Maths for Mums and Dads

by Rob Eastaway

Many parents are not confident helping their children with math homework, partly because math is taught differently today. This reassuring book covers the dilemmas and problems parents are likely to be confronted with up to the end of primary school.

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting, Science, Reference, Mathematics

368 pages, Hardcover

First published February 16, 2010

About the author

Robert Eastaway is an author who is active in the popularisation of mathematics. He is a former pupil of The King's School, Chester, England and has a degree in Engineering and Management Science from the University of Cambridge. He was President of the UK Mathematical Association for 2007/2008. Eastaway is a keen cricket player and was one of the originators of the International Rankings of Cricketers. He is also a former puzzle-writer for the New Scientist magazine and he has been involved in live mathematics shows on Virgin Radio (now Absolute Radio). He is the Director of Maths Inspiration, a national programme of maths lectures for teenagers which involves some of the UK’s leading maths speakers such as Simon Singh and Colin Wright.

Robert Eastaway's titles appear under the name "Rob Eastaway" in the UK and some other countries.

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't actually finished reading this book - its the sort of book I will dip in and out of for a long time – but how I wish I'd had this when I was teaching Maths to various groups of unwilling pupils in a specialist educational setting!

There is so much in here that is NOT 'maths' but is just FUN!!! Children LOVE maths tricks and so on and this has numerous examples which also help to develop understanding of basic number. I used to use 'digital root artwork' a lot when I was teaching primary pupils in a hospital ward (one of the favourite maths lessons!) and this book has oodles more fun stuff, as well as really great practical advice for parents struggling with how to teach maths. Loads of stuff on various methods of multiplication, division etc etc. Loads of stuff on mental maths and multiplication tables (LOVED the dice game for the seven times...) and a real insight into why children struggle with certain aspects of maths.

I bought this on a whim in a charity bookshop but I am seriously thinking of getting the next one in the series, it's so well written!

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfect book that you drop into to help your children with a question that you can not remember how to do... Helps with Primary...I didn't dare look into it for GCSE's or Economics A level!

[Maurizio Codogno · Rating 4 out of 5]

A me la cosa non tocca ancora, visto che i miei gemelli sono ancora duenni: ma sono davvero tanti i genitori che si trovano da fare i compiti dei loro figli, e magari scoprono di non saperli fare. La matematica è già una brutta bestia per tanti: peggio ancora, a quanto pare i metodi che usavamo ai nostri tempi sono cambiati. Ecco dunque questo libro che racconta ai genitori cosa c'è dietro i metodi attuali. O almeno cosa c'è nei programmi britannici, non so quanto la cosa valga per le nostre classi anche se i test INVALSI credo si avvicinino. In ogni caso, le nozioni spiegate sono un utile ripasso per i genitori un po' arrugginiti, e aggiungono anche una bella dose di buonsenso che forse è ancora più importante per sapere non tanto quali sono le soluzioni (ci sono anche quelle, peccato una sia errata...) quanto come si fa a ricavarle. Peccato per alcuni punti che non sono stati localizzati: capisco i disegni all'inizio dei capitoli che spesso sono basati su giochi di parole intraducibili, ma per esempio la parte con i "messaggi alla calcolatrice" si sarebbe dovuta rendere in italiano. Ad ogni modo, tranquillizzatevi: non vi perderete nei teoremi!

[Jo]

This is a great book.
Maths was and will never be my strong point but now I am supporting a year 3 class and have a 7 and 5 year old I got this book for reference. It's brilliant.
I was at school in the 80's and this book explains how we were taught and how and why children are now taught.
There are little activities to do through out the chapters and a test at the end.
My only niggle is it doesn't give you the answers to the chapter activities.
This is a must for any parent who is, like me, is quite frankly scared of Maths.
It mainly covers Infant and Junior Maths, touches a little on Secondary. So I would not recommend this for post year 6.

[Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very clear and entertaining account of modern maths teaching for primary school children, with lots of maths games to play. I did pretty well on the tests for parents at the end, though not perfect. I read it chiefly as background to the OU course I am doing in May on The Stroy fo Maths, though that will be more historical. I still learnt quite a lot from this book.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a brilliant book, even Year 4/5 mathematics can fox us parents as they have totally changed the methods of teaching it since we all learned. I've found this an invaluable help when the children come to me for homework help and at first glance, I haven't a clue!

[Andy Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Took a look at this book. Not for me as a math teacher. Didn’t finish it.

[Liz]

I am really enjoying this book. Very fun.