DD able in maths but no confidence

[workshy]

DD finished year 3 on 3a in maths and is now going into year 4, but insists she is rubbish

I have been doing times tables etc all holiday to try and keep her hand in/build her confidence but now I am looking for ways to help build her confidence

she is familiar with the no nonsense bond maths books so I thought I would get one for home but I don't know which level would be best -do I get the one that is right for her age group so it's easy for her, or do I get the one at the level she is working at so she feels it's relevant

she's not daft, she will know if I'm giving her something too easy to 'trick her into thinking she's good' but I don't want to put her off if it's too hard

How was the 3a assessed? Was it over all aspects of maths (including shape, data handling etc) or just problem solving and number?

Most home support books I've come across aren't great at judging levels, to be honest. They set level 3 questions that are harder than the SATS. I'd start with level 3, and move onto level 4 as necessary.

A 3a is a high 3, but it's not a 4. That sounds daft, but there is a big difference in a high 3 and 4. Try her with CPG. I really like those books.

it was ongoing assesment from her teacher, end of year 2 she was NC3 but no sub level given

the bond books are done on age rather than NC levels -not sure if that is helpful or not?

Hi workshy:

Several things occur. First of all the confidence issue needs sorting out. Is this that she can't think of answers fast enough in class? Is this that there is a particularly type of problem she finds tricky just now? It can be difficult - but really try to get her to explain what is troubling her.

Consider underlying skill issues. Is she able to multiply well (so knows her times tables) but then has difficulty applying that to division (inverse multiplication or possibly even division with remainders)?

My advice on the bond books is start with the appropriate age and work up, especially if the issue is confidence, finding that she can easily do work for her age group and then goes to work for older children will give her confidence.

I'd also recommend exploring some of the on-line resources available:

Woodlands Junior School has a fantstic 'Maths Zone' with all sorts of free on-line games - fun & practice to really secure those skills: www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/

Cool Maths has all sorts of games/ ideas by particular maths topic (well function actually): www.coolmath4kids.com/

The BBC is designing a new website - BBC Learning (currently in BETA) and if you go through teachers you can access support materials for KS2 (which all have age range info attached). The maths page is here: www.bbc.co.uk/schools/teachers/keystage_2/topics/maths_ks2.shtml

Finally, if maths is something you're struggling to support yourself and you feel that more practice may resolve confidence issues a lot of parents (myself included) have found joining on-line tutorials has made a huge difference - the at home practice has reinforced learning and meant that class work is less challenging. Mumsnetters have recommended all sorts - so I'm not saying which is best. However, the improved performance/ success gradually leads to increased confidence and it's all up from there. There's several out there:

Mathletics: www.mathletics.co.uk/

Maths Whizz: www.whizz.com/

Mathsfactor: themathsfactor.com/

We have been using mathsfactor because DD1 at the end of Y2 could not subtract (not even take 1 from 10). It was desperate and DD1 was absolutely convinced she was no good at maths. Two years later she's a totally different person having moved from a 1a (end of Y2) and to now working to a 4a at the end of Y4 - having made 3 sub-levels of achievement during this year.

You can either do a monthly subscription or you can pay a one off fee (around £20) for worksheets.

I don't have all the answers and every child is different but I do believe that you need to keep sending signals that you believe she can do it and keep encouraging her. Sometimes I think the real problem is that it starts to get a bit tricky and require more thought/ effort/ time - and that can be a real stumbling block when everything has come easily to this point.

I hope you can help your DD with whatever the trouble is. Best of luck.

her confidence issues stem from her very able and confident older sister

I don't compare but there have been teachers in the past that have told her 'if you work hard you could be as good' -which didn't go down well

The teacher says she isn't struggling in any area, when I do work sheets etc she will say she can't do it but then get every answer right

she did a year 5 maths test in class and got 21/24 -her response was -see I told you I couldn't do it!

we were doing number sentences yesterday (think that is what they are called) and she could confidently convert

21x83=1743 into 1743/21=83

so she 'gets it'

she is much more confident at english and finds this a pleasure -maths is a chore!

Hi workshy:

I see your problem. My younger brother spent his entire school life (only 1 year behind me) with teachers comparing his work to mine. It definitely affected his choices - he went for everything I hadn't been that interested/ good at - especially sports and maths.

My advice is this. Keep praising her but also if possible have a quiet word with her teacher and explain that this is an issue.

I've found with DD2 who is streets ahead of where DD1 was at the same age, she's often convinced she's not very good because she's comparing herself to her sister right now (which of course isn't fair - her sister is two years older). We've been really working on stressing that when DD1 was the same age, she couldn't do x or y. We've explained to DD1 that we need her support in this because DD2 is being too hard on herself - and DD1 often will chirp in praise or support us when we claim to DD2 that she's doing a lot more than DD1 did at that age.

Hang in there. It's a long, slow war.

thanks,

her teacher last year was very good, identified the problem early and has tried to reinforce her confidence but I can still see her genuinely upset by it

there is also 2 years between them (but 3 academic years) and there is an element of her looking at what her older sister is doing, unfortunately DD1 isn't as supportive

part of me can understand why, I have a twin brother, I was always the academic one and was told not to talk about my results infront of him incase he got upset, so I was never allowed to be proud or that's what it felt like I don't want DD1 to underplay her abilities, but then I also want DD2 to be proud of her own

gah! it's hard work