Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Secondary education

Is there any point in telling DS's maths teacher that he's not enjoying it?

11 replies

Acanthus · 28/01/2011 11:38

And he doesn't like her?

Ok, not the doesn't like her bit.

DS is in year 7 at a selective independent. He is very bright, getting A * across the board and he is good at maths. He has always liked maths, too, but now he is not enjoying it at all, though his work is absolutely fine.

The issues seem to be that the teacher teaches in a very traditional way, chalk and talk followed by exercises from a textbook. I have no problem with this per se and I don't think he would, either, but there is no problem solving-type work in addition, and he feels that she doesn't explain things very well. Twice he has been taught something in a way that the other kids have struggled to understand, and he has been able to phrase it (only to me, I hasten to add!) much more clearly.

I have the first parents evening coming up and I'm new to this secondary lark. Would you mention that he isn't enjoying it?

I don't think for a minute that she is a substandard mathematician but I suspect she may be more used to teaching the VIth form, as she also teaches A level.

OP posts:

Report

BrigitBigKnickers · 28/01/2011 11:52

My DD is in the same position. She hates maths and has this crumbly old unsympathetic maths teacher who talks too fast and won't help them when they don't understand. All the girls in her maths set (grammar school so all very bright) say they don't understand her either.

Thank God DH has a maths degree and can go over the work with her at home.

I mentioned at parents evening to her Tutor that DD was struggling to understand the maths teacher and she responded "Oh yes all the parents have been saying that..."

Short of getting a petition up to get the old trout sacked I am not sure what can be done about it.

School has recently had an outstanding OFSTED too...

Report

Acanthus · 28/01/2011 14:19

Maybe I should write a letter, like the one on the other thread. I am after all a doting graduate mum.

OP posts:

Report

noblegiraffe · 28/01/2011 14:22

I wouldn't have thought 'He doesn't enjoy maths' would even be worthy of comment. It's not like it's usually a subject loved by all.

Do mention the problem solving, they should be doing more in depth problems to get them used to them for the functional maths element of the new GCSE (if they're doing GCSE).

Report

Acanthus · 28/01/2011 14:32

IGCSE. Does that make a difference?

I know not every one loves maths, but DS1 always has, you see.

OP posts:

Report

noblegiraffe · 28/01/2011 16:12

I don't know what the IGCSE looks like. I assume that it will have some element which requires thinking skills though.

Report

Acanthus · 28/01/2011 16:17

You'd hope so, wouldn't you! The teacher mentioned extension work on DS's report, maybe I should ask about that instead.

OP posts:

Report

cardibach · 29/01/2011 20:56

getting A across the board *
In Y7? Really? That is (roughly) equivalent to level 10, so seems unlikely. Perhaps you should check the levels/targets etc before commenting on your child's enjoyment. Seems mad to me.

Report

cardibach · 29/01/2011 20:58

getting A across the board.* Stupid asterisk system.

Report

RoadArt · 30/01/2011 08:45

Why cant a child get A* in Year 7? Some kids do have the ability to be extremely good at maths.

HOwever, being brutally honest, I dont know what the results are for high school and would appreciate your guidance as to how A* fits into the levels.

Thank you.

Report

IShallWearMidnight · 30/01/2011 08:51

maybe it's not a GCSE A*, but the equivalent for the year group? So getting 85%+ in Y7 tests?

DD had a maths teacher who didn't explain stuff in a way that she got (and similarly couldn't work out what it was she wanted to know) - she sorted it by haveing a meeting with the head of maths, crying a lot, and getting some extra coaching. They don't have that teacher this year . Not sure that would work in Y7 though.

I'd ask about the problem solving type stuff, and the extension work, and yes, mention that he seems to be going off maths and you're a bit concerned, how can you work together to help him rediscover it.

Report

Acanthus · 30/01/2011 11:47

It's not GCSE A, no. They use A to E for academic grades throughout the school. It means he is at the very top of the year academically, but it does not mean that he is ready for his GCSEs! He's getting over 90% in all the year 7 tests.