Quick question as I write a long email to the school

[Someonepassthegin1991]

This is not regarding current homeschooling as mine has been off since March.
How as a teacher do you teach children to add up to 10

So say you were teaching using the sum 6 + 2.

Not as you would teach it home as a parent but specifically how it’s taught in schools ?

@Loushome

Have you looked at the school website to see if they have the system online within the ‘Parents’ section? Or possibly a ‘Homeschooling’ section? Ours does deep down but the whole thing about how they teach maths is about 72 pages long It’s mind boggling, especially when you see how they add up horizontally and not vertically in columns like I used to. Not looking forward to that.

An old ''Peanuts'' cartoon said ''How can you do New Maths with an old maths brain?''

Adding up horizontally??

The mind boggles. How is that even possible?!

Here is the cartoon ..

@2021hastobebetter off topic, but I'd love a link to that book.

Start with two groups. Use real objects- pasta works if you have nothing else around. Make sure that you use lots of the same size object though ( it matters but too much to explain here) .
For 6 + 2, they should have access to a pile of the objects and count out the groups themselves . They should then count them all together to find the total. Language is important- ( how many do we have altogether, the total is, 2 more than 6 is 8, 2 add 6 is the same as 8, 2 add 6 is equal to 8). This is key as lots of older children haven’t developed a solid understanding of the equal sign. They move to operation signs and writing equations too soon.
I used to keep a little bowl of plastic monsters on our kitchen table and we used to practice daily with numbers less than 10 .
The next step would be to let them count out the groups, then ask do we really need to count this first pile or do we know it is 6 then encourage them to use the second group of 2 objects to count on (We already have 6, 7, 8)
Writing comes after understanding but make sure that when you write the equation you write it in different ways 6+2=8, 2+6=8, 8= 2+6, 8=6+2

This is where children who have spent time developing the language and understanding have an advantage. They understand the equal sign and operation signs as mathematical language. 8 is the same as ( equal to) 6 and( add) 2 and develop the fluidity with equations that
they will need.
10 frames are a nice extension ( use an egg tray and chop off the end so that you have two rows of five) and use 2 different colours. They will see that 2 add 6 equals 8 but will also notice the two empty spaces. 8 and 2 more equals 10.
Short, snappy daily sessions and lots of repetition work. Silly songs and stories are even better.
Sorry if that was long winded!

@someonepassmethegin1991 how old is your dd? Answer would be different depending on whether she is nursery, reception or year 2

What is the 1-1 for please?

Can the 1-1 zoom teach your daughter if she can't come to the house? Why can't your daughter attend the school? What are the medical needs and who manages those usually?

@thelake coronavirus at the moment is the issue she was signed of by team ( she is extremely vulnerable ) I manage between home and some respite with hospice.
She is year 3.

When my children were very young (grown up now) I taught them simple maths, mostly because I had a problem with maths myself when I was a child. I didn't want them to go through the same problems.

I used cubes (in lovely colours!) which fitted together. Counted them, fitted them together, counted again. Added up by clicking cubes together, eventually showing how different combinations still made 10, eg. 6 + 4 or 4 + 6 or 7 + 3 all make 10. Backed it up by counting things in real life, all the time, eg. 7 fence posts, then 3 more posts = 10 altogether. Eventually used cubes and '10s' to show 10s, 100s, 1000s and larger addition, subtraction and so on. It worked so well, I realised my own problems with maths as a child was due to this simple ground work was never done with me.

 @Someonepassthegin1991

I would be here all day if I went in to the issues. I am at breaking point with it and the attitude.
However the system was never fair before covid so it will only be worse now.

Thanks OP. Does she have academic as well as medical needs? Assuming so if adding within ten is an objective. I would advise lots of practice apparatus depending on her cognition and that she is not a mouther. I once had a child who would eat as much paper as he could if my back was turned. That was a class of 6 with 3 adults!

Would you consider a Specialist school if possible? They are better funded and more likely to suit. My experience of those who have 1-1 in state mainstream is that they can be somewhat ignored and that the senco simply doesn't know enough about specific situations. SENCO usually has their own class to think about too

Hi OP, I think I get what you're after (family going through similar). I'm wondering if it would be best to start a new thread in the 'SN education' sub on here and add a link to this thread in your OP as well?

Good luck

@thelake we full through a big crack in the system. Medically she is extremely complex but because of cognitively she is fine they won’t think about a special needs school.
She is very cognitively able however long absences off school and very little support academically over 4 years she is “ behind “

@Someonepassthegin1991

Thank you I have my answer, It’s not an email based on this by the way it’s something I needed as proof that the decision they made was not correct. It’s not about the actual number bonds. She is doing fine in maths actually really well :)

Then I don't really understand the point of your original post? You specifically asked about maths?? You're now saying it's something different & being really vague? How can you expect to get the information you're seeking without explaining exactly what the issue is?

Good luck op, it was clear to me from the outset that this wasn't a matter of only complaining about maths tuition.

Hope you manage to achieve the result that your dd needs.

And as an aside, why is it so hard for everyone to understand that different kids need parents to push & challenge for them?

I have 2 1:1s in my class and they are both expected to work in the hubs, make well being phone calls to all the children in the class and contribute to the home learning planning.

My son also has ECHP, I found the same thing. The money is meant to pay for 1:1, the nursery use it to hire a staff member to do 1:1, but then that staff member constantly has to do other stuff and your kid is learning naff all. Thats why I homeschooled since Jan 2020!

OP it sounds like you are struggling.

I think if you post on the SEN board there are some very wise MNetters who navigate the complex systems of education and could help you with your fight. Over there they would probably understand the situation without you having to write reams of info. Here on AIBU we not so specialist.

Op i replied earlier with some addition strategies I use in p1 (we use SEAL maths scheme and Im in Scotland) but I've just read the full post and I felt really saddened by your experiences. It sounds tough. I really hope you and your daughter both get the support you need.