Building confidence in DD age 7

[mumrocks2]

So here is the thing, my DD is a very happy go lucky girl who is a bit of a home bird but quietly confident and popular at school. We have a couple of issues that I just don't know how to handle anymore. DD is in year 2 and has struggled in Maths - she does get it just takes her a long time to get there. We've done lots of extra work at home and she does understand but she lacks any confidence in doing Maths at school. this is hampered further by the fact she is in a mixed year 1/2 class with varying abilities and I feel she has entered the "lost middle" section i.e. not terrible, not brilliant and doesn't cause a problem. However, i don't feel she is really being helped how she should be and I don't feel she's progressing depite me busting a gut at home to try to help. This isn't helped by the second problem of her confidence being knocked by over confident/over able or over theatrical children in her class. DD is confident but she's also a bit sensitive and there's been a bit of nasty behaviour/bullying that has now been resolved. However, comments like "that maths is so easy", " you're rubbish at Maths" isn't helping. So what do I do? I can't keep going to see the teacher every time someone says something vaguely unpleasant because that happens throughout life and I'm trying to teach her ways to cope with it all. But do you have any other suggestions? My ideal would be a one year group class of less than 30 but we can't afford that so need some new input. Help!!!

[RunningOutOfIdeas]

That sounds really tough for your DD to cope with. My DD1 is also in year 2 but has never mentioned having any idea how others in her class are doing. I think you do need to talk to her teacher, not about each individual incident but about the behaviour in general. The teacher should be giving the whole class the message that everyone is different, with different strengths and weaknesses and that picking on someone is not acceptable.

Can you role play with your DD to practise some responses to the bullies?

Also has any reason why she has struggled with maths been identified? Is it possible she has dyscalculia?

[mumrocks2]

You just feel like you are being such a whinging parent but think I may need to go back in and say something. Just feel like it's a constant battle to ensure DD gets what she needs to do the best she can. They put them in different sets at the school and although my DD doesn't care which set she is in they all know the hierarchy. No reason has been suggested but wondering if dyscalcula might be something to look into. Thanks for your ideas - role play isn't something I've tried with her.