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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

If your child is working above...

36 replies

Indecisive12 · 11/01/2021 00:11

One of my DC is working well above his year expectations for maths but the whole class are getting the same work for homeschooling. The work he is getting he could have done before he even started school (year 2 now). He’s bored and disinterested because the work for maths is too easy. We have been giving him his older siblings maths to do which he has done with more ease than his sibling.

Would I be a total pain asking the teacher for more challenging work for him given they’re already under pressure?

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Treaclespongeandcustard · 11/01/2021 00:14

Yes you would be unreasonable. People are doing their best to manage an impossible situation. Be thankful that your DC is doing well, let their teacher focus on those who need more help.

Newchances · 11/01/2021 00:19

Just continue giving him the work your child is receiving?

Original poster

Indecisive12 · 11/01/2021 00:26

I’ll carry on doing what we’re doing then. I wasn’t sure whether us doing our own thing with him would mess things up. Such as if he’s doing additions from his teacher, doing multiplications from his sister. I wasn’t sure whether it would be best to get something in a similar area but his teacher has been amazing with the other work it’s just the groans when I tell him he still has to the set work.

OP posts:

BikeRunSki · 11/01/2021 00:27

DD (now Y4) was doing DS’s SATS prep maths work during spring lockdown. Last term she was doing past SATS maths papers. I was due to speak to her teacher now to discuss next steps (if any), but I have decided to leave it for now.

WhistBl · 11/01/2021 00:29

I’ll never understand people who say their kids are bored and disinterested because the work is too easy. Surely he can just do it in super quick time and go off and do something he’s interested in? He’s at home, not like he’s chained to a desk at school.

Buy some maths books, look online for resources, teach him chess, play card games etc etc etc

Is this just that you feel the teacher isn’t recognising his advancement?

Original poster

Indecisive12 · 11/01/2021 00:29

@BikeRunSki it’s hard isn’t it because obviously you want to nurture them and keep their interest but without adding the pressure to teachers. We’ve got lots of workbooks and things so we’ll go through those and keep him doing the same as his sister

OP posts:

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 11/01/2021 00:29

Look at extension activities or other online things. Khan Academy is one I think. Do the easy maths first and spend more time on the other subjects.

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 11/01/2021 00:30

Maths is fairly easy to just chuck harder work at them. Do I would just do that. If ahead in all areas then after a couple of weeks I would mention it.

My primary school son isn't participating in the online work for this reason. We will do proper home schooling until they start back.

Treaclespongeandcustard · 11/01/2021 00:30

Maths is maths. If he enjoys more complicated work, and he can do it, then why not? Maybe discuss it when schools are back in and the teacher isn’t having to prepare 2 sets of learning and manage her work in a global pandemic

Original poster

Indecisive12 · 11/01/2021 00:32

@WhistBl it’s when he has to watch videos explaining something he knows. Plus unfortunately his sister isn’t as quick and it causes massive tension that one finds it so easy and quick and the other doesn’t so we can’t just let him run off when it’s done so it’s a ture for him. If you had to spend 10 minutes watching videos and working out different ways of how to add up to 20 you’d be bored wouldn’t you?

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SquirtleSquad · 11/01/2021 00:34

Our school made it crystal clear that if any work needs adapting or more challenging stuff is required to please just ask, they've also sent the year above's equivalent work in a separate folder (mine are reception so the year 1 equivalent) for maths, phonics and English incase we want to progress things for our kids independently.

Lumene · 11/01/2021 00:34

I would mention it when you get a chance but not expect extra work from school in a pandemic - just manage it as best you can and work in partnership with the school as things return to normal.

Original poster

Indecisive12 · 11/01/2021 00:35

Sorry ended too soon. He’s been playing chess for years so plays that often. The teacher has acknowledged that he’s working a few years above his year group previously.

We have workbooks and things so will work through those.

OP posts:

hopsalong · 11/01/2021 00:36

I think online learning makes this easier. My son is in Yr 1 but they let him watch the online lessons for year 4 for maths and he really enjoys them. He doesn't get all the questions right on the problem sheets, but it's a lot better than number bonds to ten all over again. With English I think it's harder. He can read well and was doing the KS2 reading comprehension, but his writing isn't all that good so he found answering the questions difficult. Perhaps ask if he can watch the lessons for a different year as well as doing the set work??

