Year 8 but two years behind in Maths - Help needed.

[Taggiebaggie]

My daughters report has put her at level 4b which is below the 4a level at Yr7 she received last year. she was placed in the correct class in yr 8 but even though she says her maths school work is easy & has shown no difficulty in homework I was shocked to see she only achieved 4b at the year end tests. Her maths teacher whom I contacted immediately said she struggles (which I knew but thought this was addressed due to being put in the correct graded class) but it seems recalling info is her major problem. I feel v let down by the school as she is now 2 levels behind & will start her module for GCSE in sept (will do it over 3 years to give her a better chance). I need to find a tutor from Sept but this I believe is easy if child just needs a bit of extra support - how do I find one who can help my daughter jump two levels. Been searching on websites but a lot want a joining fee just to chat. I could do with some recommendations. I live in CR8 area. Has anyone had any similar problems & can anyone help with how to help my daughter recall information. Feel rather useless & desparate right now.

DD1 had trouble recalling things in Maths because she had missed out some understanding somewhere along the line. I tutored her myself through her GCSE (lots of shouting along the way!) and she struggled with the most amazing things such as really basic division and yet was fine with new concepts that didn't depend on previous knowledge. I would get a tutor to go back to basis and find if your DD has a gap somewhere. Once she understands what she is doing then her recall will improve.

Don't panic yet - DD1 got an A in the end so Maths can really come on quickly once the framework is put in place.

Thank you that is very re assuring. I do think she needs to go back to basics again. If only I could tutor her myself but I too struggled hopelessly with the subject & often have to resort to books or the internet for help.

I agree with webwiz. Go back to basics.
I am not a reacher, but i have tutored my niece who had been having problems with maths.
When i started teaching her i realised that she had a lot of gaps in her knowledge e.g she was unable to recall multiplication facts, which meant that she could not do fractions and basic algebra.
She is now excelling in maths.
Don't worry OP, it is not too late and your daughter will probably find working on a one to one basis very useful.

Have a look at the whizz website (whizz.com). It's an online maths tutor. I have been using it to stretch my son who is younger than your daughter but well ahead in his maths.

Sorry- just realised that that reply sounded like I'm bragging- I'm not at all- but I think the whizz website can help at both ends of the spectrum IYSWIM.

One which doesn't want joining fees to chat I believe from the parent's side (it's all paid by the tutors) is www.personal-tutors.co.uk/ - tutors pay commission per lesson for referrals through there but it might be a way to see if there's anyone about in your local area.

I'll admit I have a part-interest since they're an agency I get work for - but I'm primary and the other end of the country! - but I don't believe anything comes from the parent-end payment-wise, I KNOW they check CRBs and the like... you can request contact info and chat to see if there's anyway forward there. Your details get emailed to tutors but you get their contact info as well so you can call people up for a chat - see how you get on and go from there. Just a possible avenue to avoid you paying a registration fee is all.

Other than that - try getting her on things like the Y6 bitesize sites over the summer to consolidate things like multiplication/division/fractions/decimals/percentages? The very basic stuff that if they have slightly wonky it gets wonkier and wonkier as it's built on more and more further up the school.

I agree - back to basics

have look at this [http://www.herne.hants.sch.uk/child_friendly_maths_targets-2.doc]

look for Moving from a Level 4b to a Level 4a
that is what you could address immediately,bu as many said she may have gaps and those need adressing first

I would check her times tables first and maybe follow something like
www.schofieldandsims.co.uk/prodpage.asp?prodid=16

start from book one- she will probably whizz through this one

each test should take her 20 min

I found those books easy to follow and with enough practice
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1902214919/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-strip e&pfrdt=201&pfrdi=1902214234&pfrdm=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pfrdr=0CY1KSK21Q0FH39D3N1D

again - book for year 3 would be quite easy for her, but you can't afford to miss any gaps she has

tutor should be able to do an assesment first and then honestly tell you how it is

good luck - and be patient
she will get there

Definitely go back to basics. Make sure addition and subtraction as well as times tables are solid. See my DIY Kumon approach

I like the Bond books, but one idea is to use the Bond 10 minute tests to see which topics she needs to focus on(maybe even start with the 7-8yr old book as Kayah suggests), then using Bond No Nonsense or other similar topic based work books, just focus on those topics which she needs help with.

Later on use Succeed in Maths 11-14. I've been working through one topic a day with my DD.

As Webwiz said, it's completely possible. Try 15 min sessions and aim to do at least 1 session a day. Focus on each short term goal, if you start thinking that in 2 years she'll need to factorise quadratic equations you'll both go crazy

Do talk to the school! I was concerned about my sons maths (not bad, but he needs a good GCSE grade to do A'level Physics) and he has been give 10 hours free tuition over the summer.
Again it is the horrible confusing way they teach maths basics at Primary school which is the issue.

Best way to find a tutor is by personal recommendation, either from another mum who has used someone or perhaps the school. In my area we tend to know a couple of teachers in other schools who take on tuition. So, if a parent asks about tutoring in the next door school then the teacher might put them in touch with me and I might put one of my students/parents in touch with a teacher from their school.

Amicissima - thank you for your comments. I am going to look into Kakuros & have managed to get a recommended tutor set up for September. I had heard about Kumon but not sure I could afford this alongside a tutor at this stage. Many thanks

DD is in yr 9 and struggles with maths, is on level 5b.
She has been moved down a maths set this year as she was struggling, and the teacher didn't really help much.
We have started weekly tuition for her, with someone she knows and we are going back to basics. The tutor has taken all her yr 8 maths books to go through, and hopefully things will improve.

Oh do fuck off Kirsty

We use Whizz.com for maths. You start off with an assessment then starts tutorials at levels based on the results of the assessment.

Its best to go back to basics, to the stuff she knows, to rebuild and develop strategies.

Its is really structured and organised and will teach all the topics covered in the curriculum.

Also, it doesnt advertise the year group of the maths you are doing so its not so obvious, ie you are not having to enter a year 5 or year 6 option to get the maths, it will produce lessons from a variety of age groups, depending on your current knowledge.

I would also recommend doing the 90 minutes a week minimum to get through the basics so that it brings her levels up to where she might be and then extend, but covering the lower end is really important as well