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Original poster

Teachers, can you spot a difference between kids who use maths websites and those who don't?

196 replies

Iamnotminterested · 12/04/2012 13:56

Am just curious as there seems to be sooo many sites out there vying for parents money and, dare I say it, preying on our insecurities.

Do they make a difference to a childs' classroom ability?
Do they speed up mental maths recall?
Do you recommend them?

Thanks.

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Original poster
Iamnotminterested · 14/04/2012 12:39

Wow, this has been busy! Very interesting to read all the posts, thankyou.

I do try to "Get maths" into everyday life as much as possible, but the 11 year-old susses me out every time (She may not be the best in the world at maths but she 'aint daft Grin) so I do find it hard to help her in "subtle" ways Sad; also for things like decimals, which she struggles with, apart from thinking of money as the . representing a decimal point I can't see subtle ways to help her with this particular area - I think it will always be her Achilles heal wrt maths.

I am going to not feel like a bad mother for not subscribing to maths whizz/letics/factor etc so thankyou.

OP posts:
rightvswrong · 14/04/2012 13:02

I have missed some of the conversation as it was removed, so forgive me if it had something to do with what i am saying.

I asked a question a couple of pages away regarding whether changing a method. I can see that the answers are mainly talking about parents who are not confortable with maths but none regarding parents who are more qualified than the primary teacher in Maths and have studied the subject at the highest level... What should the parent do? How should the parent put it nicely to the teacher?

breadandbutterfly · 14/04/2012 13:04

It depends on your child and on you and both of your interests and needs, doesn't it. My ds hates workbooks or anything representing 'work' but will happily play a computer game as he doesn't see it as work but as play - same maths. It suits me as i am v busy so happy if he can teach himself this way - his coputer skills are excellent and now his reading skills so can largely get on with it without me. I would like to do more maths games but fining the time and energy to play can be hard - agree all methods - maths games, maths in everyday usage, maths workbooks and computer games can all be beneficial, so no need to feel guilty whichever one you do.

Feenie · 14/04/2012 13:23

I have missed some of the conversation as it was removed

Yes, am cross one of my posts was removed just because I told PastSellByDate that she had a cheek asking me anything after ranting bizarrely at me all day Hmm

I did answer your question, rightvswrong Smile

rightvswrong · 14/04/2012 13:29

:)

juniper904 · 14/04/2012 13:48

From my experience, primary school teachers don't seem to be all that great at maths.

In my training (I did a 4 year teaching degree) I was once sitting in a maths lesson, where we were asked to work out 2 - 5. No-one on my table could work it out Hmm. I explained it to them, then had a tap on my shoulder. Another fellow trainee wanted me to explain it to his table too. So I did.

In another lesson, I said that 100 / 8 is 12.5 and people looked at me like I'd done magic. I explained that it's a half of a half of a half (50, 25, 12.5) but they couldn't follow that.

I was a bit Confused that they had GCSE level maths. This was in 2007, incidentally. So not way back when.

So back to the classroom: lots of the teachers are not going to have fantastic maths themselves. What they do have is a calculation policy they are following. This will be broadly the same in most state schools. When I was at school, we learnt a method. Stick a number in, wiggle some bits around and hey presto you have an answer. Is it right? No idea- but it's an answer.

The new way that we teach number is to fully understand the value of it. So rather than 164 + 274 = carry the one (where's the one?) and add the 1 and 2 (there isn't a one or two- it's 100 and 200) etc we teach it as 100 + 200 + 60 + 70 + 4 + 4, then when children are absolutely solid on place value, you can use shorter methods.

rightvswrong · 14/04/2012 14:27

juniper904- What you've said is very true, unfortunatly some of the teachers like the ones you met in 2007 can be very stubborn and refuse anything that is not on their check list. For the parents who know better it is just a crasy situation.

Bonsoir · 14/04/2012 14:36

When I was at school, the only pupil in my class who really desperately wanted to train as a primary school teacher was the only one who was a complete disaster at maths. I agree that a lot of primary school teachers are not really number people and I think it is sad that more primary school children don't get specialist maths teaching (as I, luckily, did).

mrz · 14/04/2012 15:01

I did my O level Maths and Pure and Applied Maths A level back in the dark ages before GCSEs were even thought of. Does it make me better at teaching maths than someone who only has GCSE maths ? Personally I don't think so.

Lizcat · 14/04/2012 15:07

Various Maths websites have been useful to us as I am lucky enough who not only gets Maths, but can't have enough. She has pocket money, plays cards, dominos and monopoly and bakes extensively measuring all the ingredients herself. Still this is not enough for her she desires more and more we have used Maths whizz and cool Maths. Now her school use mathletics with the teacher releasing areas after they have been taught and setting appropriate level tasks for individual pupils. DD loves it and loves it when she is in the top 100.

