To think if you cannot add one half to one quarter you really should not be in teaching

[mrgrouper]

I am starting teacher training in September and so have joined some teacher training Facebook groups. We all have to pass professional skills tests in literacy and numeracy. The tests are pretty easy but there is a mental arithmetic test that a lot of trainees are panicking on. A woman has posted that she is doing the mock test and it claims one half plus one quarter is three quarters and she has no idea how the examiners had worked this out. She is not training to be a maths teacher but surely all teachers should know basic maths. I knew this stuff aged 7.

She knows she needs to improve, that's why she posted it right? Most of teaching is being self reflective and willing to learn. You are not coming across well in your op IMO. I bet you'll find something in teaching that you find difficult soon, i just hope others are nicer about it than you're being now

And also relieved it wasn't just me. I was reading all the responses baffled that everyone thought it wasn't 3/4.

I completely agree if you can't do maths this simple, you cannot teach. Just to fill in mark schemes, record planners and track progress you need to understand fractions. As harsh as it sounds, she probably won't pass the maths test as there are much more taxing questions on there. And that is a good thing!

A woman has posted that she is doing the mock test and it claims one half plus one quarter is three quarters and she has no idea how the examiners had worked this out.

Has she never had to cut a cake into equal pieces? This really is gobsmacking. How does she think she is going to deal with bright primary children?

But on the upside, at least they won't let them go forward without passing the test. So that's probably a good outcome, yes?

the person in question is not thick. She has a syndrome.....one of many disfractionalia.

Scary I'm rubbish at basic maths too but just did, two quarters make a half, so add another quarter and you've 3 quarters

gasp that was my first thought how would they manage to share a cake out???

I am rubbish at maths too and did O'Levels - too old for GCSEs, but I worked it out in a blink of an eye (I cut those orange quarters up in my head)

Hmm, my goddaughter is a bright and engaging graduate. She has dyslexia and really cannot write a sentence without making mistakes (degree did not require much writing and she had lots of support). She is thinking of teaching. She's going to struggle isn't she?

She knows she needs to improve, that's why she posted it right? Most of teaching is being self reflective and willing to learn. You are not coming across well in your op IMO. I bet you'll find something in teaching that you find difficult soon, i just hope others are nicer about it than you're being now.

Oh come off it, if the OP is accurate in the way she's reported her FB friend's comment, the innumerate woman is not saying 'Gosh, I'm rusty but I am so looking forward to improving my maths!' She's revealed that she has utterly failed to grasp an extremely simply concept. This suggests that her lack of understanding and knowledge is so immense that she would be struggling with the maths syllabus for KS1, never mind KS2.

Well the kids are screwed with a someone like that teaching them

I would really like it, if we had a section on MN where we could post and solve very simple puzzles daily, bit like the recent GCSE one that threw everybody, they can be fun and help with basic maths or the flowers one (if anyone remembers)

Tinkly yes I'm afraid so. how can she possibly teach and correct a child if she can't do the basics herself (even if this is due to dyslexia)

Most of teaching is being self reflective and willing to learn
I agree but there is a level of knowledge below which you should not be allowed on the course imo! Given that primary teachers need to teach some Maths I don't think it is unreasonable for applicants for training courses to have mastered the basics.

She's revealed that she has utterly failed to grasp an extremely simply concept.
It depends if she's forgotten (in a moment of madness) that a half is made up of two quarters or if she can't remember how to add fractions with a different denominator (eg 4/6 + 2/5).

Yikes. It's not like that's complicated fractions either... half a pizza plus a quarter of a pizza. Should be easy to visualise even if fractions aren't your strong point.

How worried I would be depends on what she is teaching. I have a relative who taught secondary school art for many years (now retired). She qualified before having any sort of maths qualification was compulsory. I think she would struggle to qualify as a teacher now because of the GCSE maths requirement. She was a successful teacher and well liked by her students.

On the other hand I would not be happy with my child having a primary teacher who struggles with what is a very basic maths question.

Esmeralda I'm all for people recognising their weaknesses and developing these....none of us are perfect. But what most of us do is either pick a job which plays to our strengths or if we are really determined to make a go of a career in an area where development is needed, work on those areas first.

Teacher training involves teaching actual real children. I wouldn't want my child taught by someone who not only doesn't know basics but also instead of trying to learn, questions the examiners. PGCEs are about learning how to teach etc, if your basic numeracy and literacy skills aren't up to scratch the point to address this is before you enter a course where real children will be exposed to your skills.

I know that's harsh but why should we accept such low standards for our childrens' education? I would suggest someone who doesn't know such a basic maths question probably also doesn't have a good grasp of other maths as well.

hmm I disagree that fractions are a simple concept, I think they are one of the key threshold concepts in early mathematics. I don't know why they are taught to infant school kids (fractions appear to be on KS1). I also fear greatly how they will be taught in order to get all the kids getting the answers right on the SATs. I would imagine it will lead to a generation who don't really understand fractions for one thing!

But the facts are that you need to understand fractions to teach even in infants school. If you don't, then you can't do that job.

I agree OP, 1/2 plus 1/4 is so basic that I would question why anyone would think they are suited to teaching if they cannot do it without hesitation.

As I said in my post the OP didn't say Primary or Secondary. Secondary I would not be as concerned. Lessons like drama, English, MFL, PE are less likely to need the numeracy.

I have tutored a lot of adults.

For Primary - I would say they would need a lot of support - maybe OP could offer to help!

I'm currently studying for a degree with the OU and I'm also a member of a FB group for my latest module (exam results came through last week). The level of literacy and knowledge of our subject displayed by some of the group can be shocking, really gobsmacking. Panic over essay questions, compete meltdown at exam time...and we are dealing with some heavy subject matter and are learning at a speedy pace. I also find that it's usually the younger end of the cohort too.. I wonder if the new shake up of GCSEs is long overdue.

It is a tough one. She may have dyscalculia but then I have ASD and it could be argued someone on the spectrum should not be a teacher. I am not even sure whether the ASD will have a big effect on my teaching, but I am on School Direct, so I will find out pretty quickly whether I am capable or not.