Y3 MATHS-DS doesn't "get it"[sad]

[blackgrapes]

DS being tested next week and has had revision papers sent home which we are working our way through.

I could literally cry as he doesn't seem to remember anything. He hates going over it all and gets cross, I get frustrated and end up losing it too.

For example, I've given up with trying to teach him to work out how many minutes between say, 2.20pm and 3.50pm, he finds it hard working out how much more to £2 from £1.35. I'm trying to go over simple fractions but it's almost like he has "maths dyslexia". I can tell he just doesn't "get it".

The school have been good in explaining the methods they use but I'm not a teacher and am not good at actually helping him understand or explaining. I feel cross with the school as I've told them he's struggling and I feel angry with myself for not being able to help him.

I've used online programmes, books, flash cards. He will have the odd moment when I think "he's got it", but then we'll do another question and it starts again.

He is late summer born in Y3. Anyone have any experience of this, suggestions, reassurance??

The test doesn't matter.

It's there to show that he will need more support in Y4, not to crush his soul with excessive revision and endless papers.

I didn't tell my class they were having tests- they were just a bit bemused (but excited ) when they came in on Friday and the tables were set out differently.

The QCA tests are only a tiny aspect of the assessment. Most of it is based on the teacher's judgement. There will always be kids who perform better under test conditions, and those that don't. That's the way of life.

I think it's really wrong for the school to even send home test questions. It's creating far much more stress than necessary. They are optional tests.

As to his maths ability, it's normal for children to be able to solve problems within a maths lesson but then have no idea after. That's why there is a lot of repetition in primary schools. We teach the same things three times a year, pretty much! The content progresses each time, but the basic ideas are the same.

I know he's probably going to need more support but the thing I'm struggling with is how best to help at home.

Trying to help with division/multiplication/fractions etc when my brain is fried is bloody hard going! I just wondered if anyone had a magic formula or could suggest anything?

Division is notoriously hard. I'm a year 3 teacher, and I teach it in three different ways:

1. the opposite of multiplication. If he knows his times tables, he can work out division facts. Rote learn them. Dull but effective.

2. sharing. Most children like to draw plates to share into. It's time consuming but works, on the whole. Not the best mathematical principle, but it does work.

3. repeated subtraction. On a number line, take away the number to be divided by, then count up how many 'lots' were subtracted. So 39 / 13 would be 39 - 13 - 13 - 13. Three lots of 13 means that 39 / 13 = 3.

I use arcademic skills builder with my class. They love it. It has some good division games.