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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

speechless...

22 replies

FreudianSlippery · 29/03/2011 20:15

Helping my DSDs revise for a maths test tomorrow, covering everything they've done this year.

I am not normally one for being such a defeatist but OMG they knew virtually nothing they are supposed to.

They are in yr8, and in the top set. WTF. I knew they weren't being pushed but this is ridiculous. They do ALL HW online so get no feedback on method or presentation.

Can you please tell me what your yr8s have been doing in maths this year?

They didn't know what prime numbers or square numbers are, how to find the area of a right angled triangle, how to do powers, percentages, basic algebra. They should know all this right? Or am I expecting too much?

Words like Pythagoras and circumference/radius/pi just got this face Confused -

I've taught them some basic stuff today and not been negative to them, I never would be because this is not their fault, but DH and I were Shock

AWBU?

OP posts:
ajandjjmum · 29/03/2011 20:17

Careful you don't confuse them - they may have been learning other stuff. Having said that - they may be like me, and never understood Maths full stop! Grin

PinkIceQueen · 29/03/2011 20:18

Emmm don't they learn most of that in year 2?

worraliberty · 29/03/2011 20:19

They must know what they need to know to be in the top set surely?

Nagoo · 29/03/2011 20:20

How do you know what they have been doing? Are you going through their books or just picking stuff you think that they should know? Confused

I have no idea what they should have learned though sorry.

Salmotrutta · 29/03/2011 20:21

So have they covered this work and just don't know it well enough or have they covered other things instead?
Do they have a text-book/workbook you can check?

If they have covered this work and they knew about the test should they maybe have been revising earlier than this? Not being funny but when my classes have tests coming up I give them ample notice and bang on daily about how they should be revising for 20min per night or so until the test.

If they haven't covered this stuff you need to know what they have been doing to go over that instead.

LeQueen · 29/03/2011 20:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
FreudianSlippery · 29/03/2011 20:22

This is the stuff that the school has told them they should know.

OP posts:
Salmotrutta · 29/03/2011 20:23

Well then it's odd they don't know it - do they cope well normally in class? Have you had a report card back yet?

LessNarkyPuffin · 29/03/2011 20:24

Regardless of curriculum, 'Words like Pythagoras and circumference/radius/pi just got this face - Confused' is not good. Any Y8 should know that.

Salmotrutta · 29/03/2011 20:26

I don't like the sound of online homework if it's not being checked and fed back on by the teacher. Not good for them not to find out what's good and what needs improving surely?

Original poster
FreudianSlippery · 29/03/2011 20:27

Really puffin? I was unsure about that bit - hence it being separate from the other list - I know I did it in yr7 but that was grammar school, so may be earlier than average.

OP posts:
Salmotrutta · 29/03/2011 20:29

So I guess year 8 would be like our S1 or S2 - 12 or 13? Not a Maths teacher (Science) but fairly sure percentages, areas of triangles etc. would be standard fare for that age group?

SarahBumBarer · 29/03/2011 20:31

Blimey - dredging my memory as my DS is just a baby but we definitely did not cover such things until Y9 (was third year of high school in fact - so far back that we had not moved to Y8/Y9 system yet). I remember this very clearly because I remember the teacher who taught me this and she was not my teacher until we moved to the high school proper in what is now year 9.

Don't panic - I went on to do Maths A levels and got an A (back in the day before everyone got A's Grin)

So it sounds normal to me.

Original poster
FreudianSlippery · 29/03/2011 20:31

No sal it's not good :( the site itself is fab but surely not in isolation. Apparently all they do in class is work through sheets of questions.

OP posts:
LessNarkyPuffin · 29/03/2011 20:33

I'd expect that they would have covered it. Don't have experience of state schools though.

Original poster
FreudianSlippery · 29/03/2011 20:36

They were struggling with basic multiplication etc as well. I'm starting to wonder if the teacher ever actually looks at their work Hmm

OP posts:
Salmotrutta · 29/03/2011 20:39

Sheets of questions are all well and good but they need to be marked and gone over.
We have websites for various sciencey things but the pupil get their mark there and then and find out what the score is etc. Plus the teacher gets e-mails and knows who has done what.

Of course they may do OK in the test and it'll be fine Smile but if it doesn't work out like that ...... then a call to the school with a general enquiry regarding their progress. Go for the Principal Teacher of Maths (or equivalent) and lay out your concerns. They won't mind.

FabbyChic · 29/03/2011 20:42

I'd be making a complaint as something is cleary amiss.

Original poster
FreudianSlippery · 29/03/2011 20:51

Tbh I don't really mind if they do well in the test (apart from for their self esteem) - I don't have any faith in the teacher any more :(

If it's anything like previous tests they'll do it, get a grade, and never see the paper again or know what they did wrong.

OP posts:
Salmotrutta · 29/03/2011 20:56

That's ridiculous if they don't go back over test papers - every teacher I know does this. How else will they know what to work on?

I'd be bringing this up at parent's night or going the phone call route. Just say you are wondering about their progress as they don't seem to be getting feedback on tests. And feedback is supposed to highlight what they did well too!

Original poster
FreudianSlippery · 29/03/2011 21:12

I think this thread has at least helped me figure something out - it's not so much a lack of teaching that worries me but a lack of feedback and recap. I'm sure they did powers, for example, a while ago, but it's meaningless now because as soon as they've finished the topic it's never mentioned, and without the feedback on HW they never really have it properly sink in IYSWIM.

OP posts:
Salmotrutta · 29/03/2011 21:16

Absolutely right Freudian - going over assessments, homework, class work helps consolidate what they have learned.

It should be detailed feedback about strengths and areas to improve.

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