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Original poster

Ds 2 and rubbish year 3 😞 Any tips on maths websites?

36 replies

Badders123 · 05/05/2017 18:00

Long story short, Ds2 is in year 3
Last year - New teacher to the school - Not well liked by colleagues, kids or parents! Lots of kids unhappy going into school now. Learning seems to have stalled. Now she has been off sick for weeks. No word on return date.
Supply teacher also not great - again, lots of parents unhappy and not well liked by the children.
Anyway, rather than moan further I would like to help Ds2 - who up to this school year was really enthusiastic about learning - so can anyone recommend an online maths programme for over the summer hols?
I've given up with the school reading books as they are awful and ds can't find any at his level he hasn't already read....very poor choice of books too, which the school acknowledges.
So he now reads books from home ....beast quest ATM 😀🙄
I'm more concerned about maths.
I've basically written off year three but am determined to help him all I can to prepare for year four.
Thanks!

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Orifu · 05/05/2017 18:05

A few schools I've worked in use maths whizz- it's amazing. Good lessons, makes it fun, kids can clearly see progress etc and earn coins to spend on their virtual bedroom! Might be worth a look. Also Manga high was popular at a previous school I worked at but not sure if you can join that as an individual.

Original poster
Badders123 · 05/05/2017 18:05

Oh thanks!
Is it very £££?

OP posts:
meala · 05/05/2017 18:09

Try sumdog or manga high too. They are subscription but have a lot of free maths games and activities.

BlaWearie · 05/05/2017 18:10

We use maths whizz at home, for similar reasons. School use RM easimaths. Maths whizz was £120 for the year, I think.

Original poster
Badders123 · 05/05/2017 18:14

Thanks

OP posts:
DoIDontIhavethetalk · 05/05/2017 18:15

Kahn Academy

user789653241 · 05/05/2017 18:24

Khan is great free site as pp says.

If you'd like lots of practice, I'd recommend IXL
Boring repetition, but get lots of practice, and you can access all the years. It's a paid site, £69 for maths a year, or £99 for both maths and English. Or you can practice 10 questions free a day.

Original poster
Badders123 · 05/05/2017 18:26

Just signed up to Khan academy
I try the others if ds doesn't get on with KA
Thanks

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user789653241 · 05/05/2017 18:32

For tutorial videos, I recommend mathantics
These videos are better and easier to understand than khan videos, imo.

PunkrockerGirl · 05/05/2017 20:24

What did the teacher say she you raised your concerns?
Absolutely every single pupil, parent and colleague disliked her? Okaay Hmm
And the poor supply teacher who replaced her isn't much better? of course she's not
What's your profession OP? Would you like to hear your or a colleague's performance slated on an anonymous forum without being given the chance to put your side forward? Of course you wouldn't. Your op says far more about you than the teacher's performance, tbh.

Original poster
Badders123 · 05/05/2017 20:29

Not much.
Said ds had to read school books and that was that. I tried to point out he could find nine at his level and she just shrugged.
So I wrote in his reading diary that he would be reading books from home from now on.
I work at the school actually so see the teacher and TAs and of course the children daily.
I know what I see.
I know what I hear.
I know what other parents tell me.
I see my sons love of learning disappearing.
But...yeah. Ok. I'm a teacher hater 🙄

OP posts:
Original poster
Badders123 · 05/05/2017 20:29

none at his level.

OP posts:
Original poster
Badders123 · 05/05/2017 20:31

...and btw, should I remain concerned I will just move ds.
As 3 others have done in the last 2 months
HTH clarify my position

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Original poster
Badders123 · 05/05/2017 20:32

Bla...meant to say, sorry you are having the same problems.

OP posts:
PunkrockerGirl · 05/05/2017 22:10

I didn't say you're a teacher hater, those were your words not mine.
You're child is in year 3 with many years of full time education ahead. Teachers will come and go, some will suit your child's learning ability better than others. It's going to be bloody exhausting for him and you and the school if you're going to undermine and question every teacher your child doesn't like.
HTH clarify my position.

Original poster
Badders123 · 05/05/2017 22:38

My son does like her actually - one of the few that do!
I just think she's crap
😊

OP posts:
user789653241 · 06/05/2017 07:38

I wouldn't recommend BeastQuest as a regular alternative to school reading book. It's all similar story, not many new vocabulary, no inference needed, etc. It's good for reading just for fun.
Can't you get some books from local library at his level?

user789653241 · 06/05/2017 07:42

Or can he get any books from school library?
BeastQuest level at yr3 is very average, I doubt school doesn't have books around that level.

Original poster
Badders123 · 06/05/2017 08:42

Our library closed :(
School library non existent - the HT recognises this is an issue.
I agree beast quest are repetitive - it's essentially the same each book really!! But it's got ds back into reading which I'm happy about
He got some david Walliams books for xmas....I'm going to steer him onto those soon
Thanks for the advice everyone
The HT is in a difficult position and its no one's fault that this is the situation but it's very sad to have to write off a whole school year :(

OP posts:
piefacedClique · 06/05/2017 08:50

Mine love Mathletics

maryelizabeth71 · 06/05/2017 09:09

I can't recommend Kumon highly enough. My son left primary with predictions of a grade D for GCSE, he did Kumon for 4 years and that alongside his hard work got him an A

pistachioandhoney · 06/05/2017 09:16

Badder, my youngest is in year 3. With my DC I have found that a mixture of online and workbooks are best. I buy some age appropriate books from WH Smith or online. We are mostly focusing on timetables.

I moved both my DC when my eldest was in year 3. It was a gamble but it paid off and both are now doing much better. I also push back on the school books and since year 3 my eldest has taken in his own and the teacher often asks him to share what he has read with the others.

Badder, please don't waste any time worrying about what anyone else thinks about your decisions and the things you do for your DC's education.

DropZoneOne · 06/05/2017 09:18

We did Maths Factor - it's very repetitive but if you do it every day for 30 days they send a medal, which can be motivating. The course is arithmetic, but there are games based on this too which are a bit more fun. They usually have £1 trials around school holidays.

Original poster
Badders123 · 06/05/2017 09:31

Oh I'm not worried pistachio 😉
Sadly, many teachers seem to think the same way as punkrockergirl whereas I think that a whole school year wasted IS a big deal.
Ds has always been bright and its so upsetting to see his enthusiasm for learning evaporate 😞
3 people have moved their dc since Jan and more are considering it so it's not just me who finds this situation unacceptable.
Bottom line is I will do what's best for my child. And teachers can roll their eyes as hard as they like 😊

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tshirtsuntan · 06/05/2017 09:36

Have you looked at abacus for maths and bug club for reading? Online stuff, levelled quite well I think, not sure of costs as our school uses it for homework. Purple mash site for maths is good too.