TOP TIPS FOR PARENTS!
Be positive about maths. Try not to say things like “I can’t do maths” or “I hated maths at school” – your child may start to think like that themselves.
Point out the maths in everyday life. Include your child in activities involving numbers and measuring, such as shopping, cooking and travelling.
Praise your child for effort rather than for being “clever”. This shows them that by working hard, they can always improve.
In school, we try and encourage children to be independent and to think about how can they help themselves.
Can they look at previous work or a method they have copied down to help themselves remember what to do step-by-step?
Can they ask an adult of a friend? Children often learn more by working it out and discussing it with a friend, than they do from an adult!
Can they work out what to do if they know the answer? Often, working backwards can help you understand what you had to do in the first place!
Can they look it up and research how to do it on the internet? There are lots of great websites that can help both you and your child. Here are just some examples:
https://www.multiplication.com/
BBC Bitesize is an excellent website for extra tuition and explanations. If your child is in years 5 and 6, they are in KS2, years 7 and 8 are KS3.
Remember: your child has a login for Timetable Rock Stars and Numbots – great websites to help improve basic skills and times tables. Times tables are so important and your child’s instant recall is essential.
Final top tip: Make it fun and enjoyable! Maths can be an exciting challenge for everyone; it is important to equip our children with the tools to conquer!
