Yr1 numeracy

[Whowillsaveyoursoul]

Ds (5 and a half) has always been stronger at numeracy than literacy however he's just been moved down an ability group. This isn't an exhaustive list but does it sound like roughly what an average yr1 can do?

Number bonds to 10 / 20
Can find the inverse operation for adding / subtracting
Doubles and halves to 20
Uses his number bonds to add with larger numbers such as 65 + 5 or 73 + 7 etc
Can add 10, 20 etc to any given number up to 1000 so 54 + 20, 90 + 50
Recognising coins and can exchange equal values of coins for one coin
Knows all 2d and 3d shapes
Can do half past, on the hour, quarter past and quarter to with time
Can do difference between with numbers to 20

Would have thought (hoped) about average?

I am retired now, so a bit out of touch, but he is above what many of our Yr1 would have managed I think.

Our yr 1 seem to be very keen on word problems. Perhaps he's finding those tricky if his reading is less strong?

But if in doubt, why not ask the teacher if he's falling behind with anything particular?

He's reading ort stage 6 which I think is average and he's improved quite a lot since start of term.
It's his writing and recording that's the biggest issue I think. He's a left hander too so generally has a couple of issues which can make things trickier. He struggles with copying things too - he loses his place. So he'd find it hard to copy across numeracy questions or even the learning objective.

I would say that is above average in DD2s class. Has he actually been moved down or have they just reshuffled and they aren't ability based? or could it be that literally a couple of children who are exceptionally advanced in maths have been separated out? DD1 and DD2 are both top group for maths I think but I know that certainly in DD1's class there are 2 children who whilst on paper their ability is probably about the same as hers marginally more, they are so quick with mental maths compared to her they really do have mathmatical minds so maybe there are some children like that who the teacher is separating out rather than it being a whole group.

That would be significantly better than what the Year 1's in my class can do, and indeed, higher than most (if not all) of the Year 1's I've ever taught. And I've probably taught around 100 of them in the last few years.

If that list is accurate, that is well above government/curriculum expectations for a Year 1 child.

That's more like average -> high Year 2 work!

That all sounds quite advanced. Is it what you've seen at home or what he's been doing at school? Was quite surprised to find dd2 was in a lower maths group as at home she is proficient, but she is just not able to show her abilities in the classroom.

I also wonder if it's word problems. A few really struggle with these and they might have moved groups to accommodate this.

A lot of that my Ds is doing in yr2 and he is average in maths

Yes my list is accurate. I don't think I'm being biased! I wonder whether ds doesn't show what he is able of in school. He can be quite hesitant. The other thing is his actual number formation isn't very good (in the same way his handwriting isn't very good) so I wonder if this is part of the problem.
He's pretty quick with mental maths, for example yesterday he was sticking in his sticker album and was sticking in sticker 63. The next one he picked up was sticker was number 90 and he just said 'oh that's 27 more'
He can also do one more / less to 1000 and ten more less as well.

At parent's evening I will ask the teacher about where he is and if he's on target. I guess I'm worried he's not achieving as well as he can do at school because he lacks confidence in himself. I can well imagine he doesn't put his hand up and follows what the others say / do even if they're wrong.

My son is a bit like that, pretty good at numbers but reluctant to show it. I'm not overly bothered, I know he can do it.

Whowillsave:

Look I think as others have said your son sounds like he's doing very well - some kids are blithely unaware and others are really upset by being moved tables (sometimes just because they're moved away from friends).

Ability tables are a nightmare for parents & teachers. As a teacher if you see 8 kids but only have a table for 6 - you shouldn't (I feel at least) - but some do exclude 2 because the table only has 6 chairs. Some schools don't place children on tables, others do but not necessarily by ability - other schools really struggle not to convey to children/ parents what the true ability level of children is. Certainly my kids knew who was on 'top table' from very young ages.

I think it depends on the school - some schools only give challenging material to their top table - other schools give all pupils access to difficult maths problems. (It's a pedagogical divide - some teachers feel that challenging maths that pupils struggle with will be upsetting, possibly putting them off maths - only add when you're ready kind of thing (which at our school at least necessitated learning that at home, proving it at school & then you got such work) - others feel that you shouldn't presume anything, should be primarily teaching maths skills in school - and give an open invitation to all children to try a difficult maths problem which they can opt to take up or not as they chose).

As a parent it can be concerning - why has my child been moved down a table? Are they struggling? Are they not paying attention? Are they falling behind? - all of which are real worries but schools are resistant to explain that your child is ranked 8th in the class and there are 7 more able kids but only 6 places at the top maths table, etc....

So my view is this - if you feel that your child is struggling, if for you it's important they're top table (and that's a very individual thing), if you feel where they are now the maths is too easy - do more at home.

It's hard to know whether your DS is in a school where other parents are doing more at home - you read all sorts here on MN about parents hiring tutors in Y1 in some areas because competition for grammar school places is so fierce. It may just be a particularly bright year group he's in the midst of. It really is hard to say without knowing your specific situation - but you do have options.

If you feel your child is missing out/ not getting concepts - check that against the programme for study for KS1/ KS2 in maths: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/335158/PRIMARY_national_curriculum_-_Mathematics_220714.pdf

Doing more at home may be the solution for you. No it isn't how it should be - but I've found schools tend to just do what they have to and no more. There are options out there - there are all sorts of free on-line games (Woodlands Junior Maths Zone being one I'd highly recommend)/ on-line maths tutorials and workbooks available.

HTH