KS1 Numeracy

[redskyatnight]

DS (Y2) is in a "higher" group for numeracy and is struggling with the "extension" work (and consequently hates numeracy).

I think he is capable (and so obviously do the school) but he does have a tendency to coast and I suspect the harder work is pushing him out of his comfort zone (which he doesn't like).

He is keen for me to help him at home (and normally he avoids extra school work like the plague) so I was thinking of how best to do this. I don't want to confuse him by using "different" methods to the ones at school so wondered how I would find out about "modern" methods? I've found some online games on the BBC site that I think he'd like, we have some appropriate board games and was also thinking of covering measuring etc by doing baking (which we do anyway).

... or should I be letting the school deal with it?

Your ideas all sound good. Especially doing some online games together as he would probably see that as fun.

I would ask his teacher to explain to you how they're taught so you can support his learning at home. Usually teachers are keen to help when you ask them directly. I spend ages with DS1's teacher a few years back, with her teaching me to use number lines for adding up!

Ask to see the school's calculation policy - that will tell you exactly what methods are used and when they are introduced.

Oh, and this website is good.

Thanks Feenie, that website looks great!

At bedtime today DS asked when we were going to start doing numeracy (we were very busy today after school). I said we could do some tomorrow and what would he like to do. He had a think and said he thought we should do doubling and halving because they were doing that at school at the moment and it was very tricky!! Just hope I don't put him off, I see it as very positive that he's seeing that he can use me to support what he is doing at school.

It's great that he is keen

Fab doubling machine here

Halving machine