SionnachRua · 11/01/2021 00:40

No, I wouldn't. Sounds like you are well capable of catering for his needs with the workbooks etc and his teacher is probably under immense pressure as it is.

EdHelpPls · 11/01/2021 00:51

I'd mention to the teacher that since he was given higher level work previously he won't be completing the tasks she sets but you will set your own (and obv mark it etc)
Do look at what she's setting to make sure he can do it, or do just a few questions to confirm though, just in case there are some gaps.

EdHelpPls · 11/01/2021 00:53

Argh, meant to say, make sure to phrase it like you know she has a lot on her plate, and it's no problem for you to sort it, so it dosent come off like you don't think she is doing a good job.

Ribidibidibidoobahday · 11/01/2021 00:58

The teachers need evidence of the child learning. They don't need him to sit through the videos. Quickly completing the work to show he can do it is fine. If you're using Google classroom maybe upload photos of what he's really working on to keep them abreast, but if you're capable of pitching work to the appropriate level then you aren't in need of extra support from the teacher. Give them that time to support those struggling.

Have a play on the oak academy website to find videos that are useful for him, sounds like it may be useful to have him working on something different to his sibling even if they are at similar levels.

helterskelter3 · 11/01/2021 01:01

Just ask the teacher. It wouldn’t bother me in the slightest if a parent asked this.

user686833 · 11/01/2021 01:45

I was wondering about this myself, as although mine are distinctly average or below, I know that all the work set is the same and I have been assuming the higher achievers in the class are bored shitless. One sized fits all education doesn't work. If I were you I'd just have him do the worksheets but not make him watch the videos. Possibly message the teacher and say you don't expect them to differentiate at this present time but is it ok if you give him the same work as older sibling instead. Just so they know why he isn't submitting it.

Justajot · 11/01/2021 01:56

Last year, before lockdown, my DD was bored with her year group maths. Her teacher gave her a folder of related topic challenges. The teacher clearly wasn't writing these herself, so the effort for her was in selecting them. My DD then brought them home for me to mark and discuss as they did require adult discussion, but I didn't expect the teacher to do that. I don't think it would be unreasonable to ask for something like that. Your DS won't be the only one in that position, so the benefit could be to a number of pupils.

If you don't want to ask yet to give the teacher a breather, then I'd suggest nrich.maths.org/5716.

We also take a pragmatic approach to DD's homelearning maths. She has video lessons that she doesn't have to watch if she can already do the questions and we often whizz through the questions out loud rather than writing them all. She skips completely trivial stuff.

sortmylifeoutplease · 11/01/2021 03:10

@WhistBl

Buy some maths books, look online for resources, teach him chess, play card games etc etc etc

Is this just that you feel the teacher isn’t recognising his advancement?

No, what happens is they still have to sit through all the zooms and videos which takes up lots of their time. The work doesn't challenge them and getting volumes of stuff means there is no time for them to do something challenging!

OP, I was thinking about asking the teacher if I can give alternate stuff instead but didn't know how to frame it. The teachers are working really hard, but it just seems aimed at the bottom or middle of the class. I'd rather my kids just read for a bit and did a few worksheets - they are only young, so it's a tricky age for teachers as there is such a breadth of ability in a class. It's torture for kids who can read and do basic maths though to sit on a zoom call sounding out letters and counting to 10.

SilenceIsNoLongerSuspicious · 11/01/2021 07:50

Dd just does the maths without watching the videos, as she can work it out from what she’s already been taught (spiral curriculum so just one more step each time). I don’t fuss about neatness etc, so she can just whizz through it. Then she does doodlemaths and has a game of chess or something online with a grandparent if they’re available.

StacySoloman · 11/01/2021 07:54

My Year 2 is slightly ahead of most of his year group, so we’re just doing more appropriate Oak academy lessons and workbooks instead of the class lessons.

I don’t need to bother his teacher for other lessons so I haven’t, but if you aren’t confident about finding something appropriate for him I would ask the teacher.

sanityisamyth · 11/01/2021 08:18

Similar issues with my son (also year 2). We do the work the school sets (to keep them happy) and then we work through his year 2/3 CGP guides.

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