Year 2 Maths 6 year old struggling

[Jahida]

Hello all
My 6 year old just entered year 2. He's a summer baby so he turned 6 years old middle of July. He's always been a bit behind despite doing work with him in short bursts. I don't like pushing him much but we are committed readers and he loves reading. We tend to take advantage of his passion for reading. He speaks impressive sentences but struggles to put it down on paper. He's a chatterbox and I mean, non stop chatting without a break.

Anyway, year 1 wasn't so bad and even though it didn't count for anything, he aced his phonics screening with full marks. He started year 1 on a low as he forgot most of his blending and sounds. However, we soon caught up. So achieving full marks for screening made him so happy. I told him it didn't matter what he got as long as he tried. I was so happy to see his little face light up.

He's a very lovely child. I have an older child who has additional needs and developmental delays so he at school, he's very supportive of his peers. His last teacher said his nature of helping and supporting his peers especially those who need more support emotionally was exceptional. I was so proud of him for just being a kind friend.

Anyway, he managed to reach his targets in year 1. Year 2, his teacher seems rather lost and they're always late out of the class. She just doesn't seem to be on time and other parents have complained as she will open the door 5/6 minutes after school has finished.

Today I asked how he was doing as she's not listened to my son or any other child read. I know this as my friend's daughter is in the same class and she's a very intelligent and mature pupil so she said the teacher doesn't listen to them read.

His teacher said he's very chatty and she's had to move him a few times and another girl complained that she doesn't want to sit by him as he talks. She said he's finding maths very hard which I do believe as he keeps telling me. On the way home he had a huge cry about how maths was extremely difficult and he doesn't want to go to school-something he has never said before.

Today I gave him his maths workbook and told him to work independently without my help for a bit. I wanted to see what the problem was. It was both focus and not understanding the questions. I feel I can't explain to him as he switches off. I used to teach before but I feel as a mother, I can't do the same with my son as he doesn't respond how he would with a teacher.

Any ideas? I was thinking of having a subscription with some maths online thing like reading eggs? He used to love that last year and enjoyed interactive learning.

I always feel sad attending his parents evening. I am always told he's getting there or should be there. What I also hate is that the pupils have to attend these meetings and I find it quite horrible they have to listen to the negative things said about them. My son is far too sensitive and that just hurts his confidence further.

Anyway, I'm rambling on now. I just want him to enjoy school and enjoy the subjects. He doesn't have to be exceptional at it but the fact that he isn't enjoying maths and constantly telling me, makes me sad.

Thank you everyone.

Wow seems a bit much taking kids to parents evening! My son (now Y4) struggles with maths. He just didn’t get it. I got him a maths tutor and he had extra support at school and now is enjoying it, keeping up and doesn’t need support. It just took time for things to fall into place.

At his age focus on number bonds to 20 - make it into a game. We do call and response 'i say 19 you say....' type thing. the basic times tables 2, 5, 10 - look up Mr demaio songs as they can help. Play with money - play shop, shop for sweets etc Play number games....my son loves blackjack!! But orchard toys do more child friendly games if you prefer. Don't stress. He's obviously capable but just got a block. So don't pressure him and make it all about numbers for fun.

I'm sorry to hear this has happened, you sound like a really caring mum who just wants the best for your DS, he is very lucky to have you on his side.

Firstly I think it is really odd they insist on the children attending parents' evening, as you say particularly when the teacher needs to discuss difficulties DC might be having that is really not going to do their confidence any good. Personally I would tell them at the next one that you are coming alone and explain why, they can't force you to take him.

With regards to the maths, I would try and get a list from her of some specific things he is struggling with which you could help him with at home. Then I would consider investing in some apparatus to help his understanding of key concepts - base 10 apparatus such as dienes and some numicon would be a good start. If you work on things like number bonds, times tables, comparing the value of number, ordering them etc that should start to give him a good base from which to work.

Best of luck.

I'm also thinking get him Numicon, Dienes, cubes or whatever materials they use in class to help him visualise problems and manipulate numbers. Summer borns especially might need to do more with concrete items still, before extracting to number lines or purely written problems. I think this was one of Mr Gove's changes - there is more in the infant school curriculum now so it may be a bit rushed for some

We used numicon and duplo pieces for both adding and take away. What helped us most was maths factor and it’s daily leader board. I helped him to earn his first medal of maths factor challenge and then he was unstoppable.

Thank you all. Teachers really do scare you. I think as mother of a child with SEN, I naturally feel upset when I am told my child that is healthy isn't performing well. It just makes me wonder where I am failing as a parent. I have ongoing health issues which are chronic and I feel I'm under a mountain of pressure trying to deal with an 11 year child who is not even on reception level for education. Then I have a 6 year old who just needs some booster sessions.

I signed upto Komodo as my son loves interactive learning. I also watched a few videos on visual mathematics for him too. I have the colourful maths cubes and some maths stick which he enjoys working with. Also lots of legos etc. I always push him to play with his toys as opposed to sitting and watching TV. I've learnt quite a lot through my daughyer as we used to have portage come in. They do therapy through play and I learnt quite a lot. I don't like pressuring my son because he already feels we ask him to do things for himself but hasn't grasped the idea completely that his sister needs help in those areas for example, dressing, doing chores. He always questions why the rules are different. It is disheartening.

This year at school he was confident enough to do a speech to become school parliament. He was upset he wasn't chosen but I told him that the main part was he was confident to speak! He's very passionate about keeping our planet nice and clean and using less plastic. He's watching 'war on Plastic' so many times and never gets bored of it LOL. I always see these parts of his personality and to me that speaks volumes.

Thank you so much for your suggestions. I do hope he will one day be much more independent and able. I keep thinking that what if this means he will be bad at maths for life going onto secondary?

Yes his school are strange to expect such young kids to attend parents evening. Reception was the worst as his teacher said she was rooting for him and he just scarped through. I loved his year 1 teacher.

I go to my daughter's meetings and it is the opposite. She attends special school. I am always told about her beautiful nature. She is an amazing child and emotionally very aware. Her teachers have many times gotten teary describing her to me. I always come out feeling so proud and warm as they always tell me she's a credit to us.

I go into my son's school and come out feeling like an awful parent. And I shouldn't but I feel my health issues are not allowing me to do much for him.

Thank you all so much for all the advice. I'll be getting some of the cubes suggested above. Thank you!