Number recognition

[IcelandicWarriors]

If your 5 1/2 year old could read and write above average but struggled to recognise some numbers between 0 - 20 would you be concerned? The teacher said they should really be doing that now. Is that correct? The teacher implied that DC was behind here. Are there different skills for reading numbers rather than letters?

10-20 can still be tricky.

I would expect them to be secure with 0-10 though.

It's something I'd be keeping an eye on, but not necessarily be worrying about, IYKWIM.

Yes apparently gets mixed up with some of the 1 - 10 numbers. Teacher did say this is the time they would start to get concerned but I think we'll do some practising first.

They also need to start realising that a number relates to a definite QUANTITY, where as a letter only has meaning as part of a word.

So if you make some games, like large floor tiles of numbers and he has to, (firstly) lay them out in the correct sequence, and (secondly) place the appropriate number of small objects on each one (Smarties, or Lego bricks, etc). If using bricks, they can be built into towers, showing more clearly the increasing quantities. Child could extend that, if he has pencil skills, by drawing a bar graph of the numbers.

Start with 1 to 9; then introduce 10, and if understands that, carry on with two digit numbers up to 20. Maybe use different colour bricks to show how the 'teen' numbers work.

A 'washing line' with clothes pegs and paper numbers is another way it can be done in school. If he has thick felt tip pens, or crayons, he can try drawing the numbers himself.

Also, eventually, introduce Ordinal as well as Cardinal numbers:

www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/cardinal-ordinal-chart.html

If DC is reversing (mirror writing) this is totally normal till 7. Writing 02 instead of 20 is also normal.

Recognising and writing numbers are different skills. Most children recognise numerals long before they are able to accurately write them.

Point out numbers when out and about - doors, buses, car number plates, clocks, road signs. Play games for spotting specific numbers - first one to find five number 17 on the way home etc.

Write numbers on post it notes or scrap paper (jumble them up) and ask your child to put them in order

Number the stairs saying the numbers as you go up and down

Make numbers visual at home and talk about them

Dyscalculia is like dyslexia but for maths.

So, in the same way not everyone learns to read - not everyone gets maths.

Some very intelligent people seriously struggle with maths all their life.

Now, I'm not suggesting your DS has this. But it does seem like something schools should keep an eye on. Particularly since he's doing so well with reading & writing.