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Extension work Yr1 numeracy: help please

24 replies

LittleCheesyPineappleOne · 27/09/2010 20:05

DS1's teacher called me in today to have a chat about his progress. I don't think we have a child prodigy on our hands, but he is certainly quite bright maths and reading-wise. (He's reading at ORT stage 9 at aged 5y 11m; I'm not sure how far ahead that is.) He is certainly not very impressed by the numeracy worksheets we've had home so far (number bonds to five; recognising two-digit numbers). He has been asking about decimals, fractions, negative numbers etc, for example; questions we're dealing with as they come up.

His teacher has noticed he's quite ahead and the current homework is too easy for him, and she's going to try to push him forward and give him more advanced work to see what he's capable of. I'm pleased she's on the case, but I'm also aware that he's one of thirty in a mixed ability class, and that she has plenty else to do.

She has suggested that we do "what we can" at home with him to extend him further, but tbh I'm at a loss. He enjoys spending time on the computer, so I wondered about online sites or games, but not being a teacher I'm not even sure where to start in terms of matching what he does to the curriculum (should I even try?).

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
mychatnickname · 27/09/2010 20:28

Not sure about online but ds really enjoys Monopoly at the moment. It's great for adding bigger numbers when handling the money.

Not sure I'd bother too much matching it to the curriculum, just go with what he enjoys.

You are very, very lucky that she has taken you aside to discuss this and cares. Ds is at the same reading stage (also year 1, June birthday fwiw and into maths too but not discussing quite such advanced stuff as yours) and is stuck doing really simple work in class like adding single digit numbers and revising letter sounds they did last year.

I haven't yet plucked up the courage to ask the teacher what they are going to do with him as he's a good year ahead of the top readers from what I can see and there is no ability grouping going on anyway.

It's driving me mad but I don't want to annoy the teacher by seeming pushy and ds doesn't seem bored.

LittleCheesyPineappleOne · 27/09/2010 21:05

Monopoly - that's a great idea - thanks. (I have no imagination...).

I hadn't been worried about the reading, as I could see that he was coming home with increasingly more challenging books, so I could tell that they had noticed he was finding it easy, and I also felt that we could cope with a higher reading age at home. Numeracy, less so (they didn't do much number work in Reception), but clearly she has been assessing them and that is a blessing, I know. We do have a parent meeting later in the term, so I can get some more concrete advice at that stage, too.

Thanks, and good luck with your boy, too. Smile

OP posts:
mychatnickname · 27/09/2010 21:20

We also mess around with maths questions as ds loves them. Stupid things related to his interests.

If I had 30 footballs and six players, how many would each get etc.

I find the overall maths targets for year r and year 1 surprisingly low. I'm sure I've read others saying the same on here.

Has your ds been given individual targets?

LittleCheesyPineappleOne · 27/09/2010 21:54

Not as far as I know - it's all a bit of a mystery... Will ask @ the parent's evening.

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mychatnickname · 27/09/2010 22:05

I have absolutely no idea what ds is doing/ meant to be doing etc.

Yes parents eve can't come too soon. I don't know how I'll manage with the regulation five or so minutes though Grin

Goblinchild · 27/09/2010 22:08

Try this site
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/

ChasingSquirrels · 27/09/2010 22:09

and other games - birthday coming up is an ideal time, as you can suggest to people who ask.

mastermind is one my ds enjoyed. It says 8+ but my bright ds1 was playing it at just before 5

Uno

Rummikub

chess

lovecheese · 27/09/2010 22:27

Having a similar problem with DD in yr2, again Im not claiming that she is some maths wunderkid but the homework that she has been bringing home is laughable, and she is saying that she is finding the classwork easy and is not learning anything new. I'll give it till the end of the week...

LittleCheesyPineappleOne · 27/09/2010 22:55

Thank you mychatnickname

Goblinchild - how good is that site? Brilliant - just the ticket.

ChasingSquirrels - excellent idea. We keep an Amazon wishlist of books and toys and both sides of the family are well trained to look there instead of buying plastic tat stuff from ToysRUs...

lovecheese Tell me about it. It's very hard not to be pushy when the homework is "play snakes and ladders" but there are no snakes.... Biscuit

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ChasingSquirrels · 27/09/2010 23:02

ds1 also found some good puzzle games on the lego website (though having just looked I can't see the one I am thinking of) and a great on on the science museum site launchball, no strictly maths as suck - but logic etc.

ChasingSquirrels · 27/09/2010 23:02

not and such !!

ChasingSquirrels · 27/09/2010 23:04

am trying to think back to 6 - ds1 has just turned 8.
DS liked top trumps at that age - space top trumps maybe a good one.

LittleCheesyPineappleOne · 27/09/2010 23:11

We've found a few maths sites - Cool Maths Games has been a great hit - but hadn't come across that one - thanks. Some more maths-y than others, mind you.

Yes, Top Trumps is a great hit here. Although he's a dreadful cheat....

OP posts:
cat64 · 27/09/2010 23:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

KatCan · 28/09/2010 12:44

Our school recommended the following website for stretching maths work:

www.topmarks.co.uk - go to the maths/numeracy, KS 1&2 - they recommended 'Hit The Button' as being a big hit with the kids on the interactive whiteboard in the classroom, and on the pc at home.

She also recommended nrich.maths.org as one for stretching able pupils.

Must admit, haven't got around to checking them out yet.

My DD was at about the same reading level as your DS at the same age. It's great that your DS's teacher is so on the ball!

She also enjoys Monopoly, as others are suggesting, and Deal or No Deal Blush for the higher lower number values!

Good luck!

ChasingSquirrels · 28/09/2010 13:16

Has Countdown been linked to?

LittleCheesyPineappleOne · 28/09/2010 15:59

Brilliant, thank you all. I'll check these all out.

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magicmummy1 · 28/09/2010 22:28

"I find the overall maths targets for year r and year 1 surprisingly low."

I really agree with this. The board outside dd's year 1 classroom said that they are practising working out one more and one less than numbers up to 10. Shock Thankfully, dd has her own targets, but I struggle to believe that it's that challenging for any of the kids in the class.

emy72 · 29/09/2010 13:48

Can I join the club? I agree that targets for y1 maths are really low.

We have a similar dilemma with DD1 and the teacher has told us he is still assessing the kids and will get back to us with a plan.

He did suggest exactly the same, ie doing extension work with her - so this has been really useful, thanks for posting OP!

kistigger · 29/09/2010 17:47

Sorry I haven' read all the suggestions but I would second Rummicub.

Also on the BBC website there is a Key stage 1 and key stage 2 area with lots of numeracy and literacy activities which each come with differing levels. Some games are surprisingly easier than others but it will give dc something to have a go at. It's not always easy to find the area on the website so if all else fails there is a link off of the CBBC homepage!

granC · 04/10/2010 17:05

You guys are all lucky to have such bright kids. The key is to avoid boredom. My DS1 had reading age 5 or 6 years higher than her actual age. She was allowed to take a guitar and book showing some chords etc out of the classroom and made great progress! Learning a musical instrument stretches bright kids really well. Maths games on BBC are great - give the kids the choice of what they want to play but ensure they dont always choose the same game!

blackeyedsusan · 07/10/2010 12:01

have you tried bbc bitesize for keystage 1? it has 3 levels and you may be able to find a level to fit. it does do decimals but we did not explore very far as dd is still just 4 and it is a bit hard for her yet

ragged · 07/10/2010 13:15

Pop To The Shops is a good board game for mental maths at this age.

ragged · 07/10/2010 13:17

ps: I for one am happy with the Yr1 maths targets. I feel quite relieved when I read them! Blush

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