A Parent's Guide to Surviving Primary School Maths

Can Your Kids Count on You?

If you attended primary school in the seventies and eighties, you have probably noticed that the maths curriculum studied by your children is very different to the one you studied 20 years ago.

When we were kids, maths often involved lots of rote learning and text book based tasks. In 2008, primary school children are learning new terminology as they add, subtract, multiply and divide.

While some things, like times tables, haven't changed much, these days classroom teachers encourage children to find solutions themselves through practical maths activities.

The great news for mums and dads is that the answers are the same as they always were, it's just the processes for working them out that have changed. So how can you, as a parent, keep up to date?

         *   Invest in a good maths dictionary.

Terms like ‘trading', ‘array' and ‘tessellation' are ones that your children are learning at school and while they are different from some of the phrases we were taught, there's not much to it once you know what the words mean.

 *   Take a good look at your child's maths text book.

Detailed texts explain concepts and give examples of how a task should be done. If your nine year old can learn about these ideas, hopefully you can too, so sit down and have a read. If your child does not have a text book, you can purchase one that is appropriate for their year from an educational bookshop.

*   Attend maths information nights

Some schools offer maths nights for parents. Kids First Children's Services also occasionally offer these kinds of programs for free and they are an excellent way to get current information from experts.

* Talk to your child's teacher

Some of the new methods used to teach maths are so much more sensible than the cumbersome processes we were taught. Make an appointment and ask your child's teacher to explain some of the new techniques to you. The time spent will be worthwhile because once you are clear on what is happening at school the stress, arguments and confusion at homework time will be reduced.

* Surf the Net

There are some fantastic websites that can support you as you keep up to date with your child's maths. The NSW Department of Education has a great website with interactive programs that will allow you to learn about and practice the skills your child is being taught. Check out www.curriculumsupporteducation.nsw.gov.au.

Remember, teaching your kids what you were taught may be easier for you, but in the long run, it will not make things easier for your children.

Your kids' teachers expect them to confidently master the methods being taught at school now - so don't complicate things by teaching them ‘your way'- it could make their confusion even worse.

The best thing you can do for your child's maths is to give the new methods a try!

By offering consistent help that supports what they are learning at school, your family will be on the way to homework harmony in no time.


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