Parents struggle to make maths add up during home educating
PARENTS have told of their struggle in teaching their children as they complain that “maths has changed” since they were at school.
It was announced last week that, while shutting their doors to the general population, schools would remain open for vulnerable youngsters and the children of key workers – including medical staff, police and food delivery personnel. Across the country, homes are full of schoolchildren being taught not by their teachers, but by parents, many of whom have not brushed up on their maths or science in decades.
Some teachers are conducting lessons via video chat services such as Zoom, but many of these crashed yesterday morning because of the volume of people logging in.
It comes as Sophie, Countess of Wessex has taken over the Royal Family’s Instagram account to help the nation homeschool. She will be teaching her own children, Louise, 16 and James, 12.
The countess said “a lot of us” will be “adjusting to what may become a lengthy period of looking after your children from home”.
She will share links on the Instagram account from her charities with suggestions of lessons over coming weeks.
One parent, Katie Evans, posted a photograph of her children enjoying their “walk to school” in the park, but said the teaching took some getting used to.
She said: “Day one of homeschooling, so far we’ve walked the dog (our new version of the school run), had a PE lesson with The Body Coach and an art lesson outside. We have started maths, too, but it’s clear things are taught very differently from when I was at school!”
John, another parent, tweeted: “Just opened my eight-year-old son’s home schooling pack Sherwood Primary has sent me. I’m already struggling with the grammar work (Google to the rescue). Not sure who will be teaching who the next few weeks. I dare not open the maths folder – like kryptonite!”
Gary Taphouse, a Sky Sports commentator, is teaching his children at home, but said: “Sorry, but year seven maths is beyond me.”
Parents are at least getting some help with physical education and Joe Wicks,
‘Not sure who will be teaching who the next few weeks. I dare not open the maths folder – kryptonite!’
a celebrity personal trainer, conducted a special fitness class for children live on Youtube. More than 800,000 viewers logged on.
Teachers complained that the virtual teaching methods they are using have been difficult to get to grips with, and some students are not taking the lessons particularly seriously.
Pete Lonsdale, a maths teacher, said: “Hegarty Maths server appears to be struggling under the load and one pupil turned up in a dressing gown. I wouldn’t mind, but he’s 15.”