I’m sure there are not many of us who will say they actually enjoyed doing homework. I’m not saying we didn’t have projects, assignments or subjects that we enjoyed occasionally or more than others. I just think finding many homework lovers would be hard to do.
As of now, Nia is a homework liker. She will work on it as soon as she can after school – even voluntarily doing the extra credit section at the bottom of the page that the teacher didn’t assign. Homework in Second Grade isn’t that time-consuming, extremely complicated (for her anyway – for me, it’s a different story!) or disagreeable. It’s spelling words, math word problems, comprehension and grammar. Nia doesn’t mind it. She does it because she’s supposed to. Because it will help her learn. Because she gets check pluses and smiley faces on her paper. She hasn’t learned to hate it – yet.
I’m afraid the negativity around it may soon start to grow because of a new reward system by her teacher. Apparently, the students are divided up in groups and they get blue strips for things they do well. When they get five, they members of the group get to skip a night of homework.
On the surface, it seems like a good way to encourage good behavior and productivity in the classroom. When I think about it though, I feel it could teach students to consider a night without homework as a good thing. After all, it’s being billed that way.
I told Nia I think it would be a great idea and beneficial to her brain if she does the homework even though she wouldn’t have to. She was actually excited about it, adding, “Maybe we’ll get another reward for me doing that!”
Are You Zhazha? 
I agree with you, and I must say that, thus far, I’m not impressed with Nia’s teacher’s idea of rewards. Homework is bad? Coke is good? I guess you can’t agree with all her teachers all the time, but I’d be frustrated too! Good thing your girl has a good head on her shoulders and good parents who help keep things in perspective!
I agree with Ginger, this teacher seems a bit off. I do not see her logic. Like you said, they are not always going to see eye to eye with all of the parents. Some might think she is terrific.
Drew’s teacher is really cold this year. It is going to be tough to go from warm preschool teachers who hug and kiss to one who just doesn’t. She also hates technology so we are going from FB’ing his teachers with cute stories to random notes in his bookbag.
I guess this just teaches us and our children to adapt to change!