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.

No one plays enough cribbage!

I had the maths tutor as my doula. Tried my best.

Why are you asking all these children maths question? My ex-mil used to do this and my kids hated it. My younger son used to say he didn’t know regardless of the question!

I agree with this, the current year fives missed out on almost all of year one, along with the majority of the foundations in maths and grammar etc. Other year groups already had that knowledge and understanding secured, and the year below had yet to start it. I firmly believe that of the current primary year groups, year five definitely had the largest disadvantage.

I’m in my late 50s and I can’t do it. I have dyscalculia. I wouldn’t expect a child to be able to do it, especially if they have the same problem.

I have a Y5 child and I do believe there was a covid impact on this cohort. She dutifully did all the worksheets she was sent and watched all the videos, but something was definitely lacking. She is now having extra maths lessons with some of her classmates.

My 13 year old loves cribbage, he’s been playing it since he was about 8. He is autistic though so not your typical teen

🤣🤣🤣

My 6yo could do it easily, my 10yo would struggle being put on the spot and also having to do it in her head, especially if asked for a quick answer. She’s actually good at maths in school, just not good at mental arithmetic and especially quick responses. My 12yo could easily have done this by end of Reception. Every child is different.

I was great at this stuff, calling out answers but putting it down on paper, nup my dyslexia wouldn’t translate what was in my head onto paper. My DB was shit at this stuff, but works with numbers and measurements every day, running a successful and lucrative business.

I struggle with this but have working memory issues - dyslexia - but am good at maths - did maths A-level.

My DC struggled to varying degree one very much so with working memory issues but they did a lot of metal arithmetic with on-line program -mathsfactor - and by age 10 were automatic - took a lot more practise than most children.

Could it be that some of these pupils have Dyscalculia? Mental math is particularly tricky for those with this as they cannot hold the number in their mind to count on/back from.

Excellent. This is how we nurture superb numbers-that-add-up-to-fifteen skills in the next generation, people!

It was just conversation with kids like normal conversations

So we were checking how many Easter eggs two children had altogether. One had 8 the other had 7, so I just asked "oh, how many is that altogether ?" To the 10 year old after the 5 year old counted the amount in each bucket. We were checking all 16 had been found.

The other one was just asking how much money the child would need to buy the two items they wanted, making sure they had enough pocket money with them.

Another one was us playing a quiz game, we asked each other questions ranging from "what is the kings name?" And "What's 9+4?" And "what colours are in the rainbow"?

It's not like I was standing there barking sums at the kids

Yes, perhaps. But it seemed unlikely that all 3 of them do. They all go to different schools. So was just curious about it all really. Wondering if they are taught differently. But I really do think it was COVID now, it makes sense.

Mine can do it in his head, yes. I know it's unusual - he's freakishly good at maths for his age. When I asked him these sums he got all excited and asked me for more. He's been able to count to 100 since he was 3 (makes long car journeys super fun... 😬).

For what it's worth, he's emotionally quite immature for his age and his reading seems fairly average (fine with the level of phonics they're at but not reading chapter books or anything crazy). His dad is very good at maths too. I am not!

Yes, perhaps. But it seemed unlikely that all 3 of them do. They all go to different schools. So was just curious about it all really. Wondering if they are taught differently. But I really do think it was COVID now, it makes sense

It really is. The number of oblivious posters on here with their genius 6 year olds or younger who have no idea. I'm glad some teachers have posted to confirm it. I also have 'the genius 7 year old' who can do this in seconds. But I have the Covid-impacted 9 year old too and the difference is quite sad.

Keep in mind if the children aren't yours that it could be shyness or nerves rather than lack of mathematic ability.

I don't think this is shyness. These kids are family and close friends etc. We all know each other well. It was just an observation about the age group and makes complete sense that missed education in COVID is the reason, especially as younger kids are very capable.

I would have thought 85% could do it, but the remaining 20% might struggle

Having taught reception, this is very unusual. Children should be able to add through ten mentally by the end of year 2, and consolidate it in ks2.

I’m much older and I can’t . I’m dyscalculic and anything with 8s and 6s flummoxes me. I have workarounds but it’s not using standard arithmetic

Interesting because his teacher has already said how he hasn't ever seen it before...i thought he was just being nice lol.

he doesn't get his maths from me that's for sure!

My DN could do those kind of sums at 4 and a bit (before reception), as could my DS at that age. DN can barely hold a pencil and I think my DS has stealth dyslexia (late to get phonics and spelling low-average), so spiky profiles, though.

Maybe we don't shame kids thay can't do this? I always struggled with mental maths. However it was taught didn't compute with me. My brain would simply freeze if asked a simple question. I'd been shamed by teachers for being unable to answer, and dreaded those mental maths tape tests. Only in the past 10 years or so, did something naturally click with me and I can do better maths mentally without panic.

Ha ha