What do you do at home to help your child?

[SenSationsMad]

Please give me some tips on helping DD at home with maths and English.

She'll be going up to secondary school in September and I think it'll be a big shock for her.

She doesn't enjoy reading and so her spelling isn't fab. I realise I've been a lazy mother and want to help her some more by working on spelling at home. (Though she's given every encouragement, and we go to the library every week - she hasn't yet read one book cover to cover)

I'm thinking of buying some workbooks from Wilkies, and reading (library books) chapters together. Anything else you've tried that's worked??

Thank you

You could try reading together - get a novel she likes the look of, and read a chapter a night, with each one of you reading alternate pages. IME that is a good way of getting children to read more and better.

On maths - get her working stuff out at home. You can go a very long way with scales, a tape measure and some money!

Good idea

How are her Maths and English, for example what levels is she expected to get?
What kind of a secondary is she going to?
I would try to get some kind of summer reading list, either from her new school, or lots of private schools produce them, and encourage her to read some of them (or read with her). Eg. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, The Silver Sword and I am David; are often on such lists.
How confident is she with Maths? IF it is a real issue, you could try working through one of "The power of 2" books. But actually lots of children really blossom in Maths understanding at secondary, because it is taught differently, with less emphasis on just knowing yor tables.

Haven't received her expected levels yet - school report hasn't come home ( Though I had to ask for my son's levels )

She enjoys Math but doesn't always read the questions correctly and then gets the answer wrong.

Think I should concentrate on her spelling (and mine ) and boost her confidence in that as a priority.

Thanks for responding