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Original poster

AIBU to wonder why English teachers don't fight Maths teachers?

83 replies

GRex · 20/01/2025 22:27

Every week we get the primary maths homework with questions like:
"What number is 41 less than 54?"

It's like nails down my psychological blackboard. How do the teachers responsible for the English programme cope? Why does nobody take the battle forward for fewer? What is so scary about the maths teachers that none of the rest stand and fight this out for the greater good?

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ErrolTheDragon · 22/01/2025 11:53

@Fordian - that tells you how easy a maths exam is to pass.
But it doesn't tell us if one group or the other, when faced with a problem, would be able to work out what equation it was they needed to solve.

Maybe our approach to maths is a reason why as a nation we're good at writing software? The computer does the calculations, that's the easy part!Grin

Fordian · 22/01/2025 10:46

... international:

Solve this equation-

Fordian · 22/01/2025 10:45

My DS, now 26, at secondary, they did an experiment in maths (they were testing out whether to switch to the international GCSEs in certain subjects).

So a group sat a standard English one and a corresponding International one. They pretty much all did considerably better at the international one. The school ended up not switching because if I recall correctly, the government at the time decided not to count internationals on the all important league tables or some such?

However, to me their success was obvious:

English: Imran has two rulers one of which is exponentially shorter than Ojanwe's pencil. Using interpretive dance, calculate the cost of Alice's protractor in yen'.

Merryoldgoat · 21/01/2025 19:05

CharlotteStreetW1 · 21/01/2025 18:59

I'm trying to imagine a fight between my soft brother (English teacher) and his equally gentle wife (maths teacher) 😂

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🤣

At my school both Ho Maths and Ho English are scrappy AF. I reckon I could sell tickets and run a profitable book.

BlueSilverCats · 21/01/2025 18:59

Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!

CharlotteStreetW1 · 21/01/2025 18:59

Merryoldgoat · 20/01/2025 22:43

I work in a school and I’d pay money to watch that showdown. I’m gonna add it to the next INSET schedule 🤣

I'm trying to imagine a fight between my soft brother (English teacher) and his equally gentle wife (maths teacher) 😂

MrsHamlet · 21/01/2025 18:59

noblegiraffe · 21/01/2025 18:58

I've got break duty. Thursday?

Deal. We'll get PE to hold our coats.

noblegiraffe · 21/01/2025 18:58

I've got break duty. Thursday?

MrsHamlet · 21/01/2025 18:55

noblegiraffe · 21/01/2025 18:53

Frit.

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Come on, if you think you're 'ard enough.

Bike sheds. Break tomorrow. The SLT never go down there.

noblegiraffe · 21/01/2025 18:53

MrsHamlet · 21/01/2025 18:42

I'm too busy marking to fight maths teachers.

Frit.

Deeperthantheocean · 21/01/2025 18:49

Maths is maths, let's not confuse it further with convoluted ways to do sums. It's a subject many of us couldn't teach as you need to know the facts and formulas so trust them to get on with it. Xx

MrsHamlet · 21/01/2025 18:42

I'm too busy marking to fight maths teachers.

ErrolTheDragon · 21/01/2025 17:57

DH said when he was in primary school, he'd be presented with sums but the teacher did not properly explain what the + and - symbols signified. Maybe she used words such as 'plus' and 'minus' but not 'everyday' English, so they were a mystery to him for a while.

BlueSilverCats · 21/01/2025 17:22

24Seconds2Go · 21/01/2025 11:20

Why don't they just write 54 - 41 = ? then. Is it because they are more interested in finding out if you can work out what they are asking for rather than 'the answer'?

In a way.. yes.

It's to check you understand the vocabulary (commonly) used and the concepts. Maths isn't just simple arithmetic.

AllTheChaos · 21/01/2025 17:17

BarbaraHoward · 21/01/2025 16:42

Ah that's tough. I guess it's like phonics - works better across a population but there'll always be some who get on better with sight reading (if that's what it was called!).

