Confused - Recommendations for workbooks please.
Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 2:52 pm
Hi. Newbie here. Well, or maybe not so newbie, I did the 11+ nearly 30 years ago and went to grammar school, and TBH I am a bit shocked at how different it is these days, at least compared to how I remember it.
Last year at the end of DD's year at Reception, we left the UK to go to the U.A.E. DD is currently attending a British Curriculum school and is, as far as I could tell, progressing well. Although I still have concerns and anxieties about the level she should be working at with the aims of: firstly, making sure she has a solid foundation in English and Maths in the next few years and secondly, be prepared for 11+ entry tests for private schools. The first aim stems from my suspicion that some of the teaching is patchy, although exactly where I do not know. I also feel the teaching is too "loose" and lacks structure. In addition, the National Curriculum as taught in her school in the U.A.E. is, I fear, a very much watered down version. Plus I'm hearing that the child needs to be working above the NC year level to pass the entrance exams.......all these things are making me panic somewhat. The second aim of passing the 11+ entrance tests I will think about later…baby steps for now.
So I'm really writing to ask for any advice or recommendations on what I should do to support her learning at home to make sure the foundation is solid. As part of this, I’m looking for good, comprehensive, concise, well structured workbooks in Maths and English (spelling, grammar, comprehension etc.) that DD could work through steadily to make sure she has the basis covered. However, I have been somewhat confused by all the various schemes and publishers out there, Bonds, Letts, Nelson Thornes, Schofield & Sims etc..
I would be grateful of any advice or any recommendations for a recognized work book scheme for Maths and English.
Thank you very much in advance for your help.
Last year at the end of DD's year at Reception, we left the UK to go to the U.A.E. DD is currently attending a British Curriculum school and is, as far as I could tell, progressing well. Although I still have concerns and anxieties about the level she should be working at with the aims of: firstly, making sure she has a solid foundation in English and Maths in the next few years and secondly, be prepared for 11+ entry tests for private schools. The first aim stems from my suspicion that some of the teaching is patchy, although exactly where I do not know. I also feel the teaching is too "loose" and lacks structure. In addition, the National Curriculum as taught in her school in the U.A.E. is, I fear, a very much watered down version. Plus I'm hearing that the child needs to be working above the NC year level to pass the entrance exams.......all these things are making me panic somewhat. The second aim of passing the 11+ entrance tests I will think about later…baby steps for now.
So I'm really writing to ask for any advice or recommendations on what I should do to support her learning at home to make sure the foundation is solid. As part of this, I’m looking for good, comprehensive, concise, well structured workbooks in Maths and English (spelling, grammar, comprehension etc.) that DD could work through steadily to make sure she has the basis covered. However, I have been somewhat confused by all the various schemes and publishers out there, Bonds, Letts, Nelson Thornes, Schofield & Sims etc..
I would be grateful of any advice or any recommendations for a recognized work book scheme for Maths and English.
Thank you very much in advance for your help.