Any year 11 Maths teachers? Advice needed

[Lollipopopop]

Dd is doing GCSE’s this year.

Is not hugely confident with maths. Got a grade 5 in latest mock.

Teacher has fed back that she has no problems with any area of the syllabus but can struggle with knowing what “sum” to do if presented with a maths problem which is not straightforwardly written.

Apart from past papers, is there any way of helping with this?

Tia

I think it is really difficult to help with this, she does just need to do past papers.

The trouble with revision resources is that they all teach/show you a method and then ask the questions, so you don't have to figure out what to actually do.

DS did have access to something called Dr Frost which was just online paper type questions (not that he used them 😞)

He is now doing A Level Maths and the message from them is just DO Maths.

I'm not keen on math. That being said, do not give up so quickly, perhaps you can give her some old exam questions to do and see how she does. You can find lots online on the different sites including the exam board one, start there. Purchase a couple of different recommended workbooks too.

Does the school have access to Method Maths, this is pure exam practice.

No a maths teacher, but both my DDs have struggled with maths.

My tips

• think what they would 'know' the answer was if the numbers were simpler, and then work out what operand was used.
• try the different operands and see which answer looks stupid/sensible
• if in doubt it's probably divide (because the other ones tend to be more obvious)
• draw a picture

These aren't formal proper ways of course (apart from draw a picture), but they may help.

Agree with TeenPlusCat's tips, especially the first.

Not a maths teacher but my top tip for maths: do lots and lots of maths. Actually doing lots of questions is more important in maths than in any other subject I think.

Blutick.com has a line by line feedback in real time. There is a chance to try it for free.

Thanks all, great suggestions to try

Maths teacher here. Practice questions by looking at them line by line and thinking 'can I do any maths with that info' if so do it.
Once you have read through the problem and the bits you have already calculated you are likely to have things to help you.

I always say the best way to practice is doing.
Mathsgenie, MR Corbett Maths, are two good websites.

Not just doing maths, but looking up the answers and then having a go at more questions of a similar type when you get something wrong.

If she is completely stuck on a question then one good thing about the Mathsgenie website is that the answers are handwritten solutions rather than a markscheme. If it's a long question she is baffled by, she could have a look at the first line of working as a hint to get started and see if she can then complete the rest of the question.

PP's suggestion of 'I don't know how to do this question, but what maths can I do with the information given?' is a good one. Sometimes having worked out a percentage or angle or something prompts ideas about how to approach the rest of it. If it doesn't, sometimes that calculation will gain method marks that would be lost if the question were left entirely blank.

Not a maths teacher but have had the same issue with my year 11 DS.

What has helped him, similar to what has been suggested above, is to focus on what he DOES know, not what he doesn’t know about the question.
It gives him more confidence to have a go and has a domino effect, leading him to what he then needs to do to answer the question.
The same works really well for sciences too - focusing on what you know tends to trigger thoughts about what you initially had no clue about.

His teacher recommended Corbett math work sheets because they start simple and gradually get harder for each topic, so you can build on ability and understanding.

Not a maths teacher but my DS was exactly the same. He would sort of freeze and get himself in a state as he didn't know where to start.
He did lots and lots of practice. I also tried to get him to just do any calculation he could think of with the information he had so that he got started. Once he started he could often see where that starting calculation could get him. And they get marks for working out so any sums that actually do fit with the answer get some points.
He did well in the end but it was definitely the most stressful subject at GCSE for him.

Thanks for positive and helpful replies.

I completely agree that practice would be good. It’s proving difficult to encourage extra practice, as dc seems to have a feeling that she is “no good at maths” and tends to just get the homework done and then happily puts it away.

The problem with the homework is that it seems to be all the same topic so she is fine with that and can do it easily and quickly.

So frustrating when she has ability but just had a lack of confidence or disconnect when reading a problem and almost gives up before she’s started!!

Hi Maths teacher here - again it's practice - I would second the Corbett maths website - there is a lot on there however- concentrate on the topic - find the worksheets and do the 'apply' questions - there are QR codes to what he videos - Q - is she doing higher or foundation ? What grade does she want ?

Please really try to get her confidence up - this is her major obstacle rather than the problem solving skills - a lot of the marks in the 'long' questions can be picked up with just trying what she knows.
Get her to visualise the problem and draw a diagram - ask where the information in the questions fits together.

Good luck and tell her she is a lot better than she thinks she is .

Thanks, she is doing higher.

Teacher says she could get a 7,6 or 5 depending on the day.

Obvs we hope for 7 or 6.

Also look at piximaths there are some revision books on there based around grade - so aiming for a 5 / 7 / 9 etc A bit of a marathon print but you could do one chapter at a time!