Do new maths methods confuse you?

[LauraSmurf]

I have read a huge number of threads on here recently about new maths methods and how crazy and long winded they may seem.

I wanted to try and play devils advocate and explain a little.

The whole process of using number lines for addition, subtractions and even some multiplication and division is designed to develop mental maths strategies. But it is really hard to teach mental maths withour showing it on paper, it's a bit of a catch 22 to be honest. We are not expecting people to be 21 and still drawing number lines! It is an early step method, it is not desgined to be their lifelong method!

As for the dreaded 'chunking' in division the same applies, when you think about it, it is exactly what we do in our heads! I know it can become long winded, but again please remember it is not intended to be your child's division method for life! Just a couple of years until they have the mental down!

When they get to year 5 and 6 they should (hopefully) be taught the "efficent written methods" that we all know and love. Column addition, subtraction and multiplcation with 'bus shelter' divsion too.

Please do not think that we as teachers think that the crazy long ways are better AS WRITTEN METHODS! We don't TRUST ME! But their is method in the madness.

I also just wanted to say that i know it can lead to fraught homeworks for a while, but just trust that we know it seems mad, but it's really not! It has been proven to work.

I just wanted to try and explain why school use these methods and try to stick up for my favourite subject!

Feel free to question, flame or PM if you like!

Advocating over :)

Are they supposed to teach the proper written methods in year 5/6? Only asking because DS was taught them in Y5 at his old school. Then we moved when he was at the end of Y5, and his new school insists on the long-winded methods, even mid-Y6. He finds it very frustrating.

Which method do you class as the long winded methods?

no idea what grid method and chunking is. Any problems I just explain how I learnt it. If there are no problems I keep out of it. Don't really feel the drive to learn the new methods myself. If it works the way they do it at school, ok fine.I f dd is lost, I just show it to her old-fashioned style which always works so one way or the other it works.

I have to say, although modern methods.look cumbersome and alien at first if you make the effort to understand how they are now taught it is worth it. It is worth it so you can provide your dcs with a consistent learning approach, and personally having always steered clear of mental maths (other than times tables which I learnt by rote) my mental maths is now infinitely better.

And I say that as a parent not a teacher.

Was that a question for me, RopadArt?
I think they use chunking for division. As for multiplication, they use 'something else that takes about half an hour' according to DS.

I currently work in a mixed year 5/6 class and of course we only move children on when we feel they are really ready, but GENERALLY speaking the year 6's and more able year 5's are using the 'old fashioned' short methods.

What happens when they go to secondary school?

they get a calculator

At my DD's school they run a new maths course for parents for about six evenings a year.