To think that DD2's teacher is actually bloody lazy?

[MrsSchadenfreude]

She has been learning her tables - 2x, 5x and 10x - tested on them all mixed up, every week since October (she is maths whizz unlike her mother). Asked teacher if we could progress to 3x and 4x as DD was getting a bit bored. Oh no, she said. They do that in Year 3, not Year 2.

There are six of them in her maths group, all bright and wanting to do more, but teacher won't let them do any more until Year 3. So do we get these mixed tables every week till the summer then? Yes, that's right, she said. Revision is good for them.

learn the others at home .it will come in usefull next year . lOL

I would be pushing for a bit more. The teacher is not differentiating the work for her top end of class - not on.

DD is Y1 and they are doing 2x, 5x and 10x (they did 10x in reception infact). there is no reason why they can't be moved on surely?

Just do them at home-hopefully the year 3 teacher will stretch them more.

Hula - the school just got slated for this in an OFSTED inspection - that they didn't cater for the needs of the brighter children. Village school, teachers have all been there since God was a boy and most seem pretty complacent and jogging along without a lot of effort.

I think you really do need to go in and ask about it again. yes, reviosn is goon, butso is progression. If they are lready starting to fail the children in Y2 what chance will they have by the time they get to Y6.

If they have already been slated by OFSTED for this i would refer to that and ask how they intend to address it. Go to head of year/stage/school if necessary.

Tp me it isn't just about the tables work - but the overall picture. They are failing to address the issues highlighted by an official inspection.

Just do it at home if you are so concerned.
Lord,she would be delighted.
What are you expecting her to do? Even more work??

As a senior school science teacher, I see the consequences of dipping into mathematical concepts and not taking them on board as second nature. I feel that children need a lot of repetition at an early age in order to really be conversant in mathematics.

When I was at school, a maths lesson was doing 100 problems, then another 100 for homework. Nowadays, it's more like five before the teacher gets apologetic, and the pupils are umbilically connected to their calculators.

By all means, extend your child at home, but don't think she has done enough of the easier stuff.

YANBU - that's not the way it works! The National Numeracy Strategy is only a guideline (and has recently changed BTW, am sure Y2 are supposed to learn 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 times tables). School should have a maths co-ordinator who you could seek advice from. In the meantime I would definitely start your DC on the next ones - particularly if she's showing an interest!

Moondog - I'm expecting her to do her job. Parents have been told not to "interfere" with the way the children learn and to help them at home "as you won't understand the way things are done now."

ScienceTeacher - yes, but 9 months doing 2x, 5x and 10x?

Raye - thanks, will check out National Numeracy Strategy.

In fact, your DD's teacher is actually ahead of the governments published targets for Y2, which only specify that 'by the end of Year 2 most children should know by heart' 2x & 10x . Year 3 is 2x, 5x & 10x, the 3x & 4x aren't listed till Year 4, and the rest in year 5.

These are only suggested targets though, there's no reason why they can't be done sooner, whether at home or school.

These are the govenment's booklets for parents on targets & what parents can do to help at home - perhaps you should show them to your DD's teacher & point out that the government seems to think it's OK for parents to help them learn....

Thanks, RustyBear. I actually find that quite depressing reading! I'm now feeling grateful to DD1's teacher who is teaching her her 6, 7, 8 and 9 times tables (Year 4) as she could have just left it until next year!

It may be schools' policy - talk to the head.

One of my closest friends has been teaching for 30 years, and absolutely HATES teaching now, purely because teachers HAVE to stick to the books. It's not about the kids anymore, its about the government targets and paperwork. Hates it.