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Exactly, phonics was a disaster for her! It seems that the new methods are not great for autistic children alas (of which she is one)

BarbaraHoward · 21/01/2025 16:42

AllTheChaos · 21/01/2025 16:40

I wish mine was like yours, @BarbaraHoward, she’s in Y6 and hopelessly confused! I’ve had to break out old school type learning at home to get her up to speed as the new style just muddled her. Luckily I can just about manage the maths at her level!

Ah that's tough. I guess it's like phonics - works better across a population but there'll always be some who get on better with sight reading (if that's what it was called!).

AllTheChaos · 21/01/2025 16:40

I wish mine was like yours, @BarbaraHoward, she’s in Y6 and hopelessly confused! I’ve had to break out old school type learning at home to get her up to speed as the new style just muddled her. Luckily I can just about manage the maths at her level!

BarbaraHoward · 21/01/2025 16:00

GRex · 21/01/2025 12:06

Absolutely. It's just a bit alien because when I was young we learned the basic maths functions and then how they all could be applied... but now they teach kids every application for playing around with 30 = 6 + 4 + 20, but they haven't done the basics of a 3 times table yet (whatever that will be called).

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See I love all that stuff! I've been really impressed with my 6yo's numeracy - she can work out surprisingly complicated calculations (including basic multiplication) because all the number bond stuff has given her a really firm grasp on number order.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 21/01/2025 12:15

borntobequiet · 21/01/2025 08:13

There’s nothing wrong with that question. Numbers are either greater than, equal to or less than others.
A sponsored Teacher Fight Day might be fun, though. Better than run of the mill CPD.

Just tell them there's free pizza in the staffroom and five deliveries from KCS in Reception without names on, so staff can help themselves to whatever they need for their department.

I'll have a tenner on PE heading for the Domino's delivery and a death match between History and RE for the pretty pink box files.

Original poster
GRex · 21/01/2025 12:13

AllTheChaos · 21/01/2025 11:53

I am so desperate now for teacher fight club to establish who would be the Ultimate Winner!

Everyone knows it'll be the DT teachers surely, they have loads of tools to use as weapons as well as bits of wood lying around to make basic trebuchets.

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Original poster
GRex · 21/01/2025 12:07

BigSilly · 21/01/2025 09:41

I hope you feel suitably embarrassed by your ignorance now!

I feel a Bigger Silly, yes!

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Original poster
GRex · 21/01/2025 12:06

BarbaraHoward · 21/01/2025 11:47

That's a really important skill though, because aside from the academic training pov, it's how the maths problems we meet in real life are posed.

I have £20 but the top I want is £25, how much do I need to save.

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Absolutely. It's just a bit alien because when I was young we learned the basic maths functions and then how they all could be applied... but now they teach kids every application for playing around with 30 = 6 + 4 + 20, but they haven't done the basics of a 3 times table yet (whatever that will be called).

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AllTheChaos · 21/01/2025 11:53

I am so desperate now for teacher fight club to establish who would be the Ultimate Winner!

BarbaraHoward · 21/01/2025 11:47

GRex · 21/01/2025 11:45

Wait until you hear about Fact Families and Number Bonds! Then they switch up a "Number Bond" into "Complements to 10"...
Most of DS's maths confusion is resolved by helping him translate the question: "That one is asking how many do you need to add to 17 make 20?" "Oh, so 3 then?", "Yes".

Show quote history

That's a really important skill though, because aside from the academic training pov, it's how the maths problems we meet in real life are posed.

I have £20 but the top I want is £25, how much do I need to save.

Original poster
GRex · 21/01/2025 11:45

24Seconds2Go · 21/01/2025 11:20

Why don't they just write 54 - 41 = ? then. Is it because they are more interested in finding out if you can work out what they are asking for rather than 'the answer'?

Wait until you hear about Fact Families and Number Bonds! Then they switch up a "Number Bond" into "Complements to 10"...
Most of DS's maths confusion is resolved by helping him translate the question: "That one is asking how many do you need to add to 17 make 20?" "Oh, so 3 then?", "Yes".

OP posts: