Gifted at maths

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Pensby
Posts: 197
Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2007 7:28 pm
Location: PENSBY

Gifted at maths

Post by Pensby »

Can anone tell me if they have had a similar experience,my son is in year 5 and has always been top of his class,especially in maths,his teacher and head say he his gifted.He is a popular boy and has lots of friends of all abilities,he has never been one to show off his abilities and is one of the lads!
I have had a meeting with his head who agrees he needs extra tuition as he is way above the rest of his class,he has suggested a teacher from our local grammar(where all being well my son will attend next year!!)could come in to school and tutor him.
My concern is, would this alienate him from his classmates and lead to bullying,has anyone had a simliar experience with their child?Would it best to leave be and wait for secondary school where he wolud be with similar ability kids ?
My concern is he is getting bored and feels that he gets no recognition fron school as he is always top ,maybe this would give him new motivation!
Any thoughts or advice would be apprecited

thanks Pensby
hermanmunster
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Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:51 am
Location: The Seaside

Post by hermanmunster »

difficult - not sure why he would need extra tuition if he was very good at a subject??

There is a kid at my son's grammar school who did A level maths in year 6, as far as far as I know he still does maths lessons etc at school + all the others subjects the others do, pushing them on in one subject alone at such a young age does not lead to any advantage.
Guest

Post by Guest »

It may be that your son will be teased, but probably if he was going to be picked on for being clever that will be happening already. Children do seem to be pretty aware of who is ahead of the game even without them being singled out. What does your son think? He is probably best placed to judge.

I predict that any problems are likely to come from disgruntled parents who want the same for their children. Does this seem likely at your school, and would it bother you anyway?

Personally, I would take what is offered; I wish we had had this chance instead of the hours of frustrated boredom mine endured.
Guest

Post by Guest »

I have a child in year 6 who is gifted and talented. The primary school also offered tuition in Maths and English on Saturday mornings. I declined the offer since I felt it was the school's responsibility to look after his needs during school hours. I felt it unnecessary to attend school a sixth day in the week when five days were not being utilized properly.

I didn't think bullying would be an issue since his friendship circles were very well established. He will this September be going to a grammar school where I am sure he will be well looked after.
solimum
Posts: 1420
Joined: Wed May 09, 2007 3:09 pm
Location: Solihull, West Midlands

maths

Post by solimum »

It sounds like it is a good idea for the primary school to take advice from a maths specialist, as a gifted child even in year 5 may very well be asking the sort of questions that, with the best will in the world, a primary school teacher with only a C in GCSE Maths may not be able to help with (of course many primary school teachers will have better maths skills than this, but not all). He may not need to be taken out of lessons regularly but there may be some extra investigations/ puzzles he could work on while the class catches up with more basic skills. Perhaps he could look at some of the Junior Maths Challenges that are usually aimed at Yr 7 and above. Or as one of the great advantages of being bright is not having to spend hours on homework, perhaps he could take up a musical instrument, particularly if there are peripatetic lessons during the school day, as he would have less difficulty than other children keeping up with missed school work.
Pensby
Posts: 197
Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2007 7:28 pm
Location: PENSBY

Post by Pensby »

Thankyou for the advice,I don't think it was tutoring as such that is being suggested just a chance to learn at his pace,he has agood group of freinds although there is a bit of yealousy with a few of the other brighter kids.They may turn on him I suppose,though he is a strong willed child.

He will not go to secondary till next year so we have the whole of next year to go!I dont think we want him to feel different but he needs the chance to reach his potential .The school he is at is not very good and does not encourage the 11+ although the head did admit that was probably best for him.I do not want to feel that year 6 will be a waste of time ,just waiting for year 7

thanks again Pensby
Pensby
Posts: 197
Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2007 7:28 pm
Location: PENSBY

Post by Pensby »

Sollimum,
How do find about maths challenges? He was being give extra maths and extra maths homework but he has a supply teacher who's initail enthusiasm seems to have died down!
He does maths related things at home regularly beating the rest of the family on the Brain Chalenges on the ds.He alreay plays the viloin which he also excelling at!
any other tips /advice welcome
Pensby
KenR
Posts: 1506
Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2006 6:12 pm
Location: Birmingham

Post by KenR »

Hi Pensby

We were in a similar position last year with my son.

We decided to enroll my son to do an IGCSE Higher Maths distance learning course with the National Extension College (NEC). See:-

http://www.nec-courses.co.uk/courses/pr ... ry_id=3304

He started this during year 6 in junior school - he's now in year 7 in a Birmingham KE Grammar.

It's a tough course but the course and notes are really excellent and they also get a tutor allocated that they can discuss things with via email - it's also helped him a lot with maths at his Grammar school - so much so that he finds this a bit boring in comparison, but he does get good exam marks (A* in his year 7 end of year exam)

Might be worthwhile considering, costs about £290.

Ken

PS my daughter who is 3 years older and taking IGCSE Higher Maths next year has been using the material to revise - she says the material is very useful!
solimum
Posts: 1420
Joined: Wed May 09, 2007 3:09 pm
Location: Solihull, West Midlands

maths

Post by solimum »

Info on Maths challenges here

http://www.mathcomp.leeds.ac.uk/

You may be able to get hold of some of the old level 6 extension SATS papers it used to be possible to take in year 6

My 17-year old has finally discovered that he needs to revise Maths for the first time in his life as he is doing Maths & Further Maths A levels and has "Core 4" on Thursday - unfortunately it is so long since I did my degree that I am not always as much help as he would like!
Hilda

Post by Hilda »

Don't gifted children fall under the SEN umbrella? i.e.they have a special educational need that needs to be met. If the school handles it well no child should feel any different for being taken out of a lesson and taught in a small group. In my child's school, gifted and talented groups exist for all years for english and maths. For some year groups there are no members, and in other year groups between 1-7.
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