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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this Maths target is completely pointless

86 replies

NoCryingInEngineering · 20/11/2020 18:24

DS is in Yr 2 (and finding it boring and repetative). A couple of weeks before half term he and a chunk of his class came out of school clutching Target Met certificates for knowing their 2 times table. Today there was a new maths target stuck in his school diary.... to know the doubles of numbers to 12!!

I am totally WTF??? and this close to writing a That Parent note back to the teacher. Am I missing something or is this the most pointless target ever?

OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 20/11/2020 18:25

Haha that's hilarious!

I'd stick his "target met" thing on the homework page with a little note next to it saying "errrrr....."

Original poster
NoCryingInEngineering · 20/11/2020 18:59

I don't know whether to be worried that the teacher actually thinks these are two different concepts or just angry that we are in for another few weeks of an incredibly grumpy child complaining that school is all boring and pointless.

A small part of me is starting to wish he would kick off in class rather than just saving it all for home

OP posts:
RedHelenB · 20/11/2020 19:01

Really not getting the problem? Yabu.

Flipflops85 · 20/11/2020 19:01

Does he know what you mean when you ask him in terms of doubles? Not all children make the automatic step from 1x2 = double 1 etc and in arithmetic tests it can be presented either way.

If he knows both by rote just ignore and move on.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 20/11/2020 19:03

😂

It’s been a loooong term OP. I might just send a friendly e-Mail pointing it out.

SnackSizeRaisin · 20/11/2020 19:04

Surely it's just to help them realise the different ways of multiplying by 2? I don't think you should be encouraging your child to play up in school. Being bored does not justify being rude and disruptive. Just tell him to politely ask the teacher for some more difficult work if he's finished the set work.

chomalungma · 20/11/2020 19:05

So yes - it could be that your child knows that 2 x 6 is 12 but do they understand what you get if you double 6?

Some children can happily go through a times table but not understand what ideas like doubling mean.

Or they struggle with 12 divided by 2.

Or putting 12 people into 6 groups

Or if they know that 12 x 2 is 24, what is 13 x 2....

Chwaraeteg · 20/11/2020 19:07

It"s the curriculum, they have to have all their 'number facts' up to 20 memorised. Halves, doubles, addition and subtraction as well as 2, 5 and 10 times tables.

The way they teach maths in key stage 1 is incredibly confusing. Have you seen the way they teach addition? Crikey they make it as complicated as possible.

Hermanfromguesswho · 20/11/2020 19:07

Obviously YOU know that double a number is the same as the 2 times tables but does he? He’s probably not been able to demonstrate that he does in class which is why he’s been sent home with the target.
Talk to him about it. If he’s really clear on it then stick it in and tick as done. Don’t dismiss it out of hand though!

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 20/11/2020 19:08

Doubling gets taught in reception. It seems unlikely that a year 2 child wouldn’t know what it means.

byebyebeautiful · 20/11/2020 19:10

Yes, why send him to school at all!

MitziK · 20/11/2020 19:14

It's an important step in Numeracy to understand

4 x 2 = 8 AND

2 x 4 = 8 AND

4 + 4 = 8 AND

2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 8 AND

'Double' means [number] x 2 AND [number] + [number].

I've worked with adults in Numeracy classes. It's not blindingly obvious, it has to be taught; it's just that most of us were taught so long ago in our lives that we can't remember not knowing both the mathematical concepts and the mathematical vocabulary.

Pumperthepumper · 20/11/2020 19:15

@Hermanfromguesswho

Obviously YOU know that double a number is the same as the 2 times tables but does he? He’s probably not been able to demonstrate that he does in class which is why he’s been sent home with the target. Talk to him about it. If he’s really clear on it then stick it in and tick as done. Don’t dismiss it out of hand though!
Exactly this.
Original poster
NoCryingInEngineering · 20/11/2020 19:15

Yes Flipflops he knows that doubling is the same as x2. And although I have no idea what the schools definition of "secure" is on 2x table he can easily get 16/16 on both the find the answer and find the question mode of the times tables game they have been asked to use for homework. Which is sub 4secs/question and feels fairly fast to me.

I'd love to ignore and move on, but if it means more weeks of the level of frustrated grumping we have currently then it becomes difficult. I guess the question should be, how do I get the school to give him some maths that might stretch him a bit more?

OP posts:
MakeItRain · 20/11/2020 19:16

Amounts of "twos" are not the same as "doubles". The answers might be the same but the concept is different. Teaching number facts generally involves exploring all the concepts. Teachers also never assume with young children that they automatically make links. If your child can, then that's great that he's confident. Complain if you must but I imagine the teacher would nod politely but inwardly roll her/his eyes!

MakeItRain · 20/11/2020 19:17

Ah well that's a different question! By all means ask for more challenging maths for him if he's bored with what he's doing!

rosebud5678 · 20/11/2020 19:18

I am a TA supporting maths in a secondary school. You would be amazed how many teens do not realise that doubling is the same as multiplying by 2 - and I'm talking about Year 11's! So getting a good grounding at primary level is vital.

Original poster
NoCryingInEngineering · 20/11/2020 19:19

I remember him learning a doubling song in Reception Rafa. I think it went up to double 10, then jumped to double 25 and double 50.

OP posts:
Minimamame · 20/11/2020 19:22

Can you not go online and find a book to challenge him yourself at home? Or there’s plenty of websites out there that he can use too. Topmarks.co.U.K. is the one I use a lot.

FlouncerInDenial · 20/11/2020 19:27

I assume your child isn't the only child in the class and that perhaps there are other kids in the class who haven't met the target???

sherrystrull · 20/11/2020 19:30

Yabu. It's the same concept with different language. Your ds is being taught the link.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 20/11/2020 19:30

It does seem an odd way round to set the targets tbh.

If it’s making him unhappy, you do probably need a gentle word with the teacher about why. But bear in mind that ‘things being too easy’ might not be quite as described.

PinkShimmerSparkle · 20/11/2020 19:32

OP instead of challenging the Maths target, ask them what they are doing to challenge him as he clearly needs to be stretched.

jellyfrizz · 20/11/2020 19:32

I'd love to ignore and move on, but if it means more weeks of the level of frustrated grumping we have currently then it becomes difficult. I guess the question should be, how do I get the school to give him some maths that might stretch him a bit more?

Ask them?

TeenPlusTwenties · 20/11/2020 19:35

If your child already knows doubling then just do other stuff with him.

If you asked him to do 7+7 would he know that was 'double 7' or would he use a different method?
If you asked for 7+8 would he think about it as 'double 7, plus 1'?

Just work on the next things, if he really is secure on the next target, it will all help in the long term.

And count yourself lucky you have a DC who does find these things easy/obvious.