Trigonometry

[user789653241]

When do they start learning Trigonometry?

My ds is eager to learn it because he needs it for advanced computer coding, but he hasn't mastered all the basics in maths yet.(he is in YR3, but mostly working on YR6+ curriculum at home.)

I think it's too early, and I can't help him with it because I haven't got a clue. So I have to rely on online tutorials completely. When are they going to be ready? What do they need to master before learning it?

OhYouBadBadKitten, that is exactly what I am afraid of, superficial understanding of everything.
He has amazing memory and understand concepts easily, but when it comes to what he isn't interested, he can't even remember what he had for dinner last night or what he did at school. We started doing nrich, and he enjoys them, so I will encourage him to do more of them. We have one murderous maths book, and he enjoyed it. We will get more of those.
Thank you.

BertrandRussell, we are working on different interest stuff at the moment.
He loves reading. And writing stories, but only on the computer!
I agree I have to limit his screen time, find something else.
Thanks for advice.

var, thank you for great info! I'm not thinking to let him take exams early or send him to uni early. He really needs proper social development.
He is very weak on that side.

if you can persuade him to start playing an orchestral instrument it may well rescue his social side. It is hugely sociable, they meet others with similar focus and gives a ready made network of potential friends.

Is there no such thing in uk as a special group where support children with interest in programming. We cant help them much even if we are in the same field, the knowledge must be up to date, broaden and still deep enough and there must be specialist. Is it only University doing it?

Regarding to IXL: we tried it for couple of months and even though it has level of difficulty but do you find the gardest ones are not that hard, it doesnt require the child to think "long", nrich does, I only started reading nrich the couple of weeks and really like it, its not super friendly for someone new and easy to print off if you dont know the site well

The reason I restrict my daughter time on ipad/computer and tv is I am worried about her other skills, which to be equally as important as you are so easily addicted to it. We dont allow her to read kindle instead buying books even we both read kindles. We want her to get out, cycling, swimming, just play in the park, feed the ducks, hiding in the bush...etc. My daughter loves to go to the seaside and we try to go near and far, summer and winter. In the end, she has so much work to wait for her in the coming years and I believe creative and freedom in playing and think as a child will definitely help her better in long run

Again, as an adult we know where to balance though between all the above and not going behind their real potential...tough

As a software engineer of many years who has worked on numerous and varied projects I think I can safely say that I have never needed trig to make any work. Web programming with css/html is not really programming but a way to display information and change that display easily. Javascript is slightly more programmey but not fully there.
C++ is an awkward programming language as you have to really understand memory usage and pointers and object oriented design or you can end up with serious memory leaks. For that reason I would suggest he learns java as it is a good intro to object oriented design which in itself is a topic that even many uni students really struggle to comprehend fully over the more basic older procedural languages.

Thank you everyone!

LittleMissGreen, thank you, it's good to hear from expert!
I have no knowledge of computer, except for really basics I learned online.
(and already too much for me). So we are just following courses on Khan and codeacademy. He was learning jQuery today.
I will let him try JAVA course on codeacademy.
Thank you.

He is only 7, so I can't let him loose on choosing what he does on computer just yet, but I'd imagine, in the near future, he would be doing things I can't comprehend. Quite scary...

if you can afford it then lego mindstorms might be good for him?

Are you going to look up coderdojo, Irvine? It sounds as though he would benefit from the social side.
I would also guard against extra study yourself in a vain attempt to keep ahead of him. By doing this you are actually preventing him from accessing social opportunities and getting to know like minded kids, teens, and adults. It is perfectly ok (and actually in some instances better) to say 'I don't know - let's find someone who does' and use that as an opportunity to get your ds out of the house and involved with other people under the pretext of furthering his interest.

madwomanbackintheattic, I had a look before, but unfortunately, no codedojo near us. There is computer club at school, but only aimed at higher KS2, but I will ask if he could join.
I have to admit, it's becoming really unhealthy that he is so obsessed with computer. On weekends, he even refuse to go out.
And I agree it's no point trying so hard myself, I'm too old for that! I will put more effort in finding something else he wants to do. Thank you.

OhYouBadBadKitten, that sound interesting, I will look into it, Thank you.

Greenleave, we use IXL only because it follows NC, so he would have no knowledge gaps. I don't think it's good for any mathematical development, but it really test your understanding of skills, so I think it's good in one way. Also once he mastered one year group, he can move onto next, up to YR13. But I will concentrate more on nrich and wild maths now, rather than going forward.

You could also access your local home Ed network - they often have course opportunities in this arena - it seems to be a popular interest for kids who are alternatively educated (I see lots of home educated dcs who have their start-up businesses in tech while still in single digits lol, usually just small apps and the like that sell in a limited way to other home-edders)

Irvine: sitting too long infront of the computer physically isnt good for a 7 years old, do you agree, try to take it off him little by little. I'd say engage him in a good club, network with help or support or if you could get someone to teach him(tutor him) so he progresses but doesnt need to spend too much time in front of the computer. I know its so easily to get addicted, you might have to try hard.

Thanks, madwomanbackintheattic and Greenleave

This might be an option for you:

www.codebug.org.uk/

There are loads of options and challenges, and support too. It starts off in a really basic manner, probably too simple for him already. But some of the advanced topics, which involve not just coding but the way that programmable objects can interact in the physical world, should challenge him and involve more than just a computer.

Thank you, mrsmortis

Yes that looks really interesting!!

Irvine, my colleague said his son is using codebug and there is a book(might be for a starter which your son isnt: scratch programming

Thank you, Greenleave.