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Should I expect anything frm the school? Yr1 maths

9 replies

ijustwant8hours · 27/06/2013 12:52

DS is very good at maths.

The school is aware and his teacher often gives him differentiated homework (ie a harder worksheet on the same topic).

The school have no formal g&t programme, as the heads view is that every child is gifted.

But when recounting what he has been doing at school (he is a talker so I get a description) he doesn't seem to be getting work at the right level in class.

I spoke to the maths specialist, when I told her he could do long mulitiplication etc she just said - oh he wont need that for a few years . I was talking to DS about something the other day and fractions came up, he told me that someone at school had told him they were too hard and he shouldn't think about them.
I am happy to do stuff at home to keep him interested, but it just seems like the school are not supportive - should I expect anything from them?

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exoticfruits · 27/06/2013 19:57

I would go in and have a proper chat. Are you sure that he really understands long multiplication and isn't just following a method?

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ijustwant8hours · 27/06/2013 22:11

Yep, I didnt give him a method to start with and all I have done now is to point out that if he sets it out as a grid it is easier to keep track. He wanted to work out how many seconds in a week and progressed from there. It isn't just the multiplication though, that's just an example, I gave him a KS2 sat paper this afternoon out of curiosity and he happily did about half of it in 15 minutes or so (he went through and picked out certain questions he liked the look of) I did go in for a proper chat, but felt a bit dismissed and am just not sure whether just to let it drop and encourage him at home or push the school more.

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chillikate · 27/06/2013 22:24

Have you read about the PPUK (Potential Plus UK) Assessment. My DS is in Yr 1 and we started having behaviour issues. I eventually worked out that he was bored. I approached his teacher and was told he was "average top set", but that she would keep an eye on him. A month later and she admitted that I might be right, and another month later we have had an assessment. It has proven that DSs potential is far greater than his ability. One issue in the assessment was that he has never been taught the word "divide" so couldn't give an answer to the question (for example) 244 divided by 2. When I asked him later half of 422 he got it in an instant. He simply hasn't been subjected to the things his brain can do at school.

I'm hoping that this will be resolved in Year 2. For now he continues to add up 1ps, 2ps & 5ps at school and £100s when we are out as a family.

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ijustwant8hours · 27/06/2013 22:50

I know what you mean about vocab etc. DS prefers 'real life problems' with money and time etc as he understands what it is asking about I suppose! I will look them up.. Thank you!

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NeverKnowinglyUnderstood · 27/06/2013 22:54

Thankfully in ds2 class there are 4 of them that love maths and complicated challenges so the teacher gives them problems to solve but even then they get it done in 5 mins so she gets them to try resetting the same question with different numbers. This seems to keep them busy for a while

Def go and chat through things though. Good luck

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exoticfruits · 28/06/2013 09:18

I would have a chat in school. There is a great web site for maths problems- no time now- will try and link later.

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youcouldnevermakeitup · 28/06/2013 10:45

It sounds as if he is already working at level 4 if he could get half of a KS2 paper right. You could ask them to assess his Maths and see what level they say. The school really do need to differentiate for this level of advancement. Ofsted demand it. What is his literacy like? Is it likely that he is gifted in more then one subject?

Might be worth getting him assessed and if you get nowhere with the school then you would know whether scholarships/bursaries might be an option to a private school at 7.

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exoticfruits · 28/06/2013 19:11

I think this was the site I was thinking of nrich maths

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ijustwant8hours · 28/06/2013 19:44

Thanks, the Nrich site is brilliant!

He loves literacy but doesn't stand out the way he does in maths. He also doesn't put himself forward very much.

Thank you for all the advice, it is parent consultations next week so I will bring it up again then in the context of whether there is a plan for him for next year.