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Gifted and talented

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Can't differentiate enough

43 replies

KATTT · 30/03/2011 11:01

I have a child in year 2 who's very good at maths. She can easily do year 5 stuff.

The teacher has said she can't differentiate enough to keep child interested ('she has to teach the curriculum') and can't send her up to other classes for maths as they do it at different times.

This must happen quite often - any suggestions?

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Zoonie · 30/03/2011 11:40

More at home, basically, and very, very regular update meetings with the teacher. I'm like a blinking hawk with my daughter's boredom levels in class. We asked her teacher to provide homework at least that's at the right level of stretch, and if need be, your young'un could do that kind of work in class?

Daughter thinks maths is difficult because she can't do it straight away, unlike many other subjects. She often forgets she's doing stuff sometimes two years ahead of the other kids. It's right that it should tug her a bit.

KATTT · 30/03/2011 11:49

She is bored - teacher admits she's bored, but says there's nothing she can do. I don't see what regular updates will do - teacher's admitted she's stumped!

Teacher has to teach the kids to count to 100 in 10s, or whatever, and my kid has to sit through it and dream of fibonacci sequences.

My only thought is to get daughter a book she can work through on her own in the classroom.

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squidgy12 · 30/03/2011 12:05

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KATTT · 30/03/2011 12:11

squidgy12 Great - my next question is any ideas which books?

I have some work books for my youngest - carol vorderman ones - I could look for older versions. But if anyone has seen any that are inspirational and, like you say, sideways, I'd be grateful for suggestions.

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onesandwichshort · 30/03/2011 12:19

I was in a similar situation at school, and had individual one-to-one lessons, just for 20 min, three times a week, and then did the work from that in the lessons. I was older, but even once a week at this stage would be more interesting than just ploughing through workbooks.

It meant that I was getting support and interaction (which is, I think, important) but wasn't being disruptive to the structure of the school day.

If it were me, I would be asking for school to provide this (it's their duty to differentiate, after all) but if not a once a week tutor might be the answer. Because if she's bored in some lessons, that can so easily leach over into 'bored with school'.

KatCan · 30/03/2011 12:21

Hi,

Suggestions for my DD from a friend who works with highly able maths students included exploring binary and hexadecimal (have I got that right??) number systems and looking at 'old-fashioned' measuring systems (cubits, spans, digits, etc as my DD is a history fanatic and they were doing measuring at school). She suggested these options as neither would tread on the toes of the curriculum.

I haven't looked into the binary numbers as I was a bit Shock at the thought - my maths is pretty, erm, basic!

squidgy12 · 30/03/2011 12:49

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squidgy12 · 30/03/2011 12:51

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KATTT · 30/03/2011 13:42

Thanks for the suggestions..

nrich looks great and I'll look at magnificent maths books.

(squidgy12 and KatCan - I have no idea what binary numbers are - daughter's the one who's talented - I'm not so good with maths!)

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pinkhebe · 30/03/2011 13:46

my son did the nrich stuff

squidgy12 · 30/03/2011 16:48

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KATTT · 30/03/2011 18:51

Thanks squidgy12.

I'll pass that on to the 7 year old and see what she makes of it!

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madwomanintheattic · 05/04/2011 05:20

speak to the senco at school and ask them to provide an iep detailing how they are meeting your daughters different educational needs.

they may have an allocated teacher who deals with more able children, but sometimes the senco has responsibility for the children working outside the normal limits at both ends of the spectrum.

not able to differentiate isn't really an answer. it is their job to differentiate appropriately.

squidgy12 · 05/04/2011 10:27

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KATTT · 06/04/2011 20:37

madwoman

I know they're meant to but realistically how? If the curriculum calls for the kids to learn how to count up in tens or whatever how can she keep making up separate lessons for one child.

(the senco is rubbish and the head's view is that they're too young in infants to worry about)

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madwomanintheattic · 06/04/2011 21:36

the 'how' is up to them. not you to provide a solution.

some schools move children for a couple of sessions a week to a year or two above (for the lessons they excel in), or they draw up extensions to each lesson plan. that might not be doing different work, but it might be asking that particular child particular questions in a different way/ to promote additional thinking skills. so more 'why's instead of 'what's for example. it doesn't have to be setting different work, just offering the work in a way more suited to higher ability.

in a primary school it's very easy, as they have access to the full primary curriculum under one roof.

in an infant school it is slightly harder, as they have to borrow from a junior school etc etc, but still possible.

if she's only working 2 or 3 years ahead, and only in one or two areas, it isn't a case of 'can't', it's 'won't'. so you might be better off looking for a school that actually intends to add value to the learning of each child, not just those who struggle.

but tbh. i've sort of given up worrying about extension work with mine. the next year they usually get a fresh start with a different teacher, who might make a bit more of an effort. infants is ridiculously young to be very concerned about it. there's such a huge range of ability. try education city or any of the maths websites to keep her interested, and let her relax at school. it depends how excited you want to get about it - you can get them to do their jobs (sometimes the most difficult option) or take the easy road and do it yourself.

i vary in my approach. at the moment i'm on a 'whatever' bender as they are all moving school in the summer. Grin

KATTT · 06/04/2011 21:43

Madwoman.

Exactly how I feel. One minute you think - hell she's only 7 and the next it seems such a waste to let her get so bored.

It just seems impossible (not blaming the teachers) with a class of 30+ and an ability range so great, to be able to teach and get the best out of everyone.

I hope the next school is better for yours.

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Feenie · 06/04/2011 21:45

If the curriculum calls for the kids to learn how to count up in tens or whatever how can she keep making up separate lessons for one child.

As madwoman says, the how doesn't matter - she has to, it's her job! Normally, a teacher would find a way to differentiate questions in the direct teaching part of the lesson (possible to do in all areas - if she's teaching place value, your dd's questions would involve 5/6/7? digit numbers where others worked on 2 digit ones, and some on 3). Then your dd should have work set that is precisely matched to her attainment in order that she can progress.

Feenie · 06/04/2011 21:50

I would add that in a normal lesson, several children will need to count in tens, some could do with the practice, and some know exactly how to do this. That doesn't mean the teacher can only pitch the lesson to the first group of children - she has to include them all, at their level. There's 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, etc, then there's 4, 14, 24, 34 and much later 2014, 2024, 2034 and even 2034, 2024, 2014. But everyone is counting in tens, iyfswim.

madwomanintheattic · 06/04/2011 21:55
Grin quite.

dd1 once went to a primary school where there were children speaking over 40 languages (small village school) most of them not speaking english when they arrived. how could one teacher in a class of 30 teach anything? but, you know, it was brilliant.

teachers are perfectly capable of differentiating appropriately if they have a mind to. 'can't' makes my blood boil.

KATTT · 06/04/2011 21:56

Feenie - I do see what you mean but trouble is that's too easy for her.

There is a point where, with all the best will in the world it's not going to work. At least not day in day out when the teacher's got 31 other kids to worry about.

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squidgy12 · 06/04/2011 21:56

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Feenie · 06/04/2011 21:58

7 digit numbers? Negative numbers? Decimal numbers? Without knowing your dd, it's hard to know where the main teaching session should be pitched, but my point was that it's the teacher's job to do so. And yes, day in, day out, with 31 other kids.

KATTT · 06/04/2011 22:01

Squidgy12 I'll have a look at your other postings.

Sorry to be so defeatist - but I'm not good at maths (I can do it but I've no flair for it or for teaching). So I kind of glaze over when people write 'formulae for numbers'... but I will try my absolute best to follow :)

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squidgy12 · 06/04/2011 22:03

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