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Original poster

Year 7 maths homework

35 replies

Putthebiglightonffs · 24/09/2023 23:01

It’s so hard!!

I’m a teacher (but primary, not secondary) I’ve been asked to help my friends Dd with her maths homework as she really struggles, but honestly I’m struggling with it too.
I feel embarrassed as I’m a teacher, shouldn’t I know how to help her?
Does anyone else struggle helping their secondary school child with their homework, especially maths?

OP posts:
BettyBoomer · 25/09/2023 02:15

I did maths at Uni. I absolutely LOVE simultaneous equations. However, teaching methods change. I find it really hard supporting my kids in maths as I don’t understand the new methods. However, I ask my kid the name of the method e.g column division or “bubble” method for simultaneous equations and google it or I ask the kid to show me one easy one so I can understand the method.

Glorifried · 25/09/2023 01:34

Year 11 DS is struggling with quadratic simultaneous equations - no idea how to do those, I did GCSE maths many, many years ago!

Testina · 25/09/2023 00:28

If you teach Y6 maths as a primary teacher, I think you should do a bit of CPD and teach yourself Y7, as that’s good stretch work for your more able Y6s.

But don’t all primary teachers have to have passed GCSE maths? In which case, even if you teach KS1 now, you should be able to teach yourself Y7 again.

But… that’s just what you should be able to do. You don’t have to - it’s not your child. You don’t have to help them. One of mine had a Y6 teacher as a tutor, and when mine moved up to Y7 the tutor said she’d recommend someone else as she just didn’t regularly do that stuff. I didn’t think any less of her. She was clearly able to refresh her knowledge - just chose not to. I expect that’s the same for you.

Original poster
Putthebiglightonffs · 24/09/2023 23:36

@EatYourVegetables Why?

OP posts:
EatYourVegetables · 24/09/2023 23:34

This thread is really depressing.

Landlubber2019 · 24/09/2023 23:27

Don't feel bad, during lockdown my very bright DC struggled with some maths work, he was in primary school. We phoned the teacher who couldn't complete it, he agreed to phone back in 5 mins, 35 mins later he proceeded to give the answer but he had to what's app all the teachers in the school as none of them could work it out
🤣🤣🤣

Oblomov23 · 24/09/2023 23:22

Even for experienced maths experts, the answer is to just email the maths teacher. Trust me!

noblegiraffe · 24/09/2023 23:20

There are loads of resources on the internet for helping with secondary maths, including videos.
Good ones are here: https://www.mathsgenie.co.uk/gcse.html (it says GCSE but it goes down to the very basics)

and https://corbettmaths.com/contents/

If the homework is on something online like mathswatch, they have their own videos to help. Ideally your child should be supported into looking up help independently.

Maths Genie • Learn GCSE Maths for Free

Free online GCSE video tutorials, notes, exam style questions, worksheets, answers for all topics in Foundation and Higher GCSE. The content is suitable for the Edexcel, OCR and AQA exam boards.

https://www.mathsgenie.co.uk/gcse.html

EaudeJavel · 24/09/2023 23:13

I struggle with the methods, and have been struggling for years!

You know better than anyone that teaching is not about giving them the answer, is the process to get there. If it's not one of your subjects, or the methods have changed since you graduated, of course it's a struggle.

Boomboom22 · 24/09/2023 23:04

Haha I google it every time and I got A in maths gcse and was welcome to take a level. The only maths I really remember properly is stats, have to look up rules for fractions etc. Unless you teach year 5 or 6 in which case I don't think there is much new stuff yet usually in year 7!

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