To tell my sister?

[Lucyccfc]

Hi everyone

I have my lovely Nephew once a month for a weekend and this weekend he brought his home work with him. He is in year 2.

I have a few concerns about his maths and his general understanding of the basics. He struggles with basic adding and taking away I.e 9 - 2 and 6 + 3. I drew him a number line to help him.

He also struggled with the concept of 3 + 4 = 7 and 9 - 2 = 7 and the answers being the same. He also doesn't seem to know number bonds either.

I don't know if my sister is aware of him struggling, as she doesn't do a massive amount with him in terms of home work. She works shifts and he generally does his homework with his Grandad (who wouldn't have a clue what he should or shouldn't be able to do). My sister does listen to him read, which he is really good at.

His spelling is excellent, but he doesn't know when to use capital letters and full stops.

Do I mention this to my sister and give her some ideas of how to help him or do I keep my nose out?

Thanks

When is his next parents evening and would your sister be able to attend? I'd think that should be something that would be raised then. I know our school has one coming up soon and they do another towards the end of the school year. Might be worth continuing as you are and waiting until after the first parents evening so you aren't seen to be criticising.

Number bonds need to worked on in year 2, even with the most able. The aim is more to do this as mental maths. Which is fine, but I am concerned this is at the 'cost' of using more physical representations that suit some learning styles.

My sister does go to parents evening, but always comes home and tells me his teacher says he is doing really well.

there is a big difference between the teacher telling HER he is doing really well, and HER telling you he is doing really well, because she'd rather people didn't know he was struggling/behind

we don't know which it is

whether you do/say anything depends on how you generally get on and how you think she will take it - we can't really advise! some sisters would blow their top, some would be delighted to have some useful tips!

I don't think I would say anything unless you are totally certain that she would both not know and be pleased to have you draw it to her attention.

The thing is that at year 2 age, in a unusual environment with aunty (who they want to please) may actually bring out the worst in his maths. He panics and can't do what he usually can. Or perhaps other things were more interesting so he wasn't concentrating. Or he realised that the more he said he culdn't do the more you would "help" and the less he had to use his brain.
All of those things would effect my dd2 and ds to make silly mistakes despite being rather good at maths. Dd2 does, even in year 6 now, a good line in guessing when she thinks it's easy. So she may have worked out 13 x 17 in her head (221), ask her to add 3 to it and she's quite capeable of going "225... no 226... 222".

Seems fairly average year 2 stuff (my dd nearly 8 has only just grasped that if 4 and 3 =7 then it'll always be 7- she doesn't have to check on her fingers each time).
But knowing that your sis is a busy working mum you are a lovely auntie to offer to help with homework. Can you and grandad go to parents evening too so you can catch up on how they are teaching?

IMO that's normal for year 2. He needs his aunty to help him and not wind his mum up. Any help you give him is invaluable. Confidence is important but also having people explain things in different ways. Be as positive as you can be and help him lots. I would love it if a relative took a role like this with my DCs. Can you do math-themed play as well, so it becomes his and your "thing" that you do together!

I agree that this is fairly normal for year 2. My DD2 is 7 and has just entered year 3, she is an avid and very good reader but doesn't always use capital letters and full stops correctly in her writing. Her mental maths is not great either but she achieved above average results in her year 2 sats.

I'm sure if the school were worried they would let you sister know, it doesn't just have to be throught parents evening, although I agree if she is unable to go you could offer. I think helping him is great and playing games when they don't realise their learning is best, but wouldn't be too worried at his ability just yet.

I meant to say - mental maths and her understanding of number bonds.

That actually sounds about right for a child just starting in year 2. DD is just starting in year 3 and was always top of her class in maths and she still doesn't always twig number bonds.
Sometimes it is down to tiredness and sometimes she is just bored, and sometimes she just doesn't spot it.
I would say as you have only seen it as a one off I wouldn't mention anything yet.
Keep helping him when you get chance and hopefully it will click soon. I am sure if he is really struggling his teacher will notice it and raise it with his mum.