Question for foundation teacher - am I just irritating DD's teacher?

[clemettethedropout]

DD (5 in April) started foundation in January. She is a bright little thing, but nothing "exceptional" I wouldn't think. She is good with numbers and enthusiastic about her school "work". Since starting at school she is very keen on doing sums and writing in her spare time and we are happy to let her (she does the writing on her own, writing endless letters/lists, asking us how to spell things; we write the sums out for her).
Anyway, despite being the type of parent who would like to discuss her PFB with the teacher every single day I have only aksed the teacher one curriculum-based question since she started (I asked about reading schemes - they don't use them and her explanation as to why not reassured me). This week we got a letter about the meeting to discuss transition to year 1. The letter asked for parents to note down any questions so they can be addressed at the meeting. I asked:

1. how they taught addition and subtraction of larger numbers in Y1 so that we could do our "sums" the same way and not confuse her
2. if they had any specific suggestions about things she could do over the summer if she wants to.

Anyway... I handed the letter back to her teacher and she glanced at it and very obviously rolled her eyes when she read it!
So - are these particularly irritating questions? And if not, what would your answers be?

Our LEA organises Maths sessions in schools for parents to show them how they teach addition and subtraction as it's different (and better IMO - they look at the most significant numbers first) as to how I was taught - not at all unreasonable for you to ask!!

They question about sums might irritate the teachers. Some teachers don't like children doing sums, and prefer more 'authentic' maths activities. My opinion is continue doing sums as your child will more quickly gain skills in maths with the practice you are providing. There are different ways of setting out sums, and I've come across children who have not been shown how to set sums out in columns. Often, people do find other ways than the way they were first shown, but as long as your way works there's no harm in it.

As for activities to do in the holidays, some teachers would say 'have a great holiday'. I don't suppose many would like to be giving detailed advice about holiday pastimes.

Incidentally, the word 'sums' refers only to addition, and is not a term to be used generically for all calculations.

Your dd is unlikely to encounter formal calculations in Y1 because there are many more building blocks taught beforehand to support this kind of calculation.

Yours was a sensible questions, and will no doubt be answered fully to reassure you. No idea why the teacher rolled her eyes - perhaps she'd seen rather too many questions that day already? No reason to make you feel uncomfortable though. Ignore it.

That wouldn't annoy me. They sound like very reasonable questions.

(Not foundation but a teacher).

Maybe the word 'sum' irritated her. They are calculations. Otherwise not irritating questions imo!

I think that's a tad rude tbh. Maybe she was having a bad day.

I would ignore the eye rolling and see what her reply is. I don't think it's unreasonable at all tbh.

I always remind myself that school should be in partnership with the parents, so it's only normal that parents ask questions and in fact are encouraged to do so?

I don't see why one has to feel guilty about wanting to co-operate in this way. Odd!

Thanks. Will watch my use of the word sums though. She is doing addition in columns which is the way I was taught all those years ago, and subtraction just as linear (?) calculations.
Perhaps she was just having a bad day, or perhaps I am imagining it..
Thanks for the replies.

[[http://www.whitehalljunior.org/parents.asp Maths Calculation Methods] Very helpful doc

Maths Calculation Methods Very helpful doc

That's great - thank you.

they gave all of us a leaflet about a book to help parents help their kids with sums etc., the way they do them at school now. My ds1 is in reception and about to go into yr1 so i dont think your questions were unreasonable. I do think it was a little rude of the teacher to roll her eyes though.

i think the second question is bonkers - why would the teacher have a better idea of things your dd might like to do over the summer, than you, her mother?

clemettethedropout the link ParentInTheKnow posted is for much older children and probably isn't the way your child is being taught. I suggest asking the teacher if they have a calculation policy so you can help her to use her school's methods

While I take the points about the summer holiday question, in my head it was more about asking what topics they will be doing at the beginning of next term so that if she wanted to do something we could do that.
That probably didn't come across in the way I worded the question though.

no experience really but if my DD's teacher rolled her eyes at those questions, I would be really peeved.

seems like as a parent you can't win - either you're lazy and not taking any interest in your child's education, or you're pushy!

IN year 1 the numeracy is still focusing on mental methods...we work with numbers up to 20 (although some children are working with numbers over 100 and others to 10). I teach them using counters, number squares, coins, partitoning (breaking down the numbers in to tens and units e.g. 16 + 15 = 16 +10 +5). WE count on and backward in 1, 2, 5 and 10s. We work with time - half past, o clock and some of them can do quarter to and past. Names of 2D and 3D shapes and measuring using non-standard units.

Over the holiday I would practise counting things, cook, talk about time, do jigsaws, practise counting in 2s and 10s. Practise how many ways can you make 10. Also read books together.

Thanks Cazzybabs. She really loves numbers I think and can do the counting backwards from 100 thing in 5s and 10s, we might try 2s next.
She is also a bit of a whizz with time. If it is 8.45 she can work out mentally how long it is until the end of the school day.
3D shapes is a great idea, as are jigsaws (she has sort of given up on them as 30 pieces is too few, 100 pieces is too many).

Thanks for the ideas

You are welcome...when we count we don't start at 0 - we may count in 10s starting at 3 for example...

for my very able we go over 100 ... they find crossing tens and hundreds hard - e.g knowing 200 follows 199 for example

sorry also thinking off the top of my head..money - count coins - sort, total, rub

What nice suggestions from Cazzycabs.
Some children who are really keen on maths like working through workbooks, like Singapore maths for instance (wait for the howls of horror though for suggesting this)

(well as a year 1 teacher who has a dd of a similar age who loves work books I am keeping quiet...lots of free "worksheets" on primary resources - google it)

I think the teacher was rude to you. She should not feel irritated. When I taught, it was the parents who didn't give a damn that bothered me.

Some parents who would say that their child was not making enough progress admitted to doing absolutely nothing at home. No time for stories or homework apparently

You've had great advice already and I would echo this.Google whatever you want -there's tons of stuff out there.

Going to the supermarket and everyday situations provide great oppoptunities for real maths and problem solving activities. Playing shop with a till, cooking together and looking at recipes, measuring, weighing, organising toys, counting pocket money etc can be fun too. Have a good summer and ignore the eye rolling teacher!

You know I was just thinking the same MathMadMummy - it's ridiculous that we give thought at all to whether the teacher thinks we're pushy or slack parents. From what I can see when your child doesn't achieve it's your fault because you obviously haven't been supporting your child's education at home.
Try to take the inititive and gain some information from the teacher so you can support your child at home and you're labelled evil a pushy parent.

If the teacher rolled her eyes at you she needs a slap with a wet fish, it's such a childish and unprofessional thing to do - if she has some issues with what you said she should have communicated with you directly.

There's a book called Math's for Mums and Dads - it explains modern Maths methods used throughout primary - it's well worth a read.