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Bushpilot · Joined: 13 Jun 2010 Posts: 4

I know a very energetic eager to learn 5 year old ESL student who has much work to do. She is just learning the alphabet and struggling to put together very basic words, cat, hat, mat, fat etc.

In her second week of school her mother is shocked to have simple adding math sent home as home work. The mother was given no teaching aids, just a list of math equations and a note to say her daughter has no concept of adding please complete this homework.

Is this a typical math level for K2, pre grade one? Or do the teachers have some sort of problem with mom?

Thanks

powerrose · Joined: 14 Apr 2003 Posts: 119 Location: Shenzhen, China

Supposedly new research has come out that kids that age are way more capable of math than language concepts. In the past I have taught kids that age simple addition. The equations are rubbish though, its much easier to teach with marbles, stickers, candy, etc. I put 3 marbles in the kid's hand, and show him 2, and ask how many he has, how many I have, and how many if I give them to him......

FrenchLieutenant'sWoman · Joined: 24 Jan 2010 Posts: 53 Location: France(ish)

Need more info!

Is the child in an international school? What curriculum? Is the teaching solely in English?
Was the child in some form of nursery school?
Is the child expected to write the numbers on the sheet or to be able to do the maths the way powerrose says?
Does the child actually know her numbers in english? I'm assuming the homework is in English - is it? Is the mother capable of English/happy to teach this in English?

Very bad communication on the part of the school there in my opinion!

What level of maths are we talking about? Adding single digit numbers? Adding a total of up to 20? Has she had a list of 'number bonds' home to learn (1+9 = 10, 2+8 = 10, 3+7 = 10 etc)?

IME children are capable of simple addition from the age of 3 - numeracy is a key part of the British EYFS (for children up to 5 years of age) and they are expected by the end of Reception (aged 4-5) to be capable of simple addition and subtraction or at least know the concept. That is only one educational system though and others don't expect children to grasp that until much later!

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

FrenchLieutenant'sWoman · Joined: 24 Jan 2010 Posts: 53 Location: France(ish)

IME - in my experience

So in my experience (of Early Years teaching) children are capable...

Must not use txt spk on fora!