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Original poster

Multiplication for a 4 year old? Help please!

43 replies

TheNightIsDark · 12/03/2014 22:12

We had parents evening last night. Apparently DS (4) is surpassing the class in all areas, they could plonk him in year one now and he would be more than able to keep up Blush I feel embarrassed typing that!

The teacher says she wants to start doing simple multiplication with him as he picks up maths very easily and is a bit bored of number bonds to 5!

Does she mean times tables? Maths is not my strong point!

Also, I don't want to hothouse him. He enjoys learning and tends to bounce off the walls if not engaged in something.

Are there apps/games etc that could help him?

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my2bundles · 12/03/2014 22:13

She means counting on in 2s and 10s, possibly 5s aswell when ready.

PrincessScrumpy · 12/03/2014 22:14

Reception usually do 2, 5 and 10 times tables in my experience so what is the teacher actually suggesting? I think you need to ask for clarification.

Original poster
TheNightIsDark · 12/03/2014 22:14

That makes sense! Thank you Smile

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Original poster
TheNightIsDark · 12/03/2014 22:17

I think I will ask what she means. I was so thrown by the praising of him I didn't ask for clarification!

Is it just learning by rote for 2s,5s and 10s? It's been a while since I had to learn it!

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Nowfeeltheneedtopost · 12/03/2014 22:21

Every time I read threads like this I breathe a sigh of relief that my DD is at a 3form entry state school where there is a broad spread of ability. My DD is extremely "advanced" versus usual NC levels but her school take it all in their stride and are happy to differentiate learning appropriately. Unless i felt my child was at some genius level, I would find it very worrying if a school said she was "surpassing the class in all areas".

SkiSchoolRun · 12/03/2014 22:22

We are encouraged to count in 2s, 5s & 10s and to observe things like odd and even, house numbers etc.

PrincessScrumpy · 12/03/2014 22:35

Just realised dd did number bonds to 10 in reception. Dd is "bright" - teacher's words but I was under the impression the whole class were doing this work. But that would be a straight forward extension to your ds's work. Dd is currently in year one and her level is 2b so year 2 level. Her school automatically stretch her - the school should be leading this.

Original poster
TheNightIsDark · 12/03/2014 22:37

He's bright. I don't think he's a genius but whether that's because he's not had access to quantum physics and what not I don't know!

His teacher said he picks things up at an alarming speed. She only has to show him a word and he knows it and that his capacity for maths is amazing.

I was just quite impressed I hadn't been imaging things. It's an academy so they're a bit pushy anyway I suppose however he does focus better if it's new. He will learn something once then as he's done it he won't want to go back to it.

I'll just see what they're doing at school and support him at home if he wants to do it there too. If not then he'll pick it up through play anyway I'm sure!

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Original poster
TheNightIsDark · 12/03/2014 22:39

She said about number bonds to 10 but he does them off the top of his head (not using fingers to count). When I told her he could do this she said about the multiplying.

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Jinsei · 12/03/2014 22:44

It's lovely that he's doing so well. :)

Working a year or two ahead of peers is well within the range of "normal", so the school should be able to cater for his needs quite easily. I don't think you need to do anything special with him at home - just encourage him to follow his own interests!

simpson · 12/03/2014 22:45

If you have an iPad then check out the squeebles apps.

You could also make him a 100 square to do addition beyond what he can do in his head.

Tbh at 4 I would only do it if he wants to.

morethanpotatoprints · 12/03/2014 22:48

Hello OP.

Its really good to know your child has found what they are good at and it can come as a shock.
I'm not an authority but friends with very bright dc just tend to encourage at home with lots of games and puzzles. I guess it satisfies the need to be challenged.

Original poster
TheNightIsDark · 12/03/2014 22:49

Thanks Jinsei Smile

I had him fairly young so hearing someone not related to him say he was clever made up for all the toddler groups I was blanked at and all the dirty looks I get at the school gates IYSWIM! Apologies to anyone that was pissed off by my post. I don't have anyone in RL to ask about school stuff.

We follow his lead at home. I've always gone with if he's interested then we will look at something. He's in a Greek mythology stage at the moment (saw the medusa statue at natural history museum!) so I'm currently having to adapt the stories to a child friendly level!

