Advice needed for parents evening for y5

[hercules1]

Hi
Dd is in y5 and really enjoys maths. So much so she does a lot at home for herself using books for ks2 and has covered the maths curriculum for ks2.
Trouble is her school is in special measures and she's has a history of supply teachers and her current teacher, from what dd says, doesn't know what to give her so dd is often left doing nothing. In her last lesson the teacher told her she had nothing to give her.
Now I know this isn't true and the teacher should be able to give appropriate work and I don't mind sending stuff in if need be. I don't want to complain in any shape or form as I am sure the teachers have enough stress without me adding to it but I need to do something.
What can I suggest the teacher does? The school has her at 4a but she gets 5a in assessments and always get all questions right so I am not sure they have her level right as she's not being challenged so not given opportunity to get something wrong.

Getting a 5a in Y5 is a very high level. I agree, even children who are finding Maths easy need to be given the opportunity to fail at times. My most able ones are working on L5/6 work and it can be a bit of a challenge to find them a challenge. I dip into KS3 resources quite frequently and they often work as a small group with my TA, while I teach the other two groups in my class (one group aiming for L4a/5c, the other aiming for L3/4). They didn't get stretched enough within my 'top' group in some areas. If she's the only child in the class working at such a high level, I can imagine how it can be very difficult for the teacher. Is there an option to move her to Y6 for the maths lessons?
I cannot understand how her teacher can just leave her with nothing to do.

It might be an idea to point the teacher to the MEP (Mathematics Enhancement Programme) by Plymouth Uni. They've got lesson plans and resources available. If he/she cannot spare an adult to stretch the able ones, giving your DD the option to access MyMaths might be an idea. It's not terribly expensive for primary schools and she can work on the areas she is interested in. (Although that shouldn't take her teacher's responsibility away to actually teach her appropriately.)

Thanks. The teacher has stated a couple of times she will bring in a notebook for her to go on to access a website called ixl but keeps forgetting. Dd would hate to go into another year group as hates being singled out.
Is mymaths the Plymouth thing you mentioned?

Googled it on ipad and can't access it as on ipad but will suggest it.

MyMaths isn't part of the MEP, the two are different things. I'd suggest the MEP as a starting point for the teacher,..if she is willing to sit down and have a look at it. It's got detailed lesson plans and resources for each lesson.
I think Ixl is similar to MyMaths. What's the difficulty with your DD getting herself a laptop or notebook? I just send mine off to fetch one (or several), if I forget or need to change things round. They are Y5 after all.

Hi Hercules:

My Maths isn't the same thing but is an on-line tutorial/ homework programme that has powerpoint style lessons explaining a concept (images & writing/ no video) & then homeworks which are marked for you and which the student can 'rate'. Results are fed back to the teacher & there also are a range of maths games for practice.

My advice to you is that if you DD enjoys math and you are struggling to work out what next have a look at Kahn Academy:

This is US based programme but entirely free. US school grades are 1 year behind - so for year 5 - you'd want 6th grade work - but this is maths lessons (videos - narrated 'blackboard' work) and then various exercises which are marked.

Info on Kahn Academy is here: www.khanacademy.org/ - click learn & then math & then 6th grade & see how it goes.

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other possibilities which you would have to pay to join include:

Komodo maths: komodomath.com/

Maths Whizz: www.whizz.com/

Mathsfactor: www.themathsfactor.com/

Mathletics: www.mathletics.co.uk/

and

IXL Maths (nobody has said much about how good it is yet as they have repeatedly for the others above - but people are starting to ask about it on MN - if someone is using IXL Maths please let us know what you think about it): uk.ixl.com/

The Plymmouth Mathematics Enhancement Programme materials for primary level are here: www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mepres/primary/

If you haven't come across it NRICH maths (free from Cambridge University) has all sorts of maths puzzles to stretch thinking skills in mahts: website here: nrich.maths.org/frontpage - there are problems to think about, hints/ solutions & full answers.

I would also heartily recommend Woodland Junior School MathsZone - which has all sorts of resources for primary maths curriculum: resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/index.html

Finally there are a number of free on-line maths worksheet websites - for more work/ practice in maths - just select the area you want to work on.

Worksheet Works is still in Design stage (BETA) - but there are some nice resources here: www.worksheetworks.com/math.html - this is nice because you can design worksheets = #of problems/ level of difficulty/ etc...

Math drills has a huge range of worksheets: www.math-drills.com/

both sites include answer sheets (just remember to print them out when you print off or make your worksheets).
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Your school sounds as chaotic as ours and my genuine advice is yes, do raise it with the school because they should be appropriately differentiating work for more able pupils, but also go and look for solutions that work for you at home. We found that our school was very unwilling to recommend what to do at home or provide extra work for DD1 when she was struggling and we went the route of Mathsfactor to ensure good calculation skills and a building block approach to maths skills.

Obviously your DDs situation is quite the reverse but it sounds like maths is 'her thing' and just as a parent would go out of their way to support dance, music or sports interests - you should consider exploring what is out there to let your DD continue to be challenged and enjoy her maths.

HTH