Homework Hotline
The Homework Machine
Shel Silverstein
The Homework Machine , oh the Homework Machine,
Most perfect contraption that’s ever been seen.
Just put in your homework, then drop in a dime,
Snap on the switch, and in ten seconds time,
Your homework comes out, quick and clean as can be.
Here is is – “nine plus four?” and the answer is “three”.
Three? Oh me…
I guess it’s not as perfect As I thought it would be.
Did anyone love that poem as much as me? Did anyone wish that an actual homework machine existed? I know I did. I still do. It’s funny, though, I used to teach middle school. I loved it and had not a problem doling out homework. But I did try to be mindful of my students and remember, myself, back in the day when I had lots of homework to do. Unless it was an emergency, I didn’t give out homework on the weekends…that sort of thing.
Anyway, fast forward to now and I still want that homework machine! It is such a struggle to get Emma to do her homework. If we don’t start her homework within the first 5 minutes of getting home, there’s no chance she’ll do it later. No chance. And if we have ballet that day, forget it. Speech therapy? Chances are slim to none. Fortunately, her teachers are very understanding and accept all accommodations we submit. They have a reading log to fill in each week. Emma traces the words of the title that I write. Along with that, on Mondays it’s writing practice. Tuesdays is sight words, Wednesdays is math days, and Thursdays are Internet activity days. So I can adjust all of her homework as needed, and they are happy with what she submits. They understand her lack of focus. It’s frustrating, though, as a mom (of course) and former teacher because I want nothing more than to help her with her work. And it seems like no matter how many workbooks or manipulatives (like counters) I get, it doesn’t do the trick. So frustrating.
She really loves working on puzzles...this one she completed all by herself!
She LOVES to read to the class!
Emma writes best on a slanted chalk board
How does homework run in your house? Any tricks up your sleeve that you care to share?? (while on the topic, Mason’s science project was a lima bean that was supposed to sprout. I think he had more fun squishing it!)
Ack, homework is a nightmare at our house, too. We adjusted Mason’s IEP so that he only has to complete what he is able to do. Otherwise we’d be in big trouble.
Homework is banned from my house. I am not kidding it is in her IEP. She struggles enough at school. She does not have to have that added pressure at home also. That being said she has no time for homework anyways inbetween all of her therapies…Plus grandma is not smater than a 5th grader!!! I do not remember math being so hard in the 5th grade… but it is