I'll leave the multiplication for now and just see what he comes out with.

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BookABooSue · 12/03/2014 22:53

The Starfall website has some numbers games. It's been a while since we used it so I can't remember if there are any multiplication ones but it might be worth a look. I think the Sesame Street website has some too. Well done on his great report.

GoodnessIsThatTheTime · 12/03/2014 23:00

We just do simple "problems" at home. She has a sister so we asked if they both had 4 apples - how many would y have alltogether. Now I can ask her what "2 lots of 4" are etc. Only one question and randomly though.

If they're bright there really really isn't a need to push them at 4/5. I want her to enjoy being small and am trying to restrain the urge to to do "work" with her and instead let her pick bits up at school. At home she plays with dolls/ goes to the park. Many kids wouldn't even start school until 7!

Jinsei · 12/03/2014 23:01

People are so quick to judge, it's shit. Your little boy sounds lovely!

My dd is a bit older now but went through a phase where she was obsessed with Greek mythology. There are some great books that tell the stories in a child-friendly way!

It's great that his teachers recognise his ability, but don't feel under pressure to do more with him as a result - just keep doing what you have been doing, it has obviously been working so far!

LittleMissGreen · 12/03/2014 23:02

DS3 has started learning about multiplication. He started very simply e.g. Each coat has 5 buttons on, there are 4 coats (picture of each coat) how many buttons are there altogether = 5+5+5+5 = 20
Or Each bunch of bananas has 3 bananas, there are 3 bunches, how many bananas 3+3+3=9.
He is naturally good at maths, and moved from that very quickly to doing things like 54, 33 etc, much more so than his older brother who still doesn't quite 'get it'.

mooglet · 12/03/2014 23:14

How lovely for you. I am more than a bit jealous, especially after another day of battling with DS1 over spellings, reading, and all the other school stuff that he just does not want to do.......

Anyway, I don't have any words of wisdom about the maths stuff, but the book "Atticus the Greek Storyteller" is going down well with my 6 and 4 year olds, if that helps on the Greek mythology front.

Original poster
TheNightIsDark · 12/03/2014 23:21

I've just been looking at that on amazon Grin thank you.

We still have reading battles. He gets 3 books twice a week and I haven't yet learned not to do them at 7pm the night before reading at school Hmm

The only way round reading and key word battles I've found is chocolate buttons Grin

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richmal · 12/03/2014 23:34

BBC bitesize KS1 is worth a look at.

SENteacher have some worksheets for printing if he likes doing worksheets www.senteacher.org/print/mathematics/

Dd liked the Letts, Mythical Maths Books at that age.

With times tables, I used to do one times table fact each morning on the way into school and then see if she had remembered it on the way home.

Hope some of this helps.

Original poster
TheNightIsDark · 12/03/2014 23:37

Thank you for that link Grin

He loves worksheets. He used to get jealous of DSD having homework before he started school so we got him poundland workbooks! He would be in his element if I showed him that site!

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Galena · 13/03/2014 07:03

We play a game in the car where we say, for example '3 cats, how many paws?' and DD works out the answer then sets us a question in return... Just recently she's been starting to go the other way too (division) '16 ears, how many pigs?'

richmal · 13/03/2014 07:51

KS1 revision guides are useful as they will go through everything children learn in the KS1 curriculum. There are corresponding workbooks to go with them. We used Letts, but CPG also do them.

coco44 · 13/03/2014 08:22

At the 3 primary schools I have had children at they have counted in 2s,5s,10s forwards and backwards, number bonds to 20 , ordered numbers to 100 on one ofthose hook boards in reception.
I think the teacher needs to have higher expectations of her class!
Are you in a very deprived area?

tiredbutnotweary · 13/03/2014 08:45

coco44 - assuming that you're not just being downright provocative do you really not realise that just because your children were doing that doesn't mean the rest of the class were all doing the same?

When DD was in reception I was going in and helping out and the whilst it is normal for a group of children to be working at the level you describe, they are the high ability children. There is then the group in the middle as well as the children that are struggling.

You have heard of differentiation and understand why it is necessary right???