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help any year 7 maths teacher could give me an honest opinion PLEASE

34 replies

overweightnoverdrawn · 07/10/2010 12:15

Hope someone can give me some advice please . So trying not to come across as a pushy precious parent . My ds is good at maths has a fantastic understanding of all the concepts and dosnt struggle . He was doing year 8 maths in year 6 of his primary as were the rest of the top maths group he was in . He goes to a maths and IT College (secondary state) school . We chose this over another high achieving secondary school because of the maths . He got level 5 in all his sats . He comes home says he is bored at maths . He does his work in class then gets given some extra and then some more extra work and THEN he is told to help other students in the class (this isnt right is it helping is fine its the lack of work for him ) I telephone the school and spoke ever so nicely to the head of year 7 learning saying I dont want to be seen as a pushy parent and told her my concerns and saying that what ever she decides is fine by me . She said they asses them on their sats results and the assesments they have done so far at the new school . This morning I download his maths homework for tonight being an IT school what you can do on the computer is bloomin fantastic ) ( well to me it is as I am so new to all this LOL ) Any way the down loaded homework is what I would say he covered in year 4 of primary . its Maths Link by Oxford University press 7b assesment level 4 . I was and am feeling so frustrated as I dont want to look like the precious parent saying he is in the wrong set but the work is not enough ,even he says he is bored and not challenged enough . Dont get me wrong I know my sons failings well enough (whiney lippy lazy soap dodger ) but I also know what he is capable of . So HELP what do I, do leave it till next week and phone school again giving them time to sort it out .Do I phone his old school and ask his maths teacher (easy to do as she is so lovely and kind and knows me so well ) Speak to them tomorrow . I am just so new to all this that I dont want to rock the boat . I am used to being seen by his old school as a supportive parent coming down on the side of the teachers ,homework always in ,help given when needed (trips and such ) They knew they could always tell me the truth about my Ds and I was never the parent in a million years that would say Oh no my son would never do that .I just want some advice really is this the right stuff for him and if not how far and when do i spaek to the school again TIA sorry its so long aI am a bit of a chatter box in Rl lol

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MmeBlueberry · 09/10/2010 15:14

my advice Blush

MUcoms · 11/10/2010 16:30

dear owod (love your screen name!)
My dd also just started Yr 7, in state school after being at private school, and she is ahead in maths. Her maths teacher has asked us to give extra challenges until they are put in sets for subjects after xmas, and has given us the website nrich.maths.org to set her more challenging stuff as she's finding the lessons boring. She got 96% in CATS. We haven't actually used it yet as she's so tired from simply getting to and from school by herself etc, and has enough on - but it will help between 1/2 term and Christmas. Hope you find it useful for your ds.

overweightnoverdrawn · 11/10/2010 21:09

thanks mu that really helps

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RoadArt · 17/10/2010 19:26

The issue that stands out to me is, is your child actually working as hard at school as he does at home?

Sometimes kids dont show their capabilities at school, so the teacher can only assess based on what results she/he sees. If a DC doesnt complete a paper accurately, then the teacher can only assume the child doesnt understand and therefore will not extend.

I know many kids who are extremely capable of maths and work at really high levels at home (using internet programmes) but then at school dont put the same effort in and mess around or cant be bothered, so the work is far too easy, which then esculates the problem.

Do you ever look at the school books and see the actual work in class? Are the concepts fully understood every time?

Im not being negative so please dont get offended, I know from experience that this can happen.

Hope you get the situation sorted!

overweightnoverdrawn · 17/10/2010 20:42

Thanks RA that might actually be a valid point for some kids it certainly rings true .
But and here it is I am an anul parent (learning to let go .....honest lol )
Also hes two top subjects in junior school were math and science .
His tutor told us that they had a lot of level 6 sats results kids come in to this particular year 7 so I think that makes it change slightly .
I have asked him about this last weeks lessons and he has asked for extra work in all 4 lessons . The head of math had a nice word with him saying ask for more work .
I have bribed him with a reward if he moves up a group .
And I have also told him to seriously work his hardest as I will look like a total muppet and they will just think I am a precious mother . So all in all I think we are heading in the right direction .

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overweightnoverdrawn · 17/11/2010 12:20

Yay I got the letter this morning to say he has moved up to the top group in maths .So happy .

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mnistooaddictive · 17/11/2010 14:16

Glad if worked out for you.

senua · 17/11/2010 15:58

Good news.Smile
What was his reward?

overweightnoverdrawn · 17/11/2010 16:58

I had some Euros left over from the summer so they have been taped to the notice board and he can have a friend over this weekend and of course I have told him how proud I am of him .

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