Homework

So, Tom has completed his first half-term at school and it has gone pretty well.  No tears, no refusals to go etc.  We have very little idea of what goes on at school as he seems to forget everything he has done as soon as he leaves the classroom!

He does, however, get lots of homework:

+ Sound book: a flip book with all the letters of the alphabet and some words they appear in to practise sounds.

Tom's homework!

+ Reading book with no words - Tom has to narrate his way through this book describing what he sees in the pictures

+ Reading book with simple keywords such as 'a' and 'the' etc

+ Keywords keyring - 50 or so simple words on a keyring that he needs to learn off by heart

+ KIRFs book - with maths targets to Tom to hit.  (Luckily his target this half-term is to count to 20 and recognise the numerals 1-10.  He's been able to do that for over a year so I have just ignored this one).

+ New on Friday - 'Wow Wednesdays' a book which we have to fill each week with something new he has done at home in the previous week, to be illustrated with drawings / photos etc.  

+ Library book

Although this is his homework, it is of course MY homework.  I have comment books to fill in for his reading and maths and of course I now have to write about something 'wow' each week.  Does a 4 year old really need to have this much homework?  It makes me wonder exactly how much teaching is taking place at school.  I have a feeling teachers are spending so much time on paperwork to prove this, that and the other for Ofstead, that they don't actually have time to sit down with the kids in their class to teach them / find out how they are doing and expect the parents to do this instead.

Anyhow, Tom seems to be taking it in his stride and is beginning to recognise some words.  His maths is much better, today he was playing a maths game on the ipad and learnt how to count in 2's to 20.  We were really impressed with him as he picked it up really quickly.  (I am now making a mental note of everything he does to save up for his Wow Wednesday book - first entry will be the 7 mile bike ride, second entry will be counting to 20 in 2's - I'm hoping there will be more I can use and store up from this half term).

Oh hum, I guess it will only get worse...

Oh and he came home with a certificate last week - for 100% attendance.  Fine, but why did they give it to him a week before the end of half term?