Figuring out how to make the most of maths as homework moves online

My son is in Year Five, and over the past year the style and content of his maths homework has changed. He used to get one or more worksheets to complete weekly, but now his teacher often sets homework linked to maths websites. He seems to enjoy these tasks and gets on with them independently. The trouble is that it is much harder for me to monitor how he is getting on and to know what he is covering in class. Are most schools taking this new approach to maths homework and how can I help him?

Firstly, it is good to hear that your son is enjoying his mathematics homework and working independently. You have not mentioned the type of school he attends but certainly many international schools, in particular, are generally taking a more technology-based approach to homework.

Children today are digital learners and tend to be much more motivated by technology than paper-based activities. Educational research shows that our modern students are motivated by games in which quick decisions need to be made, especially ones in which they move up levels and get instant rewards. Research also shows that students learn, analyse and retain information more effectively when there are visuals involved. Therefore, your son is likely to find computer activities more stimulating and interesting than worksheets, and hence is also likely to be learning more.

With this type of activity, it is still possible to monitor what your son is doing and teachers do usually try to link homework to concepts being learned in the classroom. You can check the maths websites out for yourself and even have a go at the tasks set, which will give you a good idea of your son's level of competence. Talk to him about what he has learned and remember that positive praise is a great incentive.

You can also play a valuable part in your son's maths education outside school by helping him to recognise maths in daily life. For example, when you are out and about, estimate the length of journeys, look at timetables and encourage him to use money and check change. At home, you can measure ingredients in a recipe, look at different types of graphs in the newspaper, play board games (especially ones that help lateral and strategic thinking), look for shapes and angles in the environment, or cut a pizza into fractions. You will think of many more ideas together. Doing this will help your son realise the relevance of maths to his own life and will reinforce concepts taught in the classroom.

Teaching maths has changed over the years. Children no longer plough through textbooks as their parents did when they were at school. The focus in classrooms is less on simply manipulating numbers and more on problem solving and applying effective mental arithmetic strategies. The move away from the traditional type of worksheet is more challenging for children as they are not being spoon-fed but expected to think at a deeper level and make decisions. They are encouraged to 'have a go', estimate and experiment. The aim is to develop problem solvers who have high-level thinking skills, which are crucial to children becoming successful in their future lives.