To think my almost 7yo should be better at maths than this?

[wannajointhisbus]

She struggles with basic addition beyond ten. Tonight's tantrum was borne out of not being able to add 18 and 8. She also doesn't understand lesser/fewer, or concepts such as counting backwards and subtraction beyond 10. I admit to getting massively frustrated which is unhelpful but I am just staggered. She doesn't want to do the work which is a bigger barrier than any and of course....fuels both her and my annoyance. She was recently dropped to the lowest table at school which won't be helping her self esteem and I keep telling her she is good at it etc hut needs to work a bit harder....her teacher doesn't seem to be arsed that her maths is so poor:/

lots and lots of playing of board games can be helpful too and model maths language in your every day life.

Dyspraxia, dyslexia can also affect maths learning - not just dyscalculia. At the moment dyscalculia can only be diagnosed by an ed psych.

Sounds quite like my bright, lovely, talented friend who ha dyscalculia. She struggles with basic arithmetic, time, etc. When she got older, she was able to grasp concepts but still needs a calculator for even the most basic math.

Count with Objects.

Then objects with copying what you are doing on a number-line.

Then number-line on its own.

Not really sure how much using an abacus will help as I don't think they are really used in schools and could be more confusing than helpful.

Play board games, play card games. Go shopping. Play with money (esp 1p coins to start with, she may get confused with 10p = 10x1p.
Bake, measure, weigh. Play with water/sand, pouring into different containers. How many cupfuls will go in that jug?
Talk, compare. - less/fewer/more. Taller/shorter/longer. Bigger/Smaller.
Make sure you use the correct words (there's loads of advice online).

Make it fun and avoid worksheets if you can, keep it practical. She may be a visual/kinaesthetic (touch) learner, so handling maths will make more sense than just counting.

And unfortunately, it is easier for the teacher to group the children by ability and children always know where they are without being told. They can't help but see what work other children are doing, and that they don't understand it.

Oh yes, Numicon is wonderful and you can buy home packs.
Very visual/tactile.

Her teacher has said she is a sub level behind? As in, likely to get a 2c at the end of the year rather than 2b? In that case, either your DD is having you on and she can do some of those things, or (more likely I feel) the teacher is not fully aware of your DD's difficulties. Someone already posted the expectations for a year 1 child (who should be getting 1b or 1a by the end of the year) and there are things there that your DD cannot do, putting her more like a whole level behind.

I think you need to make an appointment to see the teacher and possibly SENCO, ask what level your daughter is working at, the evidence for that judgement, what her target is, and how the school will help her reach that target.

At home, you can help by using maths language and concepts in everyday situations. You said she was struggling with more/less, so at lunch, is 2 sandwiches enough or would you like more . Oh, I've got less mashed potato than you.

It's so hard with maths. I also wondered about dyscalculia, but it could also be that she's just a late developer and will click eventually. Or just that she's not very good at maths.

I think it's very difficult for you, OP, because on the one hand you want to help her, and make it fun, and interesting, but on the other hand your DD is clearly stressed out by it and your desire to help is possibly - through no fault of your own - making it worse. It's a real catch 22.

What you really need is for the teacher to be a bit proactive but if she's not interested then you're a bit stuck.

I agree with chronicallyChanging. If your dd is not achieving the year 1 objectives, then she is working 1 year behind (that's at least 2 sublevels behind).

Could you make a list of all the things she struggles with at home and go and see the teacher to see whether she struggles with the same things at school.