Do You Review Your Kid's Homework? (7Th Grade)

Updated on February 11, 2016
S.R. asks from Scottsdale, AZ
26 answers

I'm just curious if other parents review homework before it is turned in. My dd is totally independent in math, but I usually like to review her written work. I don't look for content, but try to give her pointers on writing style, capitalization, misspellings, writing in complete sentences, etc.
Do other parents to the same?

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J.W.

answers from Harrisburg on

No, except when they ask to proofread a report or essay. My daughter is in college and will still ask for one of us to read over her work...never a bad idea to have someone with fresh eyes catch something.

2 moms found this helpful
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K.C.

answers from Denver on

7th grade? No, unless they specifically ask for help. I'm always there for them if they ask, but by 7th grade, they should be doing homework independently.

2 moms found this helpful

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

unless you have reason to believe the teacher is being remiss in teaching writing style, grammar and punctuation, why not leave it to her?
khairete
S.

2 moms found this helpful

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D.B.

answers from Boston on

How old is she?

I usually think it's better for the teacher to see what the child is doing, where her strengths and weaknesses are. If you catch the errors, the child isn't accountable to the teacher.

As a former teacher, I can tell you that parents didn't always emphasize what I wanted to, and I never knew if a kid was struggling if the parents did the correcting. Then a kid would choke on a test, and I never had a chance to review or work on skills with that kid. Any good teacher can usually see the parent's hand in things, but not always. Kids can get overwhelmed if the teacher is working on A and the parent derails that by making the kid focus on B. Not that they aren't both important, but there might be a better order for developing things - starting with foundations and building from there. If you "jump ahead", that can distract the child. She'll probably learn it better if she works with the teacher.

I think parents don't always understand the purpose of homework - it's not to turn in a perfect piece of writing. It's to practice.

I think your job is to make sure she did the work and put it in her backpack. If she's young than 10, you may be adding to her academic stress and performance anxiety. Even if she's older than 10, it may be too much.

If the teacher is grading homework and taking off endless points for capitalization and spelling errors, I can see your added pressure to make it perfect. If your child has a major disability, she may need extra help in working on problem areas that have her way behind others in the class. But I think there's way too much emphasis on grades in elementary school, and we are turning out kids who are focused on grades and not so much on creative thought.

At the very least, I think you should consult with the teacher and let her know how much you are wanting to work on this, how much time you are spending, and so on, to make sure you and she are completely on the same page and that this is what she needs you to do.

4 moms found this helpful

J.S.

answers from St. Louis on

Nope, never. Not for my good students, not for the bad. I see it as a handicap since they tend to get sloppy figuring mom will catch the mistakes.

3 moms found this helpful
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G.♣.

answers from Springfield on

No, I don't.

My 3rd grader is usually fine on his own. The few times he's struggled he usually ends up getting mad at one of us for trying to help, so we've completely backed off and just make sure he does the homework. Turns out that was the best thing we could have done for him. If he doesn't get the right answer, the teacher knows it and can help him figure out what he did wrong. He will learn how to ask for help at school and how to work hard at figuring things out on his own.

I teach remedial math at a university. Most of my students really struggle and don't always know how to work through problems and find their mistakes. They want to be rescued right away. That's not going to help them succeed. They need to be willing to look back at their class notes, rework the example the teacher gave them and then try their problem again.

It might be time for you to let your daughter learn through experience. All of the things you mentioned - "writing style, capitalization, misspellings, writing in complete sentences, etc." - should be things she is learning in school. If she isn't doing most of those things without your help, she needs to step it up. Even if she gets a couple of low scores on her next few papers, that could go a long way towards teaching her some independence.

Right now, I don't think you are doing her any favors.

3 moms found this helpful
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M.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

No. I check to make sure it's done but I don't look at the content at all.

3 moms found this helpful
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M.S.

answers from Washington DC on

I have a seventh grade boy. I rarely look over his homework. I try to leave that to him. I already went through 7th grade and I am super busy taking care of his disabled dad. What I mostly do is try to help him navigate the tough stuff. If he would have a question or problem I help him with the wording of emails to teachers. If he needs to make corrections for an assignment or test I strongly encourage that. How often in life do we get do-overs? He needs to take advantage of that opportunity! Every so often I help him go through his school things to get organized. We go through his grades online together and sometimes, if needed, I help him write notes to himself for things he needs to do or teachers he needs to talk with, etc. I am also his biggest fan and cheerleader!

2 moms found this helpful
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M.G.

answers from Portland on

My kids' homework these days seems to be taken care of at school mostly, they have time to complete it there. But when they have a project as we did this past weekend, they ask for me to review it.
What I gave pointers on was when it was repetitive, when it wasn't clear, when added detail was needed - this was going to be a presentation in class also. We just worked on the flow of it together.
I find nowadays most kids work in Word so it catches misspellings and capitalization and grammar, so I usually help them organize their thoughts.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.J.

answers from Sacramento on

I verify that my 7th grader did his homework, but only because he has ADHD and ODD and is known for not doing it. I go to each teacher's website and see what is supposed to be done that night. I don't review the answers, though. It's different for our 4th grader. The teacher requires us to correct all homework before it's turned in (don't get me started on that).

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

By 6th, my kids were on their own though I would proofread essays for them or give them suggestions if they asked. My 2nd grader gets checked.

