Year 4 - how to teach maths concepts

[Puffthemagicdragongoestobed]

I am really struggling to support my academically weak son at school, especially maths. It isn’t helped by the fact that he has ASD but not severe enough to get him an EHCP.
I was just despairing at trying to help him with his maths homework. He clearly did not understand the maths concepts at all and I just don’t know how to explain it to him, as maths had always come easily to me.
The school do not share their teaching methods with us, all us parents see is homework once a week but no context for this, apart from a one pager on the school website giving an overview of the curriculum for the year.
Today it was dividing numbers by 10 and 100 resulting in 0.something. For example 5 divided by 10 and 5 divided by 100. He just did not understand it at all, kept saying it’s 2 and was not interested to learn it.

How do others help a struggling child? Any teachers who can comment?
Are there text books that cover the concepts that you would recommend? When I grew up we had text books for each school year that firstly explained the concept and then provided exercises, this is what I am looking for.
Thank you very much

[PurpleDaisies]

I’d try and make it really concrete. For example, get five things you can cut up and physically share them out between ten plates. Then you can start looking at pictures before moving on to the more abstract sums etc.

[MyCatHasStaff]

Have a look here
BBC Bitesize

[sackrifice]

Does he understand the concept of 0.5 yet?

I used to teach SEN and the kids even though they were teenagers didn't know what a decimal/fraction/percentage even was.

i used to do two things. First I used coins as they are conveniently divided into 10s. Then i used fruit and veg. Small fruit for smaller fractions or percentages or decimals and explained how they all related to each other - half = 0.5 = 50% etc.

[ilovesushi]

Khan academy (free online resource) is absolutely brilliant. Lots of fab videos explaining new concepts. Sal's voice is the most relaxing ever, so reduced maths anxiety. You can dip in and out or sign up for free. My kids love chosing their avatars and gaining points and badges.

[ilovesushi]

Have a look at Khan Academy 4th grade math, 'how 10 relates to place value'. www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-fourth-grade-math/cc-4th-place-value-rounding/cc-4th-10-relates-to-place-value/v/multiplying-whole-numbers-by-10
NB not Sal's voice on this section sadly!
Start from the beginning with multiplying by 10. Not much point rushing into dividing and decimals if the foundations are not secure. If you work through from this point you can spot his gaps and hopefully fill them.
I'd put a note in him homework saying it was beyond him but you've worked on something related that felt more his level. Hope you have some success. Don't feel under pressure for him to work ahead of where he's at. My two have SEN and I can say from experience that it's a waste of time! Best of luck!

[Puffthemagicdragongoestobed]

Thanks a lot for the great suggestions, will check this out!

[Maldives2006]

On the reading eggs app there is a maths section called maths seeds that may be worth a look. My daughter uses the readings eggs for literacy and really likes it.

Please think about applying for an EHCP for your son. The criteria does not go on severity but this

If a local authority (“LA”) is requested to carry out an EHC needs assessment by a parent, young person, school or college, they must consider:

whether the child or young person has or may have special educational needs (“SEN”); and
whether they may need special educational provision to be made through an EHC plan.
If the answer to both of these questions is yes, they must carry out an EHC needs assessment.

This test is set out in the law (section 36(8) of the Children and Families Act 2014).

[Iggly]

Talk to his teacher about his lack of understanding. It’s not your job to teach him.

My ds is a bit like this - he doesn’t get a lot of things but the last thing he wants is for me to try and teach him at home. He’s adamant that home is not school and I’m not his teacher (he’s year 4).

So I write a note on his homework and say he doesn’t understand and also speak to the teacher.

[sandcastlemadewithshells]

'NB not Sal's voice on this section sadly!'

Totally irrelevant to this thread, but I totally get what you mean, ilovesushi.
Sal's voice have such a calming effect that makes you want to listen to him.
I second Khan Academy. You would find solution for most of the subject, except for mfl, which they recommend duolingo.