New maths + tired mum = torture
![Newmaths2[1]](https://amodernmother.com/.a/6a00e55455c93588330120a5ed55dd970c.jpg)
With Emily in Year 3, we are just entering the deep, dark world of hardcore homework. Until now we only had reading every evening, and spelling and maths on the weekends. But the serious stuff is starting to come … and can I say one thing? I would rather be sleep deprived and change a thousand dirty nappies than try to figure out the new maths.
Hubby was away somewhere sunny, so we went to Pizza Express (no I'm not bitter about this). We got home about 7 and my plan was to give the girls a bath and then let them chill out and watch TV for an hour.
Then I remembered about homework.
Do you have any homework?
I can't find it.
When is it due?
Thursday.
As in tomorrow morning Thursday?
Blank stare that meant you should know this already mummy.
It must be here, let me look (I found it folded between the PTA plea for a new chair and a notice about head lice).
We sat at the kitchen table staring at the piece of paper. It had about ten double digit equations on it. That part was easy. Next to the equations were lines, with humps and crosses and, my god it's late…
Do you remember how to do this? What did Mr. Wong say?
Blank look that meant I don't remember.
I looked at the piece of paper again. The thing about having kids is that you lose 10 percent of your brain cells with each birth. I had three children in quick succession, which means I doubled the loss because my brain never had a chance to recover. If you do the maths, that means I've lost … let me see, three children, that's 30 percent, now double that … See, now you have some insight on why I can't figure out this damn homework.
It was close to 8 pm and I felt my pulse between my eyes. What's wrong with just adding numbers the old way? We cobbled together some answers. Didn't touch the number line though. Not a clue.
So have y'all figured out number lines yet? Is it just me?!
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Woman Who Can | 29th Sep 09
I try to stick to Humanities and hope that he does all the other stuff when he’s at his dad’s. Sometimes, just sometimes, divorced parents can work in your favour.
Not that I recommend it.
Much.
A Modern Mother | 28th Sep 09
CP — exactly!
Jennifer — Yep, that’s what they’re for
Liz — LOL!
Liz | 28th Sep 09
I don’t even understand the question. I’m just glad Daddy knows how to do maths otherwise there would be no hope. No hope at all.
Jennifer Howze | 28th Sep 09
Number lines are a disaster. I just say, count on your fingers…
Christian Parenting | 28th Sep 09
Teaching Math had many ways and methods. But what is better on teaching your child to know math is know the easiest way to come out with an answer. Sometimes in schools they had different methods that makes a child complicated with but there are more easy way to give solution that child could understand.
A Modern Mother | 27th Sep 09
Working Mum — if the kids get confused — think of the parents!
working mum | 27th Sep 09
The Numeracy Strategy has a lot to answer for. So many methods that the kids get confused beyond belief. And I speak as a secondary school maths teacher who has to pick up the pieces when they get to me!
Treemama | 27th Sep 09
yeah, remember when we just memorized and counted on our fingers. now i am subjected to partners, trains and math mountains.
i had to google what a polygon was for crikey!
and i’m with you on all the papers, this year they are either going to the file or straight to the recycle bin, same night!
A Modern Mother | 26th Sep 09
Sparx — don’t worry, I’m sure a new fab will come along before he goes to school 😉
Sezz — THANKS! Too funny about the 35 book, that boy is going places!
Sezz | 25th Sep 09
The first boob adds the multiples of 10 and the second boob the individual numbers. So for the second question you start with 16 and add 10 = 26. Second boob you add 9 = 35.
But it’s taken my DS 8.5 years to appreciate he isn’t exempt from homework. Having decided that reading is useful for operating computer games he’s gone up 3 reading levels this term!!!! Yes that’s several books a day.
My mistake was offering 50p per completed book. He subsequently asked the teacher to borrow 35 for the weekend so he could purchase a new x-box game. Fortunately she limited him to 4.
Good luck…..
Sparx | 25th Sep 09
Honestly, what on EARTH is on that piece of paper? Holy crap I have to do some homework of my own before the spud hits school!!
A Modern Mother | 25th Sep 09
Grit– sounds like a good method to me, must suggest it to our head…
Lisa– hate to think…
TooMany– I guess that’s to come?
Expat– I stand in awe 😉
Expat Mum | 25th Sep 09
Funny, funny comments. Any hoo, I’m afraid I’m trumping everyone at the moment as my 16 year old is doing both really hard math(s) AND Physics. I can’t even be in the same room with the books!
TooManyHats | 25th Sep 09
I’ll trade you new maths for physics – OMGosh, talk about lost. It burns my eyes just to look at it.
lisa-iris.blogspot.com | 25th Sep 09
My last exam at school was maths & my head of year asked me & some friends how we found the exam:
Friend=I found the multiple equations a bit tricky but think I got there in the end.
Me=I didn’t realise there were multiple equations on the paper!!!
I’m now 32 with 16 month old twins….. what does having 2 at the same time do to the ole grey matter??
grit | 25th Sep 09
… thank goodness we live in the light. take a full day over it, make mud pies, then line up those delightful mounds all over your garden, and talk about maths your own fun and practical, child-friendly way. (just don’t try and take this method into school.)
A Modern Mother | 25th Sep 09
Picking myself off the floor laughing!
Metropolitan Mum | 25th Sep 09
Now, honestly. WHAT IS THIS? I mastered maths at university, but this looks like… boobies? I have absolutely no clue. Is this teacher a pervert?
A Modern Mother | 25th Sep 09
Mwa — do you do tutoring?!
Mwa | 25th Sep 09
You realize your problem is that the second line has a mistake in it, therefore the first and second examples aren’t consistent and that’s why you had a problem. You’ll be fine. It’s easy.
(I have a maths degree. I love this kind of stuff. 😉 )
A Modern Mother | 25th Sep 09
Ella — you’re better off than we are, hopeless, really…
Liz –I would have thought you’d be brill at maths … this job usually goes to hubby but he’s, ahem, traveling again…
Laura — all I can say is prepare yourself.
Laura Driver | 25th Sep 09
We’re still on reading books (Yr 1). I look at that picture and I have palpitations.
I think I may take a sabbatical from motherhood when she gets to Yr 3.
Liz@VioletPosy | 25th Sep 09
No…..but I failed GSCE maths 4 times (yay me!) So all Maths/Science/Engineering homework goes to Paul and I take the humanities. Also I don’t want to impart my ‘I BLOODY HATE MATHS AND YOU WILL NEVER EVER USE EQUATIONS IN YOUR LIFE’ attitude to the subject 😉
Good luck you are a better Mummy than me xx
ella | 25th Sep 09
Sussed the number lines but on Sunday my son (also in Year 3) and I sat gazing blankly at sums involving partitioning. I always thought that meant putting up a divider to make two rooms from one, so when it comes to maths homework basically the poor boy doesn’t stand a chance.