new maths methods are driving me mad..anyone else?

[wheelsonthebus]

dc are not at all bad at maths, but the new methods are slowing down their entire learning IM0. Goodness knows what will happen when we get to 'chunking' (dh went to a maths workshop at the school and even the teacher demonstrating it said to parents - 'er this is where it all goes wrong' - as she was doing it ). Whoever thought up these new methods is bonkers. For example, a simple sum like 58 + 29. By far and away, the easiest method is adding vertically like this.
58
29+
-
This is how the sum still appears in many traditional 7+ papers
But no, we are now told:
58 + 29 = difficult
58 + 30 - 1 or 58 + 2 + 27 = easier
It's rubbish!

The new theory being - changing a number to a round number or one which creates a round number when added to or subtracted from the other (e.g. 29 to 30 or 28) and then compensating makes the calculation much easier. For instance (33 + 99) is much easier when thought of as (33 + 100 -1).

I'm sorry - but it is NOT easier and millions of children will be worse off for it...

I sympathise with OP. I agree.

Just read the OP and haven't come across this being taught in schools here as DS is in Y1 and not that far. However, I have always done that when calculating in my head, and whatever method helps me to juggle numbers without having to resort to a calculator. In my mind its just a little trick to use amongst many others and I would be horrified if children wouldn't be taught how to add up in their head!

Just spoke to DS (Year 2) and his method of doing 58+29 (in his head) was to do 50+20 and 8+9 and then add them together. Seemed a little long winded but he got it right. Am trying to find out whether they have been doing column addition at school but he is being like a 7 year boy and talking rubbish

Well I would use column addition if the numbers are too big and I had to write it down, the chunking and partition I would do in my head. However, when teaching it you may write it down so that children see how it works.

Well I wish I had been taught alternative methods at school - I'm in no doubt that it would have made my life much easier. I use chunking when doing mental maths and both DS's seem to know how to do both the method I was taught in school as well as the "new methods".

I never "got" the traditional methods -and so struggled with maths post 8/9yrs old as I didn't know any other way of working out that maths.

One thing I have noticed with my DC when they add up numbers is they use different methods depending on what they are adding/subtracting/dividing/etc
and at times to me seems very illogical but they always get the answers correct.

Even for what seem to be similar problems they sometimes use different calculations. I suppose this shows that they have been taught a variety of methods and can adapt to using the appropriate one for the calculation they are doing.

Teachers always comment on their wide range of strategy knowledge as well.

I was doing trying in the grid method the other day (numbers like 876x792) and still ended up with a calculator. But I definitely think the mental strategies are good

Anyone puzzled by strategies taught in schools, I thoroughly recommend this book: Maths for Mums and Dads by Rob Eastaway and Mike Askew.
www.rbooks.co.uk

I taught ds1 the column method when he was 5. Nobody told me I wasn't supposed to. I personally feel that the more 'weapons' he has in his mathemetical artillery, the better!