Good to hear Liz. I too have all the mathematical acumen of a teapot. So it is no surprise that my eleven year old, Merle, has always struggled with that subject. However, she improved a little this year and brought home a four in that subject. The other subjects were all ones and twos. She is affectionate and interested in lots of different things.
My son is another story. About eighteen months ago, he was struggling at school. He had felt humiliated by his class teacher and he was becoming truculent at home and violent towards his sister, whom he would attack almost daily. We went to the school and told his headmistress that he would leave either that class or that school that week. He was given a new teacher, who from day one was very strict with him, but also co-operated closely with the school pyschologist and the Ergo therapy centre. Jonah quickly discovered his liking for figures and arithmetic. He is always top of that.
We moved flat just over a year ago. Now the children have their own rooms. The attacks stopped almost instantly. They still squabble, of course, but the violence has virtually disappeared. Jonah is learning to read and write slowly, but he has made up some ground. He is a sport natural and he is gradually learning to appreciate his own strength better. He is also the best cuddler in Cologne! I am exceedingly proud of both them.