Concentration and maths help

Hedgecutter

I have an 8 year old in second class and his teacher is telling me his maths is behind the rest of the class.

The teacher tell me his concentration is poor. I see it my self when doing home work I need to tell him pay attraction to what his is reading.

Is there any thing that people here have used online or else where that can help concentration while doing maths, something fun we can do together.

byhookorbycrook

The problem with online apps/games to help concentration is that children pay that particular app attention but the skills don't transfer over to real life.

Does he have much screen time during the week?

I'd get his hearing and vision checked first of all and possibly iron levels too.

How does he sleep?How is his diet?Is it only in maths he struggles to pay attention?

Did the class teacher suggest what areas he needs to focus on?

Hedgecutter

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

The problem with online apps/games to help concentration is that children pay that particular app attention but the skills don't transfer over to real life.

Does he have much screen time during the week?

I'd get his hearing and vision checked first of all and possibly iron levels too.

How does he sleep?How is his diet?Is it only in maths he struggles to pay attention?

Did the class teacher suggest what areas he needs to focus on?

This has been an on going thing the last few years. We haven't had his hearing or sight tested, diet not great, GP had a chat with him found no problem, said he's just a quiet lad.
Main problem according to the teacher is when she reads out a maths question he's drifted of the another world.

I do his home work ever evening and we used tie by toe during the summer to bring up his reading skills. I find I can keep his attention during home work and he picks up maths here with me. I think some of the problem is he's getting lost in a big class and probably need to be kept more of an eye on.

Moonbeam

Is it just in maths or in other subjects too?
Is he a child of above average intelligence?(if not obvious, Sten tests of 9 and 10?)

silverharp

OP, I would setup a Khanacademy account online, its all free , all you need to do is about 15/20min a day 4 or 5 times a week and you should have him back on track easily by the end of the year. he should find it a novelty compared to having to sit at a table with pen and paper, just sit with him and follow along. I used to throw in rewards for points earned etc.

byhookorbycrook

Khan isn't based on the Irish curriculum, so be aware of that if you plan on going that way and is mainly computation based- so doesn't cover many of the concepts needed in school.

silverharp

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

Khan isn't based on the Irish curriculum, so be aware of that if you plan on going that way and is mainly computation based- so doesn't cover many of the concepts needed in school.

I started with my kids when they were 5 or 6 and in saying that they have no issues in school. I have a flick through their maths books each year and it mostly overlaps
Where I think it would help is one more practice, and secondly just hearing a different person explain the basic ideas. I also did some other stuff outside of Khan to speed up their mental arithmetic.

Out of curiosity what would be a few examples of non computational concepts? Im fairly certain that if my kids didn't attend a single maths class all year they would still get 20/20 on all their tests.

byhookorbycrook

When you say "20 out of 20" do you mean in tables tests/ "sums"? The curriculum would be far wider than "just" basic number operations.

Examples of some of the concepts covered in second that I am thinking of would be identifying 2 and 3 d shapes, reading the clock to the 1/2 hour, the calendar, how to select and use appropriate non-standard measuring units and instruments,reading and interpreting pictograms, identifying lines of symmetry and so on.

silverharp

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

When you say "20 out of 20" do you mean in tables tests/ "sums"? The curriculum would be far wider than "just" basic number operations.

Examples of some of the concepts covered in second that I am thinking of would be identifying 2 and 3 d shapes, reading the clock to the 1/2 hour, the calendar, how to select and use appropriate non-standard measuring units and instruments,reading and interpreting pictograms, identifying lines of symmetry and so on.

I just meant that based on looking at their class tests they would have it pretty much covered. it does change a bit in 5th/6th class where they start using protractors which needs some hands on.


here is Khan 2nd grade for example, most of the topics you mentioned are included, time etc in the measurement section. The exercises can be more than tapping numbers in.

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-2nd-grade-math

byhookorbycrook

Khan can be of some use, of course but I'm not a fan, as you may have noticed

I find it too narrow in focus. The "real world" classes are very much a business franchise, the tutors aren't trained in teaching on the whole.

For the OP, I'd suggest something like the second class "New Wave Mental Maths"text with the added attraction of stickers on a star chart for every test done correctly and a (tiny and cheap) reward such as 10 minutes extra play time at the park or wherever when they reach an agreed target (say 5 tests where they score 10/10) This will help them to focus on non-screen work and there is so much revision built in, it should help them "over learn" concepts.

silverharp

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

Khan can be of some use, of course but I'm not a fan, as you may have noticed

I find it too narrow in focus. The "real world" classes are very much a business franchise, the tutors aren't trained in teaching on the whole.

I just pulled out my son's 6th class workbook "Busy at Maths - Shadow Book" and I cant see anything that he wouldnt have covered in Khan. For a kid that was struggling it would certainly tidy up any important gaps, or you could race ahead as I have done

I havnt seen it used in the real world, most older kids use it to fill in gaps where they didnt pick up something in school

juneg

op , look into "jungle memory"