How to Avoid Maths Anxiety and Supporting Maths From Home

A blog by Matt Craze, Primary Maths Lead at Dubai Heights Academy.

We have very much grown up with and accepted the attitude ‘you’re either good at Maths or you're not’. Because of this, it can be tricky to get to grips with what your child is learning, therefore leading to confusion and in some cases, Maths anxiety. Below I have outlined a few tips that will help you support your child on their learning journey.

1. Problem solving in context
   Maths is a logical subject, requiring children to think outside the box at times to get to an answer. Simple problems to allow the children to think will go a long way when answering reasoning questions in school. i.e. "The time is 3:15pm. How many minutes do we have until dinner at 6pm?"
   
   
2. Multiple methods is a good thing
   Compared to when I was in school to now, there are a variety of new methods introduced, often making the older methods seem pointless. However at DHA we encourage the children to have various methods in their toolbox to answer a question and encourage them to use the ones strongest for them. Showing children new methods (even the ones we learnt at school) is a good way to develop children’s understanding further, they may even find them easier to use!
   
   
3. Visualising a question
   At DHA we use a lot of bar models to support the children’s learning. This is a great way to visualise the question and makes it easier to see what the question is asking us to do. Simple actions, such as drawing out the question is another way in which we can support the children’s learning.
   
   
4. Making times tables fun
   Times tables underpin everything we learn in Maths so it shouldn’t come as a surprise for how important they are to learn. By the end of Year 4, children should know all their times tables up to 12. To support this learning, we use a programme called Times table Rockstars, which is a fun, engaging way for children to learn and develop their times tables further. This is easily accessible from home and is recommended to be used in a little and often approach.
   
   
5. MyMaths homework
   At DHA we set homework using MyMaths. Children are able to log on and access any tasks set for them. To help support this, children have an opportunity to access ‘Try lesson’ first which will support them in completing the homework task.