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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Calling all Primary Teachers

15 replies

Zog · 07/12/2006 21:36

I've just come back from ds's (year 3) parents evening and he's struggling with numeracy. I really want to be able to help him at home - can anyone recommend any useful resources e.g. websites, computer programs, workbooks etc?

Thanks

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possumhead · 07/12/2006 23:42

Hi,
Did the teacher give you any idea what level he is working at? or which particular area maths is causing problems?
this may help

Original poster

Zog · 08/12/2006 07:30

Thanks for that, I'll have a look.

I think he's struggling with the whole multiplication/division concept but the trouble is, they teach them such different ways of doing it nowadays that at the moment, I can't help him because I don't know how to!

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possumhead · 08/12/2006 09:50

Hi Zog, Try this for multiplication It has got lesson ideas and games to play on the computer. HTH

climbingrosie · 08/12/2006 09:53

Hi Zog,
The best way to help him with the multiplication/division is to find a method that works for him, that is why there are so many methods used these days in schools, some children find repeated addition/subtraction methods work best for finding the answers, some children are very good at remembering their multiplication tables, and there isn't really one right way to teach it. The problem is that this can be confusing to children who don't know which method to adopt!

Does he understand the concepts behind multiplication and division? I'd work on that with him, maybe just encouraging him to do simple problems in everyday life (so he doesn't think it's extra work! ). Encourage the basic understanding, like the fact that division is the opposite of multiplication, and if it works for him, learning some of the harder times tables might help. The problems many children have with numeracy stem from not fully understand the basic concepts and so the more compliated stuff is arbitrary and meaningless to them, and often the teachers don't pick up on this as they assume the child covered it in a lower year etc. so the problem remains.

Hope that helps!

NOELallie · 08/12/2006 13:38

Ds' teacher suggested using a pack of cards to help with times-tables. Deal two cards and get him to mulitply the numbers. I was thinking about also using them to practice subtraction, addition and dividison. Maybe using a dice too - using different numbers on the dice to indicate the operand and the 2 left over to make the player pass on his go or have another go or something like that. Haven't thought it through totally yet....

Original poster

Zog · 08/12/2006 13:53

These ideas are all great, thank you. The teacher mentioned repeated addition/subtraction but I've no idea what on earth he's talking about! Can anyone shed any light?

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NOELallie · 08/12/2006 15:54

I would guess that he means repeatedly adding/subtracting the same number - ie, add 5 to 0 until you get to 20? It takes 4 times to do it so 20 = 4x5? Ditto addition. Maybe?

cece · 08/12/2006 16:03

Yes or you could keep taking 7 away from 21 until you get to 0. How many 7s did you take away.

You can draw little on paper say 7circles and then physically move 21 objects into the circles till they are all shared out equally.

Original poster

Zog · 08/12/2006 19:51

But I don't understand how that's easier than knowing your times tables IYKWIM? It just seems a long winded way of getting to the answer...

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Original poster

Zog · 08/12/2006 20:43

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ProfessorGrammaticus · 08/12/2006 21:04

I think it's only easier if it works for you and helps you to understand, it probably wouldn't work for everyone?

Orchide · 13/12/2006 21:21

Zog,
Repeated addition is an early part of understanding the multiplication process and if your child is struggling to grasp the whole concept it may be that they need lots of repetition to make this solid.
As someone already suggested repeated addition is adding several 'lots of' a number to get to the answer.
Eg 4x2
2+2+2+2 - the sum is 4 lots of 2 and the child should recognise it as adding 4 lots of 2.
A child who has got to grips with x may not need the repeated addition laid out as simply but should be able to count up in 2s... 2,4, 6, 8 to get to the answer - but in doing so they are showing that they undersatdn that they have to add /or jump 4 'lots of' 2.

Does that help at all?
Orchide

popsycal · 13/12/2006 21:23

oooh
you need the link that i will post....lots of info for parents on methods

popsycal · 13/12/2006 21:23

also i have posted loads before about how multiplicationa nd dvisiion is taught..
hold on will do the link first...

popsycal · 13/12/2006 21:25

all of these links are worth looking at
but the most immediate one i would print out is the onew fourth one down - the downloadable booklet
hth

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