Well, we made it through the first day of 1st grade in separate classrooms. They were all together for Kindergarten, but wanted their own teachers this year, so we requested that.

I was hoping that with them being away from each other all day things would be better after they got home, like less fighting etc. They were arguing before we got home, we live less than a mile from the school! Then it was time for homework. They only had homework once a week in Kind. so this is new for us all. One didn't get homework today, one forgot his homework folder and the last one made the whole process a terrible struggle. Am I trying too hard myself, or just expecting too much too soon?

I just sat down and started thinking that if this is what it is going to be like, I don't know how I will be able to get it done. What do those with older kids do, when do you have kids do their homework? They got a snack when we first got in and then wanted to start watching TV and playing on the computer. I tried to get them to go ahead and do it and get it over.

Sorry for my rambling, but I really don't know what to do tomorrow to help things go more smoothly. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Pam
BBB 9/98

Pam,

I think the kids need a break after sitting in their desks all day. They need to burn off some energy, physically and mentally.

In first grade the kids have scheduled specials like Media, Phy Ed, lunch, recess and Music. The times are written and posted large enough for the kids to see them. This gives the kids a real sense of a daily schedule. They learn to keep track of what is coming next. I would recommend making a clock face with hands on it and setting it to the time that they will be doing their homework. (construction paper clock and moveable hands) Let them know what time that is (ex: 7 o'clock)and when your regular clock matches the time on the one you made that will be homework time. Midway through first grade they will start learning the hour and half hour times on the clock so this will help them to understand that better once they get to it in school.

mom to:
Ryan 32 The Lawyer
Jason 30 The Chief Meteorologist
Chris 30 The College Student
Tim 30 The college grad

I love hearing their versions of their childhood memories!!

Hi Pam,

Ut-Oh..now I'm affraid of 1st grade, lol!!! My trio start 8/22, but they do have 3yrs at the same school, in seperate classes & all day Kinder so I think our biggest change/challenge will be homework. In Kinder, maybe once a week & usually only one child had HW at a time. This year I don't know what to expect, but I know we'll need to work out a schedule/HW area, etc in order to keep order, lol. So many things will change once school starts that I hope to get a really good routine started back up w/work, play & school time. Crazy how fast our kids are growing up, isn't it?

Just curious on your trio's back packs...my kids(gbg)all picked 'non-character' backpacks for the first time ever! Another reminder they are growing up to fast.

Amy~
Paige, Austin & Hailee - 6yrs
10/29/98 34w1d

oh Pam - don't tell me that the fighting didn't get better!!!! We did the same thing - together for Kindergarten and seperating them for 1st grade (we also live less than a mile from school).

I'd say that if one has homework and the other 2 do not, the other 2 have to wait (draw a picture, practice writing their name) until the one with homework is finished.

We had homework every day in kindergarten but it was the same homework so I'm not sure how DP (the SAHM) will handle this. I'm sure to be getting lots of calls at work in a few weeks after school starts.

RoseMarie
mom to the Hooligans 12/21/98

Mine are in kindergarten this year and are all together. We have also had homework every night so far. Our district still does half-day K, so they get to play all morning at home before heading to school for the afternoon. When we get home from school, everyone has to start picking up the toys and taking them back to the playroom. I pull one child aside at a time and do their reading and other homework while the others continue to put away toys. When that one is finished, he goes back to help finish and it is the next one's turn to do homework. So far, none of them have complained--except about picking up, but that's pretty typical.LOL

I guess doing it one at a time might negate the benefits of all having the same homework, but it does give me one-on-one time to go over papers, discuss their day, see how each one is doing, etc. Homework takes a while to get through, but I enjoy doing it this way so far.

Pam,
The homework does start getting ugly in 1st grade. I remember how hard it was to do homework with 3. you kind of have to separate so they don't hear each other's answers but I didn't want to run from room to room. By the second half it was much easier because they could read the directions (and understand them) by themselves.

Our girls are all in the same class so we don't have the "who has homework" issue. I agree with RoseMarie, whoever doesn't have "homework" should use that time for extra reading/'riting/'rithmetic.

