why oh why don't we listen?

[morethanpotatoprints]

Hello, been really stupid today. DD left school yesterday and because no levels were given on school report I decided to do my own end of y3 optional sats today (maths). I panicked as her report had said she had struggled this year. The results were not good as she came out with a 2B. This was what she had last year.
Please somebody reinforce that she will improve with HE. I have listened to what others have said and know I need to be a bit more laid back and not worry. This is the advice I would give to others, but I don't practice what I preach. Why oh why can't I relax and have confidence in her ability to thrive.

I recommend reading How Children Fail
by John Holt - an amazing insight into maths in schools and what children are really learning...she will learn so much more HE as you will be right there beside her.

nobody ever grows taller by being measured either........

You will grow into this, but I think you seriously need to give yourself some time to deschool yourself Get the 'schooling is the only way' mindset shifted!

Joyfully Rejoycing has a good post about testing....I know you don't intend to be autonomous, but I think the point she makes is good:

"Think of the world divided into column A and column B. Column A is what's taught for the test. Column B is everything else in the world. Tests test only what the child knows from column A. They don't show what the child knows instead in column B. A child could know 100% of column B and 10% of column A and the test would say he's stupid. But a child could know 100% of column A and nothing from column B and look really smart but be really dumb.

A test only shows how well someone takes a test. It says nothing about who that child is. (Remember Einstein did really poorly in school!)

As I understand it... You've not actually started HE yet- so if your DD (who's into her music and not particularly interested in maths) has just demonstrated that she's spent a year in school without improving in maths at all, isn't this a really great reason to try teaching her yourself? Certainly no reason to panic! Did you look at the post about formal maths instruction about a week ago (on the home Ed board)? It suggested that there isn't any need to start formal maths at all until the age of 8 or 9 if I remember correctly...

As you can see I'm a night owl. Thank you so much for the brill advice. I know I'm panicking a bit and dh isn't helping. Well he's helping too much iyswim.
You are so right about the music as well flussymummy. I think her recent successes have made me look at the academic side a bit more as I know she missed alot of school last year through her music and dancing performances. I will definitely look at your recommendations and thanks again, all.