Maths leaning issues

[Fatmanbuttsam]

Hi, I'm posting on behalf of a friend. Her dc is having problems with maths and as she is about to go into yr 6 my friend is worried that her dc is falling further and further behind.
It's not that she can't do the maths it's a mental block (triggered by some less than good teaching two years ago).
Friend is paying for tutoring at home and dc can do maths there.
She has spoken to the school on several occasions and the child has been assessed....no SeNs...school agreed a program where her dc would do 1-2-1 time several times a week but despite several requests school haven't kept there word and she's only had the odd session.
My friend is about to set up another meeting with the school and I was wondering if you could help me come up with some strategies to help her approach this in a positive way that will ensure school supplies the help she needs.
Thanks

Hello Fatman:

Well basically this is quite a kettle of worms because in effect it is a complaint.

I think the strategy I would take is to raise concern but let the school decide (possibly even giving them the space to go away and decide) what to put in place next year.

My personal solution to this (and I've posted a lot about this) - was to turn to on-line tutorials (obviously your friend has turned to a private tutor).

Every child is different but if this child responds well to video games there are a ton of free resources out there that will make a big difference:

Woodland Junior School Maths Zone: resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/ - just select the area you want to work on and follow links. I tend to have a bit of a research session myself first to trial the games and ensure they're not too difficult before setting DDs loose on them.

Maths Champs: www.mathschamps.co.uk/#home - games organised by age bands - which can be demoralising if you're working in a younger band - also means times tables are spread out a bit.

Cool Maths: www.coolmath-games.com/ - also cool maths 4 kids website has lessons/ definitions/ examples - often useful in reviewing how to do something if there's a block/ confusion: www.coolmath4kids.com/ - website is a bit clunky - so a bit of time needs to be spent hunting about - but there are some gems there.

Multiplication dot com: www.multiplication.com/ - games to help bed down times table facts & resources to help learn them.

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My personal view is use those dead bits of time: waiting for dinner/ waiting to leave for school/ club, waiting for sibling to finish bath - & spend them playing maths based video games here and there - cumulatively it will build up skills, confidence & speed.

DD1 was dire in maths at the end of KS1 - it has taken 3 years of solid work to get her to a sound place mathematically - but slowly, week by week we've got there. Practice - familiarity with methods & gradually becoming confident in using the range of skills needed to solve mathematical problems - has made all the difference.

I wish I could say there is an easy solution - but I fear it most likely will be time & effort that will solve this problem.

However - assure your friend it isn't too late. Keep working on it. One issue at a time. Addition/ Subtraction/ multiplication/ division - then exercising these skills to 3 digits. If those skills are solid going into Year 7 - the rest will be less daunting.

HTH

Fatman:

Forgot to say - that if your friends child is not continuing with their maths tutor over the summer - your friend may want to consider signing up to an on-line tutorial for this.

Now I'm a fan of mathsfactor (used with great success for both DDs) - and it offers one-off summer schools to help build skills/ review skills: www.themathsfactor.com/summerschools/ - which right now are only £10. The beauty of something like this is you can use it when it is convenient - instead of having to go to a tutor once a week or have them come to you. So you can spread the work across a week - maybe doing one session after breakfast, the next before bed, etc....

Others here on MN have sung the praises of

Mathletics: www.mathletics.co.uk/

Maths Whizz: www.whizz.com/

komodo Maths: komodomath.com/

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We have found by keeping maths happening over the summer - it has helped keep mastered skills fresh and build new skills (making up 'lost ground').

I know many will say it's summer/ they're children - but two things are important to remember:

1. your child is at a serious disadvantage in senior school if they haven't mastered key addition/ subtraction/ multiplication/ division skills and can handle things like decimals/ fractions/ percentages/ proportions/ simple probability

2. 30 minutes (maximum) possibly in small bite size bursts of game playing here and there throughout a day/ 5 x a week - is not onerous. Especially if you already know there are problems and your child is struggling.

It's a balance. Yes let them have play time and adventures, rest and relaxation during the summer - but a bit of time (a very small proportion overall) each day toward maths can make Y6 much more successful, maths as a subject much more enjoyable and ensure that your child is off to a flying start in senior school - which ultimately is important too.

HTH

Hi SellBy
Thank you for that, I had to zoom off to work...I will pass on to my friend when I see her this evening....I'm not sure if her dd is into gaming but it can't hurt to try .

I do wonder how maths is thought in school in such a way that it inspires worry, fear and lack of confidence in some many children.