My kids homework make me feel that I need to go back to school

Don't be too hard on yourself, I don't think you are the only parent that feels this way. I don't have my own children yet but sometimes when I look at the science homework of my nephews who are only 7 years old, I do have to really think about what the answer may be! Remember that we were at school a long time ago!

Yes the standard of education has gone up and so you are finding it difficult. Any way it is a God given opportunity for you to walk with the times. Let this be an extended education for you. With little pain you are going to gain a lot. Your child's education and yours. Wish you all the best.

hello ibuemma, i feel the same too. what we have learned before our time was far different than today. it's much easier before. they even are letting the kids to study in advance and solve the problem so when they will discuss they will understand it easily. most of the time when they are asking for help, i'm not of great help for them especially in math. i can only help them in "Pilipino" subject for they are having hard time understand some words.

I believ this happens every generation. I remember my grandparents saying this about us, Then i have said it about my own kids homework. Im sure i would not undersatnd my grandkids homework at all. Basically + - x % = the outcome is the same. They just keep thinking up more confusing ways to get there.

Ibuemma...I know exactly what you are saying!, and it is very frustrating. I am with you on that one! It's been a long time since my son was in school, and even then it was difficult for me to help him at night with his homework. My complaint to the school, was that parents did not go to school to be teachers, therefore we have no idea how to teach a child their daily lessons, how to properly explain it to them. We can certainly try to find the answers for them, but to explain to them how we found it may do more harm then good - the way we were taught may certainly not be the way they are taught today. Besides, for many of us, it was years since we were in school, how do we remember everything? I think teachers depend too much on parents to do what they should be doing themselves while in class. Okay, now I am getting steamed up ...so I will end it now...it is so crazy, and I feel your frustrations!

Hello I know exactly what you mean, thats why I am glad my daughter is grown, when my grandson has this problem, I will send him to her lol, my friend will come to me and ask me to help her son I say I don't think so lol, too much what are these teachers thinking lol its great for the kids hard for us, I am sure you are not alone, I like the fact that you try to get familiar with your kids studies by looking through the book yourself, thats great, keep it up Mom, you will be fine. Thank you, great discussion.

My son won't start school for another 2 years and I am not ready for him to go to school. I know things are so much different than they were when I was in school. My mom's fiance has two children and they call me all the time needing help with homework. Most of the time I can help them but there have been times when I didn't know it either. And a few times that they had math problems and they solve the problem a totally different way then we did when I was in school.

Me too, I feel the same. It was so bad when I was helping my middle grandson with his homework that I told him that his answer was wrong and he went very gently told me that this was the right answer and that I was wrong! Ugh, I was embarrassed but he was so sweet about it, he was 7 at the time, last year. I told my daughter that I am not going to be able to help the kids with their homework anymore because I don't get it!

definitely! that is why i get my hubby to help our daughters with their math. he 'gets' it more than i do. i am able to help them with english and history though.

I had gone through the same thing while my kids were growing up. When they got into high school, I told them they were on their own and needed to stay after school or work with someone else to figure things out if they didn't understand them. Sometimes it is helpful if you get a hold of the teacher and ask how they do their math, usually it is the same math but the words they use are different. The teacher may be able to explain to you what is changed and what hasn't and a better way to keep ahead of what the kids are doing so you aren't trying to figure out what to do while they're doing it.

Well, as far as homework, it is only supposed to be concepts the students already learned and supposedly know how to do on their own. I am fortunate that my daughter's school ONLY sends home a little bit and it is stuff that is already covered at school so she knows how to do it. When she gets older, she is only supposed to have whatever she does not get finished in school, and our goal will be for her to get everything done IN SCHOOL. If the school is allowing NO time for the students to complete any part of their practice to learn concepts, then the school (in my humble opinion) is failing the students. Our taxes go to those schools to pay for them to TEACH. This means they are supposed to help guide kids through practicing.

i know exactly how you feel,my 2 older kids are in set 1&2 for maths,where as i was in set 4,so i never learnt what the higher sets did,which means i can't help with their maths homework especially algebra,i haven't got a clue bout that,,everything has changed though,even the way they're taught to spell,it's all phonetics now,when i was at school you had to spell the word the way it was spelt NOT the way it sounded

Hello Ibuemma, May I know how old is your kid? third grade is means standard 3? I am a tuition teacher for primary school. I do teach math too. I can see the way the kids studying now is much more different from what we learn last time. The formula the teachers teach is different too. I can see the 8 text books and the work books are tough, never ask straight forward questions... What I do is try to follow what the school teacher teach them. I don't give them my own formula to get them confuse. Then they will have this formula from school teacher, that formula from tuition teacher and another formula from parents.

Yes!! At this level in education they should be learning basics/building blocks. The "make your own formula" should be left for later grades. Children this young are still learning fundamentals, as parents we should be able to follow what they are doing. I feel inadequate to help my child with homework sometimes.

Very true. I always used to do this. I am good at maths. But the maths that I have studied and the method in which I have been taught is entirely different from the present day maths and teaching. There is a TV programme with 'have you passed 5th class' sort of title. I am sure I will fail in that show if I participate.

Well, as you already stated that teaching is growing from time to time. Nowadays is completely different if you compare with decade ago, even a year ago. This is the world, grows on every single aspect. And education is not missed. It's okay to let the children face the challenge so they can be indenpendent one day.

Well, my daughter is in first grade, so I don't yet feel that I need to go back to school. However, I know that the time is going to come when I feel like that, sooner than later. As it is right now, she complains to her teacher that the homework that she receives is not difficult enough and if she keeps this up she will be doing middle school work by the time that she is in the 4th grade. Now, I'm not anyone's idiot and I took quite challenging classes in high school and college, but I know the way that they teach things now is different than it was when I was in school. So, while I might be able to come up with the correct answer, the avenue in which I would take to get the answer would not be what is expected of the child.

School curriculum certainly has changed since i was in school. My 13 year old daughter was in sixth grade last year. She was working on geometry in Math. She needed help with some homework. how hard could that be? HA! I had to get my 17 year old son to help her. He knew the math better than I did. He came up with phrases I didn't understand. New math should come with parent instructions!

I dont have kids yet but I've noticed that also when I was helping my nephews and cousins in their homeworks. It's challenging for adults actually and could be frustrating but I guess lots of parents are in the same boat. You may ask help from a tutor, your husband or take time to study them and be patient. I guess the more you show your kids that you want to help them would motivate them more to study.

yes...mostly time we think our old days....like our schooling..and we remember mostly while...doing homework to our kids.. it's very interesting thing...that we wana go school again..and fun with friend...and doing homework...and classwork..as we do in our childhood..