework during school breaks. I never had any growing up. I know teachers say they have to spend some time at the beginning of every school year just brushing up on last year’s work, but wouldn’t they have to do that anyway? When a new class is formed, there is always a mix of minds, new kids, under-performers, and over-achievers. Teachers have to spend some time learning about each student anyway. Has any summer packet made a huge difference in a struggling student?
At best, kids either muddle through a new sheet everyday under strict, organized moms, or they do it all in one shot among more laid back moms. No matter, they still are doing it as quickly as possible for a teacher they don’t know, and for a school-year which seems eons away from their pool and outside summer play.
There are mothers who bribe their kids to do a page a day with money, pool privileges, and outings. I admit I am only now considering having my son begin his work. Honestly, it’s nothing more than busywork. He reads regularly anyway so I don’t really view the reading part of the homework as actual work, and he’s been reading all summer already. It’s something he has always done. The math packets get tiresome, though. They are basically a review of things he’s known for years.
Meanwhile, I am putting off the buying of the uniforms, backpacks, and lunchboxes a bit longer. I want a little more time to enjoy the summer and not have to think about getting ready for another school year just yet.
When do you have your kids start summer homework?
Image: Stockxchng/hvaldez1
Dreading September? Get ready with Babble’s back-to-school guide!
Go Back To Strollerderby
7 Comments
Korinthia commented on Jul 25 11 at 5:00 pmWe actually do a half hour of some kind of ‘school’ with each of our kids individually in the mornings during the summer just to keep their brains from turning to mush. It’s nice, too, to have a hands on chance to see what our kids know and see for ourselves how they are learning. We identify trees around our neighborhood, learn geography, practice cursive, do simple math on a white board, and then they have the rest of the day to just play and enjoy summer. The kids really like it and I feel this way it won’t be too big a shock to their system when school starts up again.
Sara commented on Jul 25 11 at 7:26 pmKids need to read everyday throughout the summer and they need to do at least a bit of writing.
My daughter this summer every day has had to read for half and hour, practice the piano for half an hour, do her typing program for at least 15 minutes (she’s now typing at 10 words a minute up from three), write a paragraph and put the dishes away. I’d be irritated if she was given a list of things to do because she’s a high achiever and the summer is one of the few times that she actually has to work hard at everything. I’m not against any of those things being sent home.
Lisa commented on Jul 25 11 at 9:25 pmThey need to read every day and do something academic (music, art, science, literacy) activities through the summer.
Linda, t.o.o. commented on Jul 26 11 at 12:31 amWe just read a lot and my daughter has summer homework related to her freshman honor’s classes.
Jennifer commented on Jul 27 11 at 9:46 amAs a teacher…yea for the reading everyday (and the activities you all are doing above)!
As a mom…it is hard to be that organized over the summer. My kids (who are young) don’t have packets that come home with them, so I have to make up the activities as we go. I love doing this and getting to teach my kids. I think a packet would annoy me because I can’t be creative and it’s really hard to make a packet fun. However, many parents do not love it and don’t know where to begin doing this with their kids. I can only imagine how overwhelming it would seem on top of working full time.
Maybe the packets are for those parents not naturally inclined to do those sorts of things over the summer anyway? Do the teachers actually grade the work? I know sometimes, depending on the school/teacher, it is considered extra credit.
Karen commented on Aug 20 11 at 11:29 amI am totally against summer homework and also homework given during winter break, April vacation, etc. My daughter gets out of school on June 29th and goes back on August 24th. Summer is a time for fun and rest. During the school year she has a couple of hours of homework every night and I am very strict in making sure it’s done. Sometimes it is very difficult considering she has other activites such as dance, drama, community service, all of which the school encourages. Sometimes she does not eat dinner until 9:00 at night. She has always been a straight A student and has never had any disciplinary problems. She is going into the seventh grade this year. With that being said, I have told her that she doesn’t have to do the summer homework if she doesn’t want to. She knows exactly where I stand on summer homework and she also understands how hard she has to work during the school year. I will make her do the summer homework in high school because then it can affect her grades. She understands that. If summer homework is intended for students who slack off during the school year or who can’t seem to get it together at the beginning of the year, why should my daughter suffer because of that? Let their parents get them tutors or enroll in after school help.
BioPHD commented on Jan 04 12 at 4:22 pmThis kind of thing really irks me. My dad was in the army and we moved around A LOT when I was a kid. I once showed up in a new district where they had summer reading assignments and I was behind before I even started! Of course the department of defense schools never had summer assignments, and military brats are some of this country’s brightest despite relatively low income households.
Add your take:
Note: Babble is a supportive, diverse community. We encourage a range of opinions,
but any unduly hostile comments will be removed.
Comments are delayed up to 15 minutes
Lori Garcia 
Joslyn Gray 
Amber Doty 
Julianna Miner 
Monica Bielanko 
Sierra Black 
Meredith Carroll 
Carolyn Castiglia 
Sunny Chanel 
Madeline Holler 
Rebecca Odes 
Danielle Smith 
Danielle Sullivan 
Katherine Stone 
The Walt Disney Company supports Babble as a platform dedicated to honest, engaged, informed, intelligent and open conversation about parenting. However, the opinions expressed on this site are those of individual parents/writers and do not reflect the views of Disney. In addition, content provided on this site is for entertainment or informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or safety advice.
7