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Gifted and talented

Talk to other parents about parenting a gifted child on this forum.

Original poster

Teacher left this message...

79 replies

CURIOUSMIND · 17/10/2011 14:13

My DS1 is very advanced on maths, he is working on L6-L7 in year3. I know the teaching for him is next to nothing although they said they will accommdate his ablity.

Anyway, everytime when the homework is maths, he was given a puzzle(I mean everytime).Well, some of them are logical and fun, you do need to work step by step in mathmatic method. (I pursuaded myself not to complain because it will only make DS1 feel bad although I really feel they are running out of idea to challenge a gifted mathematician).

It goes extremly far for a week.He was given a puzzle which has little to do with maths, but needs awful lots of trying.I agreed my DS1 to not doing this homework. He then wrote down on his book(He said he needed to tell the teacher why.) :I found this puzzle is not very logical, you need to try and try again.

The week after, The teacher left this msg: Thank you very much for your commments.However this homework is not optional.

My immediate feeling is to leave her: Could you please explain to Ds1 how to sort out this puzzle in mathematic method?

But, I think I would consult mumsnet first. Could you please show your opinion?

OP posts:
stealthsquiggle · 18/10/2011 21:16

Yes, but where are those numbers, OP?

stealthsquiggle · 18/10/2011 21:16

(as in, where on the star?)

EdithWeston · 18/10/2011 21:18

Pleeeeease!

Where are the two given numbers? If the top point of the star is A, the next line B-E, next F&G, then H-K, and bottom point L, which two letters are the two given numbers?

madwomanintheattic · 18/10/2011 21:23
Wink
Original poster
CURIOUSMIND · 18/10/2011 21:36

By the way,Ds1 is a very hard working young man, could focus on something on a extreme level.Ds1 was given puzzles one after another is not because they are challenging him, but a sign that they are lack of plan, target, on him. (I have other evidence, but just keep it simple for this thead.)I was fed up with this may not just because of the mad puzzle, but the situation as a whole.
It's not suduku.
You can make equations. Make 6 euqations with 10 unknowns. You will find something between some unknowns , not many.The rest of the work is almost just trying with little you can think about.

I am not saying this question is totally incorrect but very much unsuitable and pointless.

In my point of view, if any work is bad quality, just been printed out from various website without thinking in her own mind, I will allow my children not to do it AGAIN. This is the first time only so far.

I read all the posts.Seeing people's different opinion helps me to clear my head. Really appreciated for all your contribution.

OP posts:
Original poster
CURIOUSMIND · 18/10/2011 21:47

11 and 12 are on two parallel lines, both the second number from the the same side.

puzzle.dse.nl/harder/index_us.html

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 18/10/2011 21:57

But it won't be just guessing. It will be about eliminating possibilities. Have you ever done a killer sudoku or kakuru?

iggly2 · 18/10/2011 22:01

At DS's school there are 2 maths homeworks a week, one of which is puzzles problem solving. I think puzzles are better than the standard homework Grin. I would love this style of puzzle for DS but would only ask him to try till he starts getting bored and if it is unsolved just write a note saying he tried for 20/30-minutes and sorry he could not manage it.

whojamaflip · 18/10/2011 22:03

Sorted in about 4 mins - each adjoining 2 verticies need to add up to 13 so its basically sorting out number pairs to 13 - or have I completely missed the point of the puzzle?

iggly2 · 18/10/2011 22:05

The internet is a great resource and ideal for challenging puzzles to get children thinkingConfused

EdithWeston · 18/10/2011 22:39

Also got it - took me a bit longer to spot that you needed to look mainly at 13s (except the second row including 12, which needed 12 and 3 numbers making 14). It was by trial and error, but after a couple of false starts, you can just "see" the more probable combinations. So I can't explain how I saw a pattern, but somehow I did.

SWYM about not a satisfactory homework in terms of writing equations, but great in terms of testing and adjusting a hypothesis.

nickelbabe · 19/10/2011 11:24

the first line is easy - you need a 2 and a 1 at the points (provding I have understood where the 11 and 12 go!)

saintlyjimjams · 19/10/2011 11:29

Trial and error is part of maths though. DS2 in year 5 has started coming home with puzzles that are quite hard and we queried with his teacher whether there was some set method we should be using to solve them and she said no, there were various ways and it was about trial and error to work them out.

fasn8tor · 19/10/2011 11:34

I think it sounds very hard for a gifted year 3. I also think the teacher could have used a bit of sensitivity and worked out quite easily that he was struggling with it, whoever left the note! It would be lovely to think that she quietly sat down with him and helped him work through it, but I presume she doesnt have the time or inclination to do so.

nickelbabe · 19/10/2011 11:35

I can't do it with 13s Edith :(
cos once you've eliminated the 1 and the 2, the 12 and 11 don't have any more pairs!

cuppatea2 · 19/10/2011 12:10

I DONT THINK THE 11 AND 12 are on the SAME line - they are on one each of the 2 horizontal lines, not on point of star but vertex i think

SoupDragon · 19/10/2011 12:14

..........A
B...C........D...E
...F............G
H...I.........J....K
..........L

C= 12
I = 11. I think

SoupDragon · 19/10/2011 12:17

Isn't it basically logical thinking and elmination? ie These combinations contain a 12, these contain an 11... You can then eliminate the one with both 11 and 12 in it as those numbers are on different lines.

I think it may be tricky for Y3, even if he is gifted. However, it is teaching a thought process really.

nickelbabe · 19/10/2011 12:57

11 and 12 are on two parallel lines, both the second number from the the same side.
ah, yes cuppa you're right.

I can't understand where the OP means to put them.

OP
please give me a diagram of where those numbers are! I can't visualize them!

(Soupy's description makes sense - thank you soupy)

EdithWeston · 19/10/2011 15:17

I used the layout as described by SoupDragon - but the other way up!

I had C=11 and I=12.

The lines are 13s, except for the second line through the 12 (as you can only make 13 with 12 one way).

hocuspontas · 19/10/2011 15:37

How are you all making it with 13s? That was my original idea but I can't see how to do that AND get all the lines making 26. I need to see your solutions!

nickelbabe · 19/10/2011 15:46

I've already given up.
all of my post this morning has been covered with 6-pointed stars and I still can't get it right.

margerykemp · 19/10/2011 15:53

Being 3-4 years ahead isn't that gifted, especially at that stage in Maths.

It was legit maths homework.

I dont see why you have your knickers in a twist over it.

SofaQueen · 19/10/2011 15:56

Actually, I think that this is quite fun as far as maths homework goes - not sure what the issue is. Challenging, but if he's level 6-7, not impossible for him, and probably fun.

hocuspontas · 19/10/2011 15:57

I thought the op meant NC levels 6-7. This is c. 13 - 14 year olds.

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