The Maths Help Studio
We are now planning to recruit students for the remainder of the summer term and to prepare for the autumn/fall term.
We offer personal progress and development in mathematics for ks2/ks3 and GCSE/IGCSE . Dr Lawler is leading these developments and we will be using his unique study skills system. If you are interested in joining the waiting list for your child to get help with mathematics, then please fill out the form at the bottom of this page.
Now be honest, you expect your children to learn to read. We take it for granted that regardless of how hard children find reading that they need to master the skill.
Yet for some reason this is not true with number work. In fact we often send them the wrong messages. How many mums tell their children to ask their father for help with maths? It does happen. But what are we saying to children? We are saying maths is ‘man thing’. Is this the right message to send to children? Is it the right message to send to girls?
The other thing we do is say’ I could never do maths when I was your age’. It is meant to be sympathetic but again it sends the wrong message. We expect every child to read and we need to have the same expectation for number work. If we do not, we are blighting their future. Do you really want to do that to your own child?
2020 has changed us. At the end of 2020 the U.K. finally parted company with the E.U. and during 2020 the virus ravaged around the world.
The one group who are badly hit are children. Their education has been badly hit but the answer is NOT longer school days. Children are not empty vessels like tin cans waiting to be filled with knowledge. They are people who have thoughts, feelings and worries like the rest of us. They have had a difficult year and the answer is simple. As we slowly unlock, they need to play. If schools are going to have extended days then that extra time needs to be fun for kids. It is the social and emotional of your child that has been hurt the most during lockdown.
The answer is let them play, seriously, let them play.
One year in the life of a 45 year old is 1/45 but 1/10 of a ten year olds life. That means it is a huge part they have lost. So take them to football, organise a disco (outdoors), go playing hockey. In fact anything that is social and fun. Play is essential for their well being
It helps children deal with emotional issues and then teachers can teach them. Then they will learn more effectively and be happier people as a result.
One of the worst things people say to their children is ‘ I could never do maths when I was your age’. This is meant to be sympathetic BUT let’s look at the reality. In reality you are saying to the young person, ‘ it is highly unlikely that you will sucked’, But you are also saying ‘ I managed without maths, so if you are canny, you can too.’ Nothing can be further from the truth. Maths and literacy are like food and drink. You can survive for a while without one of them but you will eventually fail.
You do not expect children to fail at reading. There is an expectation that all children will learn to read so why expect them or even encourage them to fail at maths?
The answer is adult anxiety. Very often we pass on our own anxiety to the next generation. This can often bring bad memories of anxiety and stress in the classroom and that is then passed onto the children. This is a cycle that has to be broken. One way is to use puzzles.This is fun.
Here is a puzzle you can try at home
If you put your left foot on the first step as you go upstairs, do you put your left foot on the top step? If so why? If not why not?
Dr Lawler’s has written Understanding Maths to help you with maths.
This will help you support your children.
