maths in schools

[var123]

I know this isn't a G&T thing specifically, but its come about because I've started working through a maths GCSE textbook with DS1 and I really don't fancy having to explain and justify that decision as I would have to on other parts of mumsnet.

So, I started teaching DS1 yesterday. The first thing we did was go through and mark what he already knows. He has learned some sophisticated stuff at school. However, he didn't know how to do long multiplication! He can do the grid method, but not the method that generations of children have learned.

Ditto long division.

So, the first thing I have to do with my highly able 13 year old is to teach him the stuff that I learned halfway through primary school

I'm in Richmond too, though not sure if I will let DD do the Tiffin exam. I am not very convinced by how good the pastoral care is there, and DD is an anxious sort of soul. I would say that it will be a real struggle for all but the very very brightest and it's not a forgiving process (I also did exams at 11). Is your daughter a resilient person?

DD also learns violin and piano so I sympathise on the practice front!

Greenleave we didn't do any SATs prep. until after the Easter of year 5. I 'm not sure about those preparing for Tiffin though. Certainly of the four tutors I contacted, non of them would start until then. Mainly because they would be tutoring those who were due to sit before my DS and as some private schools have their exams in January, the tutors would not be in a position to take anyone else on.

Indole I would suggest it would be worth visiting though. I was quite surprised at how different the selective schools were from each other. My DC is most interested in Maths, Chemistry, Physics and Computing so we were able to identify which school seemed the best fit based on these.

Our biggest concern is Computing as my DC is way past what they cover in year 7 & 8 but our preferred school has a computing club so that should provide a way forward.

I will definitely visit (and take DD too, if possible). For us, music and arts are the big things we need from a school.

Greenleave P/s: best of luck to your son results

Forgot to say, we got our results a couple of weeks ago :-)

noblegiraffe , I don't know if you are still watching this thread, but I just wanted to thank you for suggestion for decimal multiplication.
Ds was doing it your way yesterday(398 x 435 instead of 3.98 x 4.35 and adding decimal points later), and it worked! No more confusion over decimal points. Thank you

@indo: I got home feed the kids then put the baby to bed then have about 30mins with her before 8.30(sometimes I dont if the little sister isnt easy on the day) and these days 30mins is only on both piano abd violin as she loves playing it for me and I need to check with her progress too. Its hard abd takes more time but enjoyable

@mum: congrats, I heard alot about better supports, completely different level of maths in secondary

So yes I never think she is talented of all sort but she is regilient, at the same times my attitude in the past was if she was doing ok at school and enjoying playing, having good time at school then that was all I was looking for. There were so much I have missed in term of giving her the right support for her to be better. As any child without any supervising then she is normal, cycling, swimming lots of playing in the park and if we allow her some time on ipad then it was silly you tube stuffs and she loves drawing etc.

I was lucky that anything she questioned from the work at school everytime I explained to her and she always extend and applied it at higher level. For example she asked me about decimals sometimes ago and I explained to her for 10 mins and left the printed papers from mathsisfun and she did all of them correct. (And fast as I had my swimming lesson at 7.30pm and once I am back at 8.30 she has done them all and was busy with her drawing, there were about 10 sheets at all level and I skip the easy one)

My final aim is her loving learning but the short term aim is 11+ and I realised now that being good at school and normal bright might not be enough. Thats the main reason I am now on momsnet hoping to learn from everyone's experiences

Elle, I will start working with her your way, thank you, hopefully it isnt too late for a yr3