Maths for a year 1 child

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Chelmsford mum
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Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:16 pm

Maths for a year 1 child

Post by Chelmsford mum »

Hello :D
I have recently signed up little DD for Carol Voderman's maths site.She is enjoying it and it is reassuring me to be doing something for her.

My concern arises out of making comparisons between the excellent school my older two children attended and the one she is at.(We relocated) I like her teacher very much.She is kind and caring and suits my rather quiet (in school :roll: ) little summer born year 1 daughter.

In her class they are grouped for literacy and shared reading.There are no "groups" for Numeracy at all.They are clearly working towards the year 1 targets as a herd. I know you shouldn't compare children :oops: but when I think of what her sisters were doing at that age , it worries me that the school has low expectations.

(BTW I apologise for posting about my little one again. :oops: She is the source of the most maternal guilt for me .Maybe it is just me but by the time you get to number three , there is so little time to give them, what with work and 2 hormonal girls. just feel I don't have my "eye on the ball" for her. :( )

Anyhow back on topic, the schools have very different catchments and I understand that the teacher has 30 children in a class with some "lively" children.

She has progressed in confidence this year which is great :D I am not sure she has learned much else, especially in maths.At parent's eve it was apparent to me that the teacher had no real knowledge of where DD was with numeracy and talked in terms of the class targets.

Am I expecting too much? Is this how all schools are and we were just lucky with the other school?
I would value some feedback, especially from those with subject knowledge/ experience of that age group. as I am toying with expressing my concerns but don't want to be a nuisance to the teacher.It is a challenging catchment in many ways.
mitasol
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Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:59 am

Post by mitasol »

I don't think it's too much to expect a teacher to be au fait with where a child is at -after two terms. However, I do think that sometimes they have a bit of a spiel, for parents evenings, especially if a lot of the parents are disinterested.

Perhaps you could request another meeting and ask specific questions about DD progress/expectation/assessment methods. You may well find things are not as bad as they first appeared.

I think year 1 is a bit woolly as a transition stage from reception and things do pick up in year 2.
Chelmsford mum
Posts: 2113
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:16 pm

Post by Chelmsford mum »

mitasol wrote:However, I do think that sometimes they have a bit of a spiel, for parents evenings, especially if a lot of the parents are disinterested.
I think year 1 is a bit woolly as a transition stage from reception and things do pick up in year 2.
Thanks for the reply.Kinda worry I am boring everyone :roll: but not really surrounded by parents who are concerned.As you suggest that may be part of the problem.
It is a long while since I have had a child in KS1.Older two are 12 and 14.
Thanks for your reply.Is it your own experience that Numeracy picks up again in year 2?
doodles
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Joined: Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:19 pm

Post by doodles »

Hi CM. I am not sure how really useful parents' eve always is. I usually come away with more questions than I went in with. If it's anything like ours your appointment is too short (usually shortened by the person in front ) and lots of flappy ears around. I would ask to see the teacher separately - they will be better prepared and less rushed. Write your questions down and take them in with you (sorry don't mean to be bossy). They will then be aware that you are one of the interested parents and they will probably appreciate this especially if a number aren't. I think you will feel a lot better. Hope this helps.


(Edit: Sorry, re-read, does sound a bit bossy, not meant like that :oops: )
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad !
Bewildered
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Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 2:29 pm
Location: Berkshire

Post by Bewildered »

We are in a very similar position. My older DC primary school had much higher expectations, than my yr2 DC's school. e.g the older ones were doing spellings like 'especially & necessary' in yr2, whilst we now get words like 'house & mouse' :shock: in yr2 at this school. I also know that in yr6 the older ones were being given SAT's papers from Christmas, whilst at this school they don't start with KS2 SATs revision until Easter.

So I do believe schools vary quite widely in their approach.
Chelmsford mum
Posts: 2113
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:16 pm

Post by Chelmsford mum »

Thanks doodles. Doesn't sound at all bossy but I just need to be brave enough- just afraid they will see me as a "pushy parent" :oops: . Constantly struggle with the knowledge that I have , in some senses, nothing to complain about.I have friends with children with disabilities who are still nappy changing at age 9.Who am I to moan :oops: ....and yet it feels like little quiet daughter is being herded poorly through her early years of education.


Bewildered - have you done anything/ approached the school at all?
doodles
Posts: 8300
Joined: Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:19 pm

Post by doodles »

Sure they won't see you as bossy - perhaps they are just used to being able to gloss over things as not all parents are as interested as others. I know what you mean about feeling the need to do something for a child - sometimes feel DS2 has to "go with the flow" a bit too much.
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad !
mitasol
Posts: 2756
Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:59 am

Post by mitasol »

CM - I think everything academic picks up in year 2. I think a lot of year 1 is still spent playing, socialising,building very basic blocks and getting children acclimatised to a more formal eduction style.

If you really think DD has made no progress at all, you have every reason to be disappointed. I don't think year one is considered all about the learning. You did mention that she has gained in confidence perhaps these areas are considered more important at this stage.

I know Mystery also posted recently about how little information the school provided at this stage (yr1).

Unless you think she is falling behind I wouldn't worry too much about the school levels. The ways schools run things in R/YR1 seems to have changed several times over the last few years so the comparison with siblings achievements, in the past, may also be difficult.

She will probably blow them out of the water in a couple of years. :D
Chelmsford mum
Posts: 2113
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:16 pm

Post by Chelmsford mum »

I don't know...one of the targets for the school is to get 90% attendance at parent's eve where as at the last school(where other two went), it was WW3 getting appointments and parents queued early to sign up :shock:

I do think already they see me as "pushy mum" and I haven't said 10% of what I would like to. :oops:
Poor little third child :(
mitasol
Posts: 2756
Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:59 am

Post by mitasol »

I don't know...one of the targets for the school is to get 90% attendance at parent's eve
That is exactly what makes me think that you are just getting a set speech. Go and ask them some tricky (non confrontational) questions. You may find they are delighted...or think you're a pushy parent :roll:
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