Tips to prepare for year 7 maths

[Happinessischeeseontoast]

My DC isn't confident in maths and I'm concerned that year 7 is going to make this even worse. I'm going to make sure DC knows times tables inside out before September but is there anything else I can do to help with confidence between now and then?

I'm just thinking if there are less struggles over multiplications then less stress in the other areas.

Be fluid in all areas they covered in primary. Basic algebra, problem solving and I personally would have a look at some Cat type questions to get them thinking....

I would just let them have a break over the summer. 😁

Timetables as well as times tables, perhaps - 'If I miss this bus / train, how long until the next one, and am I going to be late?'

Do they want help ? If so I would buy some 11+ prep books or even better the curriculum for Key stage 2 and work through looking for gaps. The dc will have all had different experiences up to now and you will probably find that there is lots of movement of maths groups when they get to seniors.

Ensure they're competent/confident with the basics, i.e.

Times tables
Prime numbers
Basic algebra
Long multiplication/division (any of the three main methods - whatever they taught at primary will do for now)

Primary school will have taught them up to the required standard. Make sure that your DD is competent/confident at everything she's been taught at primary and she'll have a good solid start for secondary.

If she's got "gaps" or has struggled with some of the primary school stuff, then you should get some resources to bring her up to standard, i.e. there are loads of 11+ or equivalent workbooks on Amazon or free worksheets you can download from the internet.

Nothing worse than being "behind" in Maths as it's a real "build up" kind of subject and can quickly leave someone behind.

If she's up to speed in most areas, and is willing, then you could try to broaden her horizons/interests by getting her interested in "logic" style puzzles etc to get her thinking about the broader "maths" rather than simply confidently going through the motions of sheets of "sums".

If you search year 7 past papers which you can download you will see what topics they will be covering. Go through a few tests to see what areas they need more help with. I found this very useful.

Thanks all I've tried books in the past and they're too broad to keep her interested for long. She doesn't like maths and was definitely behind after COVID but just met the expected level on ks2 maths so she has caught up somewhat.

Prime numbers and some algebra is good. Will look into how to cover that without it being too lesson like.

Personally, I think "doesn't like" could be a compensation strategy due to lack of confidence.

I can't be 100% sure, but you might find kids tend to like things more when they are good at them. But when they are behind and find themselves in a situation not as good as the majority, it becomes easier just switch off and "stop being emotionally invested".

My DC loves maths. But I don't think he's really "good at" maths naturally. It took me 3-4 years working together to get him where he is now. But once he's there, he became really intrigued by maths challenges and genuinely find it rewarding.

So my advice would be not let her lack of interest get in the way. One thing I found helped a lot is to work on maths questions "together". Once they see you also take on the challenge and equally need to work through the steps like they do, they become less resistant and it can even become a shared experience.

Good luck, OP. Maths is really a life skill, not only about the equations that we don't really use in RL, but the way it trains our brain to organise information and logical deduction as well as critical thinking. It actually really is a good kind of sport for our mind.

I've always found the CPG books to be very good, perhaps go over the year six ones?

I know you said she doesn't like the books... I'll be honest I pay my DS to do them. He seems happy with that arrangement!!

It's such a luxury to say 'let them have a break'. My DD is really good at maths, always got greater depth, top set etc. She can take a break and not suffer. DS struggles so much though, I'm thrilled he scraped expected. It's definitely down to all the work we've done. He's so proud of himself and rightly so.

He forgets everything if we don't keep it ticking over. He was the same with reading... made steady progress if we kept working at home, went backwards if we took a break.