INFORM
MAD ABOUT MATHS
We rarely hear parents say: “Don’t worry, I could never read or write”
so is it still acceptable to say: “Don’t worry, I was always rubbish at Maths”?
Why do we say it and how do we help our children learn this fundamental life skill?
Recent calls by Sir Peter Williams, in an
time, to checking the change in the shop, to buying right direction towards addressing these issues. He
independent review of Maths teaching
food in the market, to cooking, to understanding has outlined a number of recommendations to help
mortgage offers, to paying tax and so on . . . grow children’s confidence and make Maths more
commissioned by the government, attempt
exciting. These include the importance of rooting
to reverse this “can’t do” attitude and make
Making connections between Maths
learning in play with shapes, time, capacity and
sure that every pupil leaves primary school
numbers, and by seeing and feeling how numbers
fit together.
at the age of 11 without a fear of Maths.
in the classroom and real life through
activities at home is key We, as parents, can also play a part in reversing the
A large amount of scientific research has also been
current attitude and supporting teachers. Parents
undertaken to better understand what innate Maths
Carol Vorderman, famous for her Countdown
and teachers can work together so that we
talents we are born with and how we can foster
“mental” Maths abilities, agrees: “Whether you like it
understand how Maths is now taught allowing our
them and learn effectively.
or not, and no matter what the gossip or trivia or
fashion of the day may be, the basis of our global
children to make connections between Maths in the
Brian Butterworth, Professor of Neuropsychology at
future is one built on science and computing and
classroom and in real life through activities at home
UCL, speaking recently on BBC Radio 4’s “Am I
manufacturing and hard business, and the language
and when we are out and about.
Normal” programme, believes that: “if you’ve got
they all use is Mathematics. Unless our number skills
poor numerical abilities you are more handicapped in
improve, by the time our children are tax paying
So, what can we do?
every day life than if you had poor literacy abilities.” adults, we will have been left behind.” Sir Peter Given the right environment, children needn’t
And it’s true. Maths affects so much, from telling the Williams’ review seems to be a step forward in the encounter too many difficulties, according to
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