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Original poster

If you asked your 7 year old to take away 6 from 60 in their head......

102 replies

Pendulum · 15/11/2011 13:37

Would you expect them to get the right answer??

I was doing 6 times tables on the way to school with DD. She was stuck on 9 x 6- so I said, well you know 10 x 6 is 60, so just take away 6. Count backwards if you like.

Long pause, then.....

"13". Confused Worst thing is, it wasn't a blind guess- some process of deduction had been applied!

I am a bit suspicious of her school's maths teaching already (I am drilling her on tables because they don't seem to be teaching them this term), but would you say this is particularly poor?

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notnowbernard · 15/11/2011 13:39

well, mine is meant to be 'very good' at numeracy (she's 7)

she'd probably get the answer but would probably have to count aloud, or on fingers

she hasn't been taught tables, either

Iamnotminterested · 15/11/2011 13:40

Erm...no. Most 7 year olds would struggle to answer 9x6 mentally. Show her the finger trick for the 9's.

PeriPathetic · 15/11/2011 13:41

My ten year old would get it wrong too, as would her mum Blush

Iamnotminterested · 15/11/2011 13:42

BTW the no in my answer was to your last point, no it is not particularly poor.

Iamnotminterested sits back and waits for the "My DS was born reciting X tables" type posts...

gigglepin · 15/11/2011 13:43

nope. probably not.
im not worried, numbers fall out of 7 year old heads to be replaced by lego and dolls and trampolines, see, much much bigger stuff than numbers Grin

lockets · 15/11/2011 13:44

This reply has been deleted

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MMQC · 15/11/2011 13:44

My 7 yo could do that but maths is his thing. Ask him to kick a ball and he'd probably miss.

WhoWhoWhoWho · 15/11/2011 13:46

Erm no.

He can't even do 2 times tables never mind 6 times tables.

ProfYaffle · 15/11/2011 13:47

My dd1 would probably do very similar to Locket's dd and she's in Yr3, considered average for Maths.

rabbitstew · 15/11/2011 13:51

My dss were born reciting times tables. And kicking balls - that was why they were crying. I hope you are taking note, Iamnotinterested.

Original poster
Pendulum · 15/11/2011 13:53

Lockets- well done to your clever DD, hope she feels better soon!

Thanks for replies, that makes me feel better. School sent home a newsletter the other day saying that "in year 3 children should know their 2, 5, 10, 3, 4, 5 and 6 times tables"- that worried me a bit as I knew DD had forgotten everything she learned in Y2 and they don't seem to be revising it at all! Will just keep on plugging away with the practice (she can't run away on the way to school, hehe)

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EdithWeston · 15/11/2011 13:54

Yes, I think so (I'll check this evening). But she's pretty good at tables and we practice them backwards as well as forwards.

I think she's be more likely to do this as a subtraction than a reverse table though.

lockets · 15/11/2011 13:55

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Original poster
Pendulum · 15/11/2011 14:00

lockets- bugger that (6 x 8) hour rule!

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lockets · 15/11/2011 14:06

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GobblersKnob · 15/11/2011 14:06

My 7yo is frightening good at maths, can multiply fractions in his head Shock So would know the anwer, yes.

I however, would have to think before answering.

I wouldn't think it's at all unusual to not know.

GobblersKnob · 15/11/2011 14:07

Grin Apparently I am frightening bad at literacy.

Should have been 'frighteningly'.

stickyLFDTfingers · 15/11/2011 14:10

mine would be able to do the subtraction, but doesn't know her 6 times table.

gabid · 15/11/2011 14:11

She just has to do 10-6 which is 4.
Having taken a 10er from 60 to do that
leaves her with 50+4 =54

My DS (6) in Y2 couldn't do it though, but he isn't that great in maths and we now do a bit every day - he seems to be improving.

Original poster
Pendulum · 15/11/2011 14:14

Iamnotinterested oh yes the finger trick, I can't wait to get to the 9 times table! I vividly remember the day my own maths teacher showed me that one!

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MumblingAndBloodyRagDoll · 15/11/2011 14:18

No my DD is 7 and couldn't do that...

Original poster
Pendulum · 15/11/2011 14:19

gabid I am always a bit loath to try to explain because I am not sure how she's being taught to do it at school i.e.

(10-6) + 50?
(60- 10) + 4?

I have to tread a bit carefully because she gets furious if I confuse her and then the whole game is off.

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Callisto · 15/11/2011 14:19

Like Lockets, my 6yo DD is off sick so I have just asked her what 60 minus 6 is. She worked it out by taking 6 from 10 first, then 6 from 60. Her year is doing times tables as well as other multiplication, adding, subtracting and division. I wouldn't be happy if she was a year older and still hadn't been taught times tables tbh.

natashakaplinkyplop · 15/11/2011 14:20

My 7 year old's off with tonsillitus, he had to count backwards on his fingers but got the answer quickly.

Original poster
Pendulum · 15/11/2011 14:21

Hi callisto she did quite a lot of work on it in Y2 but it dribbled out of her ears during the summer holidays....

I thought they'd do some recap work this year but nothing so far (apart from the letter saying they should know them Grin)

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