i hate maths!

[papigo]

i have just spent an hour trying to console my 10year old daughter who is struggling with basic maths. its not her best subject and she feels so utterly useless at it-she can do it but it takes her ages to do her homework-she gets so frustrated and i feel she should be more comfidant with maths at her age. her teachers at school agree that its not her forte but say that she is holding her own in class.but at home she gets so upset she breaks her heart ( and mine too). i was never good at maths. how can i make her more confidant and believe in herself?are there any books i can buy to help her-she's horrified at the thought of a tutor!. i would be so grateful for your experiences-thanks

[auzzie]

I had trouble with my daughters algebra (Yuk!). Went on this site and was able to help her with it:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/
There are other sites too. Put the type of maths you are doing in google and it will find some sites that maybe helpful.
There are many books you can buy from the likes of W H Smith on all subjects in all key stages. A Tutor is not such a bad thing. My daughter had one for science for a short period, gave her lots of confidence. No one needs to know about it.
You need to let your daughter know that she is not useless and that a lot of children and adults struggle with maths. You need to point out what she is good at and praise her well. Take her to the book shop with you to choose books on maths, let her look and decide or at least let her THINK that she has decided which one is the best. Stick at it. Good luck.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Ten seems really young to get so stressed. Is she really good at other subjects and just feels she's letting herself down with this one?

When I did A-level physics I just couldn't get my head round some of the stuff. So I got a tutor.

It turned out that it wasn't me being thick, I just needed it explaining to me in a different way (this is sort of a polite way of saying our physics teacher wasn't very good at explaining stuff).

I went to the tutor's house, but he could have come to mine if needed. As auzzie said, no-one needs to know, and it made such a difference to me. After our exams I found out that we'd all gone to private tutors for physics, so your daughter may not be the only one if she gets a tutor now.

[Jules001]

when I left school, I felt that I couldn't do maths ( I was always in the bottom set for maths with kids who didn't want to learn). I managed through life using avoidance tactics eg getting my husband to work out things etc, until I had kids and they started getting maths homework. I felt if I said "I'm no good at maths" I would be almost transferring the lack of confidence to my children and didn't want them to have problems, so I enrolled on an Adult Learners Maths Course, took a C & G for which I got a Distinction which then gave me the confidence to do a GCSE for which I got a B (the highest grade possible at the particular level I studied at). Now my eldest is confident at maths and my youngest although maths isn't her strongest subject knows that we can always find the answers to anything together

[Jules001]

part 2

I guess what I am trying to say is that as long as you show the confidence that you can do it together, it will rub off on her and she will find that she can do it. You may need to find different ways of explaining the same thing until the'penny drops'.

There are loads of books available, all of which have the same sort of things in, but the best ones I have found, clearly explained in a funny way are the CGP books just make sure you get the one for her Key Stage level.

[thingummyjig]

hi, as previously suggested; try buying books, but start with books which are well below her recommended age group; You can build her confidence by letting her see she can do these, then gradually introduce the next level etc. Let her know its ok at this age to learn; she's not expected to already know these things, or whizz through them, and remind her about times when she hasnt known how to do other things (eg tie laces, ride a bike) she has persevered and suddenly has cracked it! Dont put yourself down,we are all amazing at some things, and just 'getting by' in others! Don't worry!

[curlyperm]

Papigo, had the same problem with my daughter, but try www.kumon.co.uk they are dotted about all over the country, well anyway the website can tell you more than i can its just that they have a very very basic method which goes RIGHT back to basics to build the confidence which appears to work wonders??
good luck
P>S not much consolation buti was/am crap at maths but unless you are wanting to be an accountant etc... MOST of what you are taught never gets used again ie: long division, algebra I think your times tables are the most essential and gneral adding and subtracting percentages do help too!!

[auzzie]

Curlyperm, i failed my maths miserably at school, i now work in accountancy. Some things just dont figure!

Jules, wtg. Good on u : ).

papigo: I agree with nicecupoftea. Could be that your daughter does not understand what the teacher is saying. It just needs a different way of explaining it. Good luck x

[kwicky]

Many people become dyslexic when looking at formulae or abstract mathematics that seem to do nothing in solving a problem. I have found the best approach in maths is to put the examples into the real world by testing out the problems we meet in our everyday life and add numbers to it, the simpler the better.

[Miss-taken]

if it helps - I was pretty rubbish at maths at school and still am. Oddly enough I'm an accountant (I sit the last of my finals tomorrow) so I reckon as long as you can master the basics - you'll be fine!

[aims500]

*sigh* I was awful at maths in school! I used to come home each evening and sob because I couldn't do it (and I mean everything!). In the end my parents found me a tutor who was advertised in the local paper. At first I hated the idea but in time I looked forward to him coming. If you get your daughter a tutor she doesn't have to tell anyone (well I never told anyone!) To cut a long story short it really helped me and I passed my GCSE gaining a C grade.

Other than that as previous posters have said, WH Smiths sell tons of guides. You could even try Amazon or second hand bookshop (even online now!) and get some revision guides. They really do help!

[papigo]

thank you for all your suggestions. your'e a great bunch!