Summer homework assignment

My husband and I attended the first (and only) PTA meeting so far this year.  It was not what I was expecting for a PTA meeting at all.  Instead it was a presentation by our son's teacher about school life.  We saw photos of kids in the classroom, eating lunch, and cleaning the school (no custodians in Japan).

The teacher talked a bit about how 2020 has been such a strange year and how it has changed the school experienced for our kids.  Lunch in the classroom is a silent event.  Music class encourages quiet voices and no breathing into the melodicas.  There is no physical contact in P.E.  There are even dividers in the library for reading time.  Although the kids are happy to be there, it is really weird for them.

We also received a list of our son's summer homework.  I found it a bit eye raising for first graders...

• Daily journal of joy, goals/chores, and sleep schedule
• Daily tracking of reading
• Math flash cards (a timed event)
• 10 Japanese worksheets
• 10 Math worksheet
• Practice melodica, plus handouts
• Complete a science project or craft, optional
• Review of previously learned materials
• Extra work - write a book review up to 800 characters

They have 3 weeks to complete all this work.  When they say summer break in Japan, they actually just mean work from home.  Good thing we can't go anywhere these days!  I had planned on letting him spend hours at the park, but who knows if we will have time for that.