Mathematics
Maths is not a subject in which I have much natural talent, which in practical terms means that my maths teaching and curriculum have never been particularly inspiring. Having said that, this is, like sciences, a subject in which my children have all done well thus far (my eldest gained AS maths, my second son an equivalent OU qualification as part of his Science degree, and my third son is planning to study the A level and possibly to degree level). My point is that my own lack of enthusiasm or 'giftedness' in maths has not held them back at all, so don't despair at teaching maths if you are not too good at it yourself!
Maths is one of those subjects which is so central to the curriculum that there is an almost unlimited supply of on-line materials/courses/support for every level, from pre-school to A level at home. Really, you just have to choose your text/course and get on with it. If you feel you are explaining something badly, check on-line and get some help. This is actually one of the good things about home-ed: if there are gaps in your own knowledge in, say, grammar or maths, you can make good those deficiencies whilst teaching your children. That seems reasonable enough, especially when you are talking about primary level education.
If your child seems to be struggling at any point, looking online and find a different way of approaching the problem area can often clear things up. Sometimes, all that is needed is for a topic to be explained in a slightly different way for all to become clear. Don't feel restricted by the course/book you are using as your base-programme: every resource has its limitations and in maths in particular a fresh approach can really help (I don't generally encourage the use of computer games during lesson times, but one of my sons mysteriously progressed with learning his times tables when, at the computer, he had to beat his personal best at shooting down rockets bearing the answers to multiplication questions...).
GCSE
Maths is one of the few subjects (along with Latin, Greek and economics for example) which home-educated children can take as a GCSE rather than an IGCSE, since it is exam only and has no coursework element. Both options are popular with home-educators.
One further option is OCR Additional Maths. This covers just four higher maths topics: algebra, calculus, geometry and trigonometry. It is generally used in schools for pupils who excel at GCSE maths and need something more challenging to bridge the gap to A level. Those sitting the IGCSE will already have studied at a higher level than GCSE but Additional Maths can be useful to bridge the gap between an early IGCSE and A level maths (schools and 6th forms like to see evidence that someone who has taken maths early has kept up the practice).
PREPARATORY (4-6)
NB See Preparatory level pages for more details
Age 4-5
Number work: count to 20 or more; recognise and order numerals to 10 (or 20); say one more or less to 10 (or 20)
Shape and space: recognise 2D shapes; use heavier/lighter/bigger/ smaller/ longer/shorter; use position words: on, over, under, near, beside, left and right.
Time: know days of week, months of year, seasons
Age 5-6
Number work: count to 50 or more, then to 100; recognise and order digits to 50, then to 100 ; count to 100 in tens;
say one or ten more or less to 50, then to 100; adding and subtracting objects, then when confident using symbols;
introduce doubling and halving; know all number bonds to 10; count in 2's ( possibly 5's); sequence numbers in 2's, 5's and 10's
Shape: know common 3D shapes (e.g cone, cube, cylinder)
Time: Stage 1: 7 days in a week; 12 months in a year., 52 weeks in a year.
Stage 2: Time: 24 hours in a day; 60 mins in an hour; 60 seconds in a minute
Age 6-7
Number work: recognise and order numbers to 1,000; understand number placement to 3 figs (hundreds, tens and units);
know addition and subtraction facts up to 10; know number bonds up to 20; understand odd and even; see subtraction as inverse of addition.
Shape and space: measure lengths (cm, m); measure capacity (l, ml); classify shapes according to features
Time: recognise 'o'clock' and 'half past ' times
PRIMARY
7-10
Maths curriculum of choice covering KS2
MIDDLE
10-13
Maths Curriculum of choice covering KS3 (and/or KS4/GCSE level depending on progress)
SECONDARY
13-14
GCSE or IGCSE textbook or on-line course.
Exam if ready
14-15
GCSE or IGCSE textbook or on-line course.
Exam if not taken.
If pursuing maths to A level, you may want to sit Additional Maths at this point.
15-16
GCSE or IGCSE textbook or on-line course.
Exam if not taken.
If pursuing maths to A level, you may want to sit Additional Maths at this point.
It is also possible to study for A level maths from home as there is no coursework involved.
