Year 1 and behind in maths

[adoreyou]

So we had a call with DDs teacher on Friday as DD is very behind.
I know she was getting a bit of extra support and I know from the bits of homework we have to do with her that she just doesn't get it.

I am conscious she's only 6 and saying she's behind this earlier feels a bit premature but in all so conscious of the the class loving onto things when can grasp the basics and then losing confidence and getting more behind.

The teacher is going to be doing extra bits with her and has given us worksheets to do at home.... but surely there are better ways to teach her rather then just using work sheets?
I try to make it fun at home but I'm running out of ideas especially as she is so resistant to any sort of "home work"

Does anyone have any suggestions for ways of helping her with basics of counting, adding and subtracting

Thanks

Numberblocks? The associated sets of the Math Link cubes are great as well. For counting in 5s or 10s, she might find it easier to sing/learn the song from Numberblocks.

How about a game like Rummikub? They need to know number ordering and also adding up to 30. It’s also less obviously learning than say Bus Stop. We also love it!

Use numicon. It really helps visualise and can be used for a few years.

I would really recommend these KS1 Problem Solving books for your DD.

It's not just boring, repetitive sums or something they'll get bored of really quickly. Instead they're just some fun problems. Starts off simple but gets a bit harder and more probing. Worked with plenty of my younger students in the past.

Play shops will real coins, but only 1p 10p and £1 coins.

You could try making a giant number line on the floor and ask her to step or jump from number to number as she counts, adds and subtracts. That's if she's the active sort and likes to learn using her whole body.

In general, think of something she is interested in and try to include that in the 'lesson' in some way. So if she likes animals, say, incorporate them in the arithmetic activities to make it all less abstract and more enjoyable.

I always found sweets a massive incentive for counting. We used to share out a packet of smarties or stars between the cuddly toys.

We had that interminable times table song on in the car. We made clock faces. Poor DC both inherited my total inability to tell the time. I was in my late twenties before I could glance at an analogue clock and know what time it was.

Also, you could do some very casual maths stuff by stealth. Go to the supermarket and ask her to put 8 carrots in a bag or ask her to weigh stuff and tell you how much it weighs/costs. Doesn't have to be complex maths. Anything that helps familiarise and contextualise numbers and makes it easy for her to quickly recognise them or sort them will all help. She's still very young.

Also, don't develop any anxiety about it. Be very casual. If she's worried just say, 'Some things take longer to learn than others. You find X easy but maths is a bit harder. You'll get there. Might just take a bit more time and effort. It's fine.'