Maths help please!

[Atomsaway]

My year 9 son, who has dyslexia and ADHD, literally cannot do basic maths. He struggles to retain information hugely.

He had a tutor, who didn’t really make much difference and the school appear to have written him off. Plus he has labelled himself as stupid so doesn’t want to try.

I desperately want to try and help him over the summer so that he can start his GCSE course in a better position.

Has anyone got any ideas or recommendations? Stories of success with a similar kind of kid?

Just came back to say, drawing/visualising the concepts might help too. If he does find helpful, it would be better for him to practise drawing up in paper (mapping) whichever way to make the concept visual. I'm a massive visual learner and often visualise concepts in my mind, which help me retain the memory too.

Also need to apologise, I realised my previous posts were full of typo and grammar mistakes... (Not my native language and I have ADHD!) Sorry!

Thank you for your continued responses.

He has been thoroughly tested for everything, privately and through EHCP assessment. Low working memory, etc, etc. Dyscalculia has never been mentioned.

I have tried to engage with him, going back to basics, using revision guides, videos, all sorts!
He is very resistant!

Will have a look at some of your suggestions though. I very much appreciate the time you have all taken.

I teach Science in the same school that my son attends, which has been very challenging.

GCSE Maths for Neurodivergent Learners: Build Your Confidence in Number, Proportion and Algebra https://amzn.eu/d/3AIld97

Sorry I haven't RTF my DD is Y10 with severe dyscalculia and we're using this. Focus on times tables too. I'm a dyslexia and dyscalculia tutor and sadly for a lot of kids, unless they're being taught by one everyday, a session per week just does nothing. My DD is too exhausted after school to work with me as well. During lockdown I worked with her in 2 20mins slots a day and she made 3 years progress in 6 months. It's all pretty much regressed. Concentrate on confidence and see if the school offers level 2 functional maths instead.

@Atomsaway Lots of EPs don't assess for dyscalculia. We had to find a separate one that had the qualifications to perform the numeracy test. If your son is struggling this much, you don't really need a diagnosis. It won't give him anything in addition.

Not necessarily. Depends what his weaknesses in maths and English are. Saying that, get him an illustrated maths dictionary if you don't have one already. Really helpful.

That’s kind of the way I feel. Just another label to add to his growing list.

I like mathsisfun, it's a website with all kinds of maths topics on.

Our school definitely doesn’t offer functional skills. HOD was adamant it wasn’t suitable.

However, he is moving to a different school next year, where they are more flexible.

I’ll definitely get the maths dictionary. Thanks!

If you teach in his school, I can imagine the dynamic is dominated by resistance...

If maths tutor is too expensive to afford, would a uni student tutor a bit affordable? (You probably have already considered. I'm just saying...)

That's good OP. Often the more 'rough' schools are much better for SEN and have far more flexible options. Re the diagnosis, you are absolutely correct. When giving a child a diagnosis you have to weigh up the pros and cons. There is no medication for dyscalculia so that won't happen, nor will a diagnosis give him anymore support or extra time above what he is already eligible for. Sometimes it can make the child feel like there's an endless list of things wrong with them.

Go to national numeracy challenge website and get him to do the challenge. It is great, free resource which calculates current maths attainment level and then provides 'learn' modules which are tailored to his results. These are linked to various online learning resources.

I use it with maths anxious (adult) learners in HE.

www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk/challenge/