“Parents are a child’s first and most enduring educators.” - Sir Peter Williams
Mums, dads and carers you are central to your child’s life, development and educational attainment. Positive reinforcement at home is essential. The Maths Mum® believes that maths is fun and lots of children do too! This website will give you insight and guidance on how best to support your child and nurture a positive attitude to maths at home. To find out more about how you can help download the free “Helping your child with Maths” booklet.
In this current climate I, Karen - aka The Maths Mum® - have understood the pressure that parents are under to home educate their children with little preparation. When lockdown was looming in March, I realised that parents teaching maths to primary aged children at home was going to be challenge. Most households have an abundance of books to read but do they have Dienes, Numicon, Place Value Mats, Number Lines and Cuisenaire Rods readily available to help with maths understanding? No, they don’t and that is what inspired me to create the “Make your own maths aids” resource, publish it for free with an accompanying video explain what all the tools are and how they are used.
During lockdown, I have juggled being a mum, teacher, chef, cleaner and referee for three boys (aged 6, 8 with Downs syndrome and 10) during the day whilst creating free maths resources and videos for parents in the early mornings and evenings. They are always produced from a parent’s perspective, explaining how things are taught today, topic-based booklets that show you how to work up to and ahead, and, most importantly, they are not single page downloads! The amount of time I have wasted on a Sunday evening downloading work page by page inspired me to write the Complete Times Tables Testing Pack. It is 50 pages in one pdf – download, print, finished – and to quote my personal favourite, Maui, “you’re welcome!” All the resources I created are still available however there is now a small price for each of them.
At the beginning, middle or end of an academic year, I understand that parents want to know how their child is doing academically but without feedback from a teacher it is very hard to gauge. How do you know what your child should and shouldn’t know? This is exactly why I have written the End of Year Maths Reviews and Assessments – one for each academic year in primary school. They provide a comprehensive way to check what your child knows and doesn't know against government guidelines in a one, easy to download pdf. They are also a way to help parents focus on which topics they will need to brush up on to help their children!
I’ve also published some sample KS1 and KS2 SATS word problems and some fun maths in the form of Cross Number Puzzles. You can also find examples of examination papers right up to GCSE and lots more on the website.
I have also developed the Maths For Life Programme - a differentiated approach to the maths curriculum that lays down solid foundations, is framed in practical understanding, and delivers the essential maths needed for life. It is for children and young adults with additional learning needs for whom the standard maths curriculum structure and timescale in unattainable.
Use the links below to find out more and see what is available.
Via Zoom The ‘Virtual’ Maths Mum is available to help. If you are having problems, need a specific topic explained or you have a child with special needs and need differentiated work, contact me to book a session. The first 30 minutes is FREE and thereafter I charge £25 for 30 minutes and £40 for an hour.
Keep up to date with new resources and videos coming online by signing up to the newsletter. And please share your feedback - good or bad - I’m keen to hear. I am committed to supporting us home educating our children in maths. Stay safe & LOVE MATHS!