Our schedule is thus-
home from school around 3:20- have snack, change clothes play around
4:00 homework
6:00 dinner
7:00 showers
7:30 bed and reading
8:00 lights out.
We may need to push back bed and lights out 1/2 hour since the girls will be in 3rd grade but it will depend on how well they get up in the am (6:15!!).



Good Luck. Homework is what I hate most about school (tho' I didn't mind it as a kid!)


Judie and Victor
lucky parents to
Frankie 3/95
Maggie 7/96
Rose 7/96
Elizabeth 7/96

Hi Pam,

At the risk of sounding negative, I will say here for the record that 1st grade was the hardest year, homework-wise. They are not yet independent and need a lot of one-to-one help. Also there was a 20 minute a day read-to-an-adult requirement. I was the only adult around (dh worked long hours). You can do the math and see that that requirement alone was one hour.

I also had a two-year-old at the time who also wanted Mommy. Poor baby, how many times did I say, "Go watch Barney!" It was a hard year!

My girls have been mostly in separate classes and I think that does help the fighting.

Good news: My girls are soon entering 6th grade, and it is much easier, though no walk in the park. They are much more independent. Math is harder and the sheer volume can sometimes be overwhelming. It is easier to help one-to-one and I can sometimes do group spelling tests, etc. Bonus: My incoming 2nd grader can read to his sisters and they can help him with his homework occasionally! Wow!

I let them relax for about an hour, hour and a half after school and then they do homework. I try to have dinner done or at least prepped before they get home. There is nothing as frustrating as trying to cook dinner when you've got 4 kids who need help. After school activities make things harder. I really have to time-manage. A crock-pot is a beautiful thing.

I wish you the best. When you get frustrated just remember how cute they are.

Bonnie

Anna, Katie, & Erica 9/25/94
James 1/25/98

It will get better!

Kids need to burn off some energy before doing homework. They've been sitting and concentrating for the day. They need a break!

I hang out at school for about 15 - 20 minutes after school. The kids play on the playground and whoop it up! The added bonus is walking out of the school - no crowds! We get home and have a quick snack. Then they start their homework.

It's a set routine we've used for years. It works for us. Sometimes, we work ahead if we know we have a busy day ahead in the week. For example, we had homework done on Wednesday vs. Thursday since we had swim lessons after school on Thursday.

I also found my kids too tired to concentrate after dinner. Homework was better done right after school vs. starting at 7 pm!

My kids had different sets of homework in 1st grade (3 different teachers). In second grade, they had different teachers but the same homework package. In third grade, they will have separate teachers AND separate homework. Some teachers do a weekly package, some do a daily package. And it's all different. Wish me luck!

Sharon
8 year old b/b/b + 12 year old son

I have no advice but can definitely relate. School started yesterday. They are in 3 separate 1st grade classes. Assignments (in only 2 days) have varied among the classes. Only one had any real homework today but I made all 3 do it anyway. Spent 2 minutes working on sight words with one (she breezed through them), 30 minutes struggling through sight words with another (and he only got through half the list at that) and 30 minutes arguing with the third about why he needs to do sight words - which when he finally stopped fighting, he mumbled through the list in about 30 seconds with no breath between words - I have no idea how many he actually got right.

They were still fighting when I put them to bed this evening.

My rule for homework is going to be - home from school, snack, homework, then play. They are already complaining but if we wait until later, they get too tired. Plus, we have a one year old that is still napping when we get home from school so I can work with them without her interruptions. Also, I use their play time to get dinner ready.

I set the ground rules yesterday and I think if I remain consistent, things will smooth out a bit. Hopefully

Jenni
mom of ABC 11/98 and K 5/04

Thanks to everyone on your suggestions! Today was a little better, but we still need to get into a routine. Sorry if I've burst anyones bubble on the fighting thing. They were doing it again today! Kindergarten here is all day, so they are used to being in school all day, but the homework is the trouble. I'm going to work hard on a routine and just hang in there.

They all had homework today, but one had different homework. The other two have teachers that are trying out some "team teaching". That should make things interesting, but maybe easier in some ways.

I've decided that my life is just going to be extremely LOUD for a long time.

Pam
BBB 9/98