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A.G.

answers from Dallas on

I have 6th and 12th grade boys and I don't check either of their homework. Once in awhile one of them will ask a specific question, but other than that they are independent. I also teach 11th/12th grade. I think it depends on the child when the parent needs to take a step back, but 7th grade is probably a good time for most. I'm amazed at how many parents are still way too involved in the day to day assignments for my AP English students (IMO). I don't know how some of these kids will function without their mommies in college. I'm not suggesting you're that kind of parent, S. r. You seem to be doing fine.

1 mom found this helpful

L.U.

answers from Seattle on

If he asks me to. His math is getting a bit complicated for this old lady. lol
I go over his writing if he asks me to...but really? Not that much. I ask EVERY day if his homework is done, make sure he reads, and then the rest is up to him if he wants me to help!
Seems to be working for us....he got 6 "A's" last semester!

1 mom found this helpful

M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

Nope. My daughter is in 7th this year and in the STEM program. It's her responsibility to do her work to her teachers standards. My 5th and 3rd grade boys are the same thing. We help when they need it, we do check their math work, but otherwise it's their job.

School is our children's JOBS. My daughter's 2nd grade teacher taught us that. They have to do well, listen, follow instruction, etc. Their grades are a reflection of their understanding of the concepts being taught. So they do their own. If they ASK for help or a review, we are all over it.

1 mom found this helpful
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E.B.

answers from Beaumont on

I have 2 children. One is special needs. I check my special needs son's work but not to a high degree. Once they hit junior high I backed off and am trying to have him be more independent and deal with the consequences of poor work. My other child, I haven't checked it at all since he was in 6th grade.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.B.

answers from San Francisco on

No. I check the school website weekly to make sure there are no missed assignments, but I don't check her homework.

1 mom found this helpful

C.B.

answers from Reno on

My daughter is in 7th grade and I do not check her homework unless she asks me too. She will ask on big projects but she does it all herself. My son is in 5th grade and I just check to make sure it is done, well except social studies, we are having some issues there so I do check that work with him.
Many blessings

1 mom found this helpful
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M.M.

answers from Boston on

At that age I would check that it's done ...or if he had any questions on something or needed some kind of guidance on something

1 mom found this helpful
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D.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

No. My son is in fourth grade and I only look at his homework if he asks for help. I have never looked at his homework, not even when he was in first grade. Homework is for practice (not that it is really justified) and for the teacher to see where a child might be having problems. If you fix it for them, how will the teacher know what help the child needs.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

Never, although I would if asked. (I have a 7th and 12th grader)

1 mom found this helpful
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S.E.

answers from Wichita Falls on

Yes, I look over any work my daughter (10th grade) asks me to,or if i know she is having issues with a subject. I also proof-read my sister's grad school papers, and my 6th grader's math.

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A.R.

answers from Chicago on

At seventh grade, I think she is capable of doing her own homework. When my kids were in seventh grade, they did their own homework. At dinner, I would ask if their homework is done. If not, then I would tell them to do it when they finished eating. Now thet they are in high school, they are more indipendent and take care of it themselves. When they were in seventh grade they would ask me if I needed help, or they would ask for advice on a project or report. Other than that they did it on their own.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.Z.

answers from Seattle on

These days, I review it 2-3 times a week or so, not every night. I catch a few spelling errors and help with adding commas here and there, but try to be hands off as far as ideas. However, if she asks, I'm happy to help her sort through the info and organize the content. I think it's great that you review it. I think some kids need reminders to build habits. I know it helped my daughter remember capitalization and punctuation when I reminded each night. The teacher can't do that for 25 kids each day at the same level.

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C.N.

answers from Baton Rouge on

My daughter's homework was her responsibility, not mine. If she ASKED me for help, clarification, or proof-reading, I was happy to do so, but I did not do it as a matter of course.

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J.B.

answers from Boston on

Yes, if they let me, especially papers. My oldest son is a senior and has ADHD and learning disabilities so he needed a lot of scaffolding at home to complement the support he received in school. His writing could still benefit from a review with me but he rarely takes advantage of the opportunity, which is too bad because he could easily score 10 points higher on his papers if he sat with me for 30 minutes and talked through things like making sure he has structured his paper in a way that adequately supports his argument. Teachers don't have time to give one-on-one feedback to every student (especially those who won't make an appointment to stay after school) and as an academic tutor, I'd like to give my kids the same level of support that I give to the kids whose parents pay me for this but that old "you can lead a horse to water" phrase rings true.

My 6th grader likely also has ADHD and oppositional defiance (we get his test results back in 2 weeks) so I literally have to sit and work beside him for him to get projects and papers done. He can do the work but needs to be re-directed back to the task constantly.

My 4th grader can work independently. I occasionally glance over his work to make sure that he didn't skip any questions, etc. but he's very conscientious and responsible and has no issues with work habits so I don't have to do much with him. He struggles with writing though so as he gets into more complex writing assignments in higher grades, I will offer to review his work with him.

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

By 7th grade not so much although I'd read over essays and reading something awkward out loud would point out he needed to re-word what he was trying to say.
By 11th grade? He's in STEM engineering and I don't know enough to be of any help in looking his stuff over. Dad is an engineer, so he and son get all excited talking about logic gates.

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