To me it sounds a lot like busy work. At that age a kid shouldn't have more that 10-15 minutes of homework, plus reading. Some teachers don't realize how much time it takes if they are new to the job. It may also be that testing wise it is a "math year". My fourth grader spends a lot of time on writing, because here in Texas, fourth grade is writing TAKS time. It is a must pass year.
Talk to the teacher, find out what is going on.
Talk to the teacher, find out what is going on.