W&P on Homework & Teacher Connection

Amy’s Real Talk: 

Here’s my real, unsightly truth as a mom (and teacher): I don’t like homework. 

I don’t like giving it to students. I don’t like helping with it as a mom. I don’t like managing it as a mom OR a teacher. And, my children (and their teachers) can attest: I have a rather laissez-faire attitude towards whether it gets done, handed in, crumpled, or lost. 

Do my kids get upset and frustrated about homework? Yup.

Do I get feedback that sometimes they forget their homework? Yup, again.

Do I wish I were different on this front? YUP. 

But, I’m not. 

I just don’t like homework.

This all comes into play as we start a new school year. Every year, as my now-teenage children get into a school routine, the one area I do focus on is helping them create an independent, sustainable, and mostly successful homework routine, one that can run without a whole lot of input from me. Trust me when I say it can sometimes take months to hit a homework groove in our house. And yet, we’ve been ok. People like us. Everyone has progressed to the next grade. We live, we learn, we forget our homework, and we try again. So far it’s worked. For those of you who are primo homework families, I truly admire you. Thank you for your service! :)

Emily’s Real Talk: 

I remember when my older kids were in elementary school, I felt like calling the teacher was the last resort–and I am a teacher?!? Over the years, I have learned to reach out to the teachers and administration at my children's schools, and it has been a game-changer for my kids and me! To get the best outcome and most success, a partnership between teachers and parents is key.

As a parent, I have had kids who struggle with homework for hours, and we would all just suffer through. I have had my preschooler come home every day complaining about what’s happening on the playground. I have had my kiddo start to slip in a class, and I wonder what is happening. I have had too many stressful mornings with one of my kids making their entry into school each day not so great. All this is to say, no need to suffer alone, parents! In fact, reaching out to the teachers on these kinds of issues can be so helpful for everyone involved. So when something is feeling hard at home, you have a concern, you see a big change, or you have a question-reach out!! 

These emails can be short and sweet most of the time. When you have something longer to discuss, ask for a time when you could have a quick talk. I have connected with many teachers over the years to simply give them a quick heads up on something that is happening at home-whether it’s sickness, injury, we will be away this week, and grandparents are here, any kind of family situation, or a sleeping issue. As a teacher/administrator, I know we love it when parents communicate like this! It’s so helpful. Children (teenagers, too) are often little puzzles, so partnering and sharing helps to put some of these pieces together to help students grow, learn, thrive, and be happy.

This all goes for the other people in your parent community as well. Partnering and sharing with other parents is very helpful. Although the parent group chats are not always zen, I have found that when someone needs help, everyone jumps in and offers help, sends advice, and maybe a photo of the forgotten math sheet. Remember-Parenting is not meant to be done in isolation!!