How to teach maths to a reluctant learner?

[Redwineistasty]

Hi, I have an 8yr old who is on target for everything in his yr3 class except maths!

Tbh, I’m no good at maths and really struggle with basic mental arithmetic unless I put my mind to it.

It seems that Ds is the same, and no amount of explaining that he needs to put his mind to it is helping!

For example, he can learn stuff, but it just takes him much much longer than what is expected.

I think half the problem is how he is taught in school.... very much sit down, listen to explaination break down, look at board, give it a go using resources when needed etc Typical primary class stuff. He’s very practical.

I need some apps and games to help him actually enjoy, grasp, understand why he needs to learn it!

I use money and time when I can, but a lot of the time he’ll just be 😤 and walk off when I start asking him how much something is.

How can I engage him?

Squeebles apps are great!

What are you working on? For basic addition, subtraction and multiplication try using dice or money and challenge him with a timer.

For more complex stuff I'd try Khan Academy online. Brilliantly clear explanations.

If you don't mind paying a sub, many schools use Mathletics which contains lots of maths games.

I'd recommend Khan as well, but it's not actually complex stuff they teach.
They have all sorts of maths topics from 1 + 1 to calculus etc.
If he struggle with basic maths, I also recommend practical educational maths toys and thinking blocks

Hit the button app, great for tables!

What's he interested in?

Getting the ideal solution depends what areas of maths he has trouble with.
Firstly, if the school acknowledge that he struggles, then they should be letting you know what procedures (sometimes called interventions) they have in place to help him achieve his potential.
Maths can be cross-curricular too, so finding other ways of addressing maths problems may help.
If he likes practical things, can he design & build something simple (like a bird box) where he will have to work with shapes & measurements. History would more cover dates, but how long X reined, or how much after/before (whatever event) did (another event) happen? Cookery will use weights, measures & time.
Adding & subtraction - board games or dominos (you can also use them to teach fractions)

Great ideas thanks!

He loves lego, so I’ll try to incorporate that more... I already use Lego heads as counters.

He struggles mostly with subtracting above 10.... e.g. 27-12, and multiplication/division. But I don’t think they’ve started division yet.
I’ve drawn a times table chart for him and he says they don’t use one in school, which i’m surprised at?!

Great idea about measuring for building stuff! We measure often when cooking together so will try that too!

Thanks

Lego is good for all 4 operations. Abacus is good for place value and all 4 operations as well, and I highly recommend it.

Is abacus and app, or do you mean an actual abacus? We have one somewhere!

Sumdog is great and engaging. The children play games to earn "money" which they can spend on their avatar and their house, pets etc.

www.khanacademy.org/math/math-for-fun-and-glory/math-warmup/modal/v/baseten-warmup

Toy abacus. Use it like this for start.

These books by Collins are amazing! We have just started on the 5-7year old ones, maths especially, ie, times tables, subtraction and multiplication etc, and my reluctant 6 year old has come on leaps and bounds. The exercises are fabulous, I actually look forward to doing work with him now and he gets a great sense of accomplishment every time he finishes one. Would highly recommend - www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/browse_author_books?author=Collins+Easy+Learning

Brilliant! So much to look at! Thank you

I’ve just ordered a couple of the Collins books off amazon, thanks

Try to make it fun and NEVER let him hear you say that you are no good at maths. That will just make it seem acceptable for him to say he's no good at maths too.

number I resat my maths gcse a couple of years ago and I’m currently studying for the teaching nqt numeracy skills test so Ds has seen me work hard to succeed. He realised that maths is hard, and that effort will help. But he just doesn’t do!

hi there,

for above 10 for adding and subtraction,would column addition or subtraction suitable for year 2 child? is there anything like abacus to teach maths for two digit numbers.