Management Monday: Homework Mayhem

We are well into the 2013-2014 school year. Homework is coming full speed and many of the kids have already had some major exams. With 6 kids now in school,  homework makes home schooling seem like a dream come true. Once car pooling ends, I become the teacher until dinnertime.

Much to my annoyance, we are getting plenty of homework beginning in kindergarten. This includes reading time, flash cards, and math drills. My oldest two often need assistance or questions answered in math. Sometimes we have to run to the store to get supplies for science experiment homework!! Really????

I need to find a way to manage this mayhem successfully. Currently, I make everyone grab their own snack. Sometimes I have homemade cookies or bread hot and ready and sometimes they just need to get some fruit or vegetables to tide them over until dinner.

Once we are all settled in the house, I have the 3 elementary school kids bring me their backpacks and I get everything signed off. (I think teachers are a little looney making parents sign for everything.)

Then I go by age. I start with Anya who is in kindergarten and needs me to do flashcards and have her read to me. While Anya is doing this Adam and Rachel are supposed to be doing their math homework. After Anya is finished, I start with Rachel.

Rachel needs to read. I must help her practice spelling words, do a timed reading speed sheet and make sure she understood her math.

Adam then has to complete timed math drills. Finally I am available for the older kids questions.

We have been having problems with Kate in the 9th grade. All of her teachers are giving her huge amounts of homework each night. She has been up until 11pm finishing her homework. Then she has to be up by 6:50 and off to school at 7:30. Today, I am starting something new. Kate is a perfectionist and works very slowly and carefully. When she gets home today, I will set the timer for 2 hours and Kate will have to work quickly and less carefully. She needs time to exercise, play, and spend time with her family. I do not think it is healthy to have school be 100% of her life. I suspect Kate will have trouble and cry for the first couple of days and then figure out how to get all of her work done in two hours.

Honestly, I resent so much homework for all of my children. It is excessive!!

Often I wonder what they're doing all day in school to come home with so much work. I hope we will be able to manage this school year and all of the ones that follow.