Maths is not a subject in which I have much natural talent, which in practical terms means that my maths teaching and curriculum have never been particularly inspiring. Having said that, this is, like sciences, a subject in which my children have all done well thus far (my eldest gained AS maths, my second son an equivalent OU qualification as part of his Science degree, and my third son is planning to study the A level and possibly to degree level). My point is that my own lack of enthusiasm or 'giftedness' in maths has not held them back at all, so don't despair at teaching maths if you are not too good at it yourself!
Maths is one of those subjects which is so central to the curriculum that there is an almost unlimited supply of on-line materials/courses/support for every level, from pre-school to A level at home. Really, you just have to choose your text/course and get on with it. If you feel you are explaining something badly, check on-line and get some help. This is actually one of the good things about home-ed: if there are gaps in your own knowledge in, say, grammar or maths, you can make good those deficiencies whilst teaching your children. That seems reasonable enough, especially when you are talking about primary level education.
If your child seems to be struggling at any point, looking online and find a different way of approaching the problem area can often clear things up. Sometimes, all that is needed is for a topic to be explained in a slightly different way for all to become clear. Don't feel restricted by the course/book you are using as your base-programme: every resource has its limitations and in maths in particular a fresh approach can really help (I don't generally encourage the use of computer games during lesson times, but one of my sons mysteriously progressed with learning his times tables when, at the computer, he had to beat his personal best at shooting down rockets bearing the answers to multiplication questions...).
GCSE
Maths is one of the few subjects (along with Latin, Greek and economics for example) which home-educated children can take as a GCSE rather than an IGCSE, since it is exam only and has no coursework element. Both options are popular with home-educators.
One further option is OCR Additional Maths. This covers just four higher maths topics: algebra, calculus, geometry and trigonometry. It is generally used in schools for pupils who excel at GCSE maths and need something more challenging to bridge the gap to A level. Those sitting the IGCSE will already have studied at a higher level than GCSE but Additional Maths can be useful to bridge the gap between an early IGCSE and A level maths (schools and 6th forms like to see evidence that someone who has taken maths early has kept up the practice).
PREPARATORY (4-6)
NB See Preparatory level pages for more details
Age 4-5
Number work: count to 20 or more; recognise and order numerals to 10 (or 20); say one more or less to 10 (or 20)
Shape and space: recognise 2D shapes; use heavier/lighter/bigger/ smaller/ longer/shorter; use position words: on, over, under, near, beside, left and right.
Time: know days of week, months of year, seasons
Age 5-6
Number work: count to 50 or more, then to 100; recognise and order digits to 50, then to 100 ; count to 100 in tens;
say one or ten more or less to 50, then to 100; adding and subtracting objects, then when confident using symbols;
introduce doubling and halving; know all number bonds to 10; count in 2's ( possibly 5's); sequence numbers in 2's, 5's and 10's
Shape: know common 3D shapes (e.g cone, cube, cylinder)
Time: Stage 1: 7 days in a week; 12 months in a year., 52 weeks in a year.
Stage 2: Time: 24 hours in a day; 60 mins in an hour; 60 seconds in a minute
Age 6-7
Number work: recognise and order numbers to 1,000; understand number placement to 3 figs (hundreds, tens and units);
know addition and subtraction facts up to 10; know number bonds up to 20; understand odd and even; see subtraction as inverse of addition.
Shape and space: measure lengths (cm, m); measure capacity (l, ml); classify shapes according to features
Time: recognise 'o'clock' and 'half past ' times
PRIMARY
7-10
Maths curriculum of choice covering KS2
MIDDLE
10-13
Maths Curriculum of choice covering KS3 (and/or KS4/GCSE level depending on progress)
SECONDARY
13-14
GCSE or IGCSE textbook or on-line course.
Exam if ready
14-15
GCSE or IGCSE textbook or on-line course.
Exam if not taken.
If pursuing maths to A level, you may want to sit Additional Maths at this point.
15-16
GCSE or IGCSE textbook or on-line course.
Exam if not taken.
If pursuing maths to A level, you may want to sit Additional Maths at this point.
It is also possible to study for A level maths from home as there is no coursework involved.