When you have a child like this these sites do at least allow you to get the hovering done.

rightvswrong · 14/04/2012 15:17

I did my O level Maths and Pure and Applied Maths A level back in the dark ages before GCSEs were even thought of. Does it make me better at teaching maths than someone who only has GCSE maths ? Personally I don't think so] I like most of your posts and i have read most of them but I am not sure what you mean about this one Confused do you mean that only the ones that have ONLY GCSE MATHS can teach maths?

The point is that some primary teachers are not confortable with the subject either and they are no better than the parents or the children so they should not be stubborn and have to prove they are right when actually they are not sure.

mrz · 14/04/2012 15:21

No I mean that because someone is good at maths it doesn't automatically mean they are good at teaching maths.

rightvswrong · 14/04/2012 15:36

That's right but a person who has a PHD in maths would know whether the method will help a child in the future or not, will know the objective of it as well. Primary teachers who are not confortable with Maths, who only know one method will not be able to understand a highly able child. There are parents who have "a better view of the picture" than the teachers.

rightvswrong · 14/04/2012 15:42

This is not about who is better at doing what. It should be about what is the best for each child. Some online material can do wonders for some but not for everyone. Children learn in different ways or shall we say brains work in different ways. One size fit all does not work so why insist on one method over the other or one way over another.

Feenie · 14/04/2012 15:44

How can a primary teacher only know one method? Confused

I had a parent (who made sure she told me she had a first in Maths at Cambridge) confuse her ds completely by showing him how to multiply by 10, 100 or 1000 by moving the decimal point. Hmm

caffeinated · 14/04/2012 15:47

Mrs Heffley I bought a book from amazon called maths for mum's and dad's I can link on my phone. It really enlightened me on current methods and gives suggestions of lots of games to play at home to reinforce what they're learning.

rightvswrong · 14/04/2012 15:47

How about when the child is not confused?

mrz · 14/04/2012 15:48

Sorry Rightvswrong having a PHD in a subject doesn't necessarily mean you will be able to teach a young child that subject or that they will know an appropriate method that will work for every child.

mnistooaddictive · 14/04/2012 15:48

It is widely recognised thatcthe best mathematiciabs often make very poir maths teachers. I am not sure a parent wirh a phd in maths does always understand the objective. If they have never struggled wirh maths they dont necessarily understand why you may need more than one method. They will also probably he out of touch with how basic calculation methods are taught.
I tutor a girl doing her GCSE Maths this summer. She is dyslecic and struggles wuth rememberibg tabkes and number bonds. Standard methods don't work for her, so she has devused her own. They show a much more indeoth knowledge of the number system than standard
methods and more importantly they work for her. This would not be
allowed in a system wbere stabdard methods were the only thing taught.

mnistooaddictive · 14/04/2012 15:50

Sorry for many typos- stupid tablet has no spelling check and tiny keys.

rightvswrong · 14/04/2012 15:52

[From my experience, primary school teachers don't seem to be all that great at maths.

In my training (I did a 4 year teaching degree) I was once sitting in a maths lesson, where we were asked to work out 2 - 5. No-one on my table could work it out . I explained it to them, then had a tap on my shoulder. Another fellow trainee wanted me to explain it to his table too. So I did.

In another lesson, I said that 100 / 8 is 12.5 and people looked at me like I'd done magic. I explained that it's a half of a half of a half (50, 25, 12.5) but they couldn't follow that.]

Feenie- I am talking about the above so I don't think the mother in your class can do more damage than the ones refered to above could do.Confused

Feenie · 14/04/2012 15:55

True Smile - I have to say it's not my experience, however - I don't know any primary teachers whose Maths is weak. I do think it's a good idea that students will no longer be allowed to resit the Numeracy aptitude test several times over until they pass.

rightvswrong · 14/04/2012 15:58

[If they have never struggled wirh maths they dont necessarily understand why you may need more than one method. They will also probably he out of touch with how basic calculation methods are taught.]
Are you for real? phd maths don't know different methods???

MRZ- I am not talking about a phd teaching in primaryConfused i am talking about a parent with a phd helping their child.

To assume that an educated parent can't help his/her child is absurd. In other ways you are saying only teachers can teach. There are children who learn on their own!

rightvswrong · 14/04/2012 16:03

Feenie- I know some wonderful teachers, they love teaching and they have a gift (No PHD can teach that). However there are some who should be nowhere near a school and I am glad you haven't met any :) Your idea "it's a good idea that students will no longer be allowed to resit the Numeracy aptitude test several times over until they pass." is a good one.

mrz · 14/04/2012 16:07

So am I rightvswrong IMHE it results in the parent losing their patience and the child crying or storming off

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