To think a 9/10 yo should be able to add 8+7 in their head?

[WittiestUsernameEver]

Am I missing something?

A few kids I've been with around 9-10 (yr 5) have struggled with what I'd consider simple mental arithmetic? So one definitely couldn't do 8+7, another struggled with 5+9, and the third child had a similar question.

Am I expecting too much? Is it the way maths is taught these days makes it harder somehow ? Don't they have to do this very much? I'm genuinely surprised.

I teach maths to this age range. Yes, the average child at that age should not only be able to work that out mentally, they should have instant recall of those sort of facts really. The ones you’ve come across are probably struggling a bit, most that age can do that.

Yeah definitely, DD7 in Y2 has been able to do this for a while and is only graded as ‘expected’ in maths.

DS is 10 year 5 just asked and was easy for him.

My DS is in Reception and can do basic sums like that.

DC(10) was able to answer these instantly and he is fairly average at maths.

Most would be able to do this quickly. In what context are you encountering so many 9/10 year olds doing mental maths?

Just tested on my nearly 9 year old and she did it okay. You could see the cogs moving for a couple of seconds but she got it. She's just below age related expectations in maths.

Kids these days don't play enough cribbage.

Most of my Y1 class could do this

My 4 year old in reception can do that.

My reception child can do that, with an instant answer. I'd be hugely concerned if a year 5 child couldn't.

Mine could do that easily but what is the context - some of his friends would blank from nerves if a random adult asked them a maths question in the spot. It would be social anxiety not lack of maths knowledge.

I was going to say this. And are they able to work it out by counting up? My 10 year old does have learning delays and can't do it in his head, but he can count up to get the answer.

In general they should be able to do this at age 9 or 10. But I'm wondering if you are that auntie who asks maths questions to test children's progress when they visit you, in which case they may just lose the will to live and look blank and say "uhhhh...I don't know...."

My 8yo ("expected" level in maths) would either know these instantly or be able to work them out in a couple of seconds.

My 12 year old would use her fingers. Lower set.

My 8 year old would use his fingers, but would get it. He is significantly behind though due to Sen. I don't understand why it is important though really, as long as they are doing their best!

My 5 year old in reception did those both instantly when I asked him

It’s not necessarily a maths problem, could be a working memory problem. I really struggle with mental arithmetic and it’s not that I can’t do the maths, it’s holding the numbers in my head while doing something to them that I find difficult. Write the problem down and it’s easy.

I couldn't do it in my head then and I still struggle to now. I had to use my fingers (quickly, but the cogs are whirring). I never had instant recognition in Maths. That said, I could read and understand Jane Eyre at 10 years old.

Love this 🤣🤣🤣

😂

During lockdown my son was in tears because he did not know what 5 plus 1 is 🙄

he was 11 and trying to get out of homeschool as he knew I would lose my patience

DD2 got a B in A Level maths and struggled with this type of thing but she is dyslexic.

Love a game of cribbage!

I discovered my DS was waaaaaaay behind in maths when he crashed out of school in year 8. He struggled with mental arithmetic.

As part of our homeschooling maths we played yatzee and card games like crib most days. It didn't seem like maths to him, but it definitely helped.