Made-up numbers such as "thist" or "twevty" are to be included in the government's planned new maths test for six-year-olds in England.
The idea has drawn criticism from numeracy experts who say the approach will confuse those beginning to get to grips with maths.
The government said non-numbers were being included to check pupils' ability to add up without using their fingers.
“Non-numbers were being included to ensure that all children could count, rather than just those with the standard number of digits”, a spokesman for the Department for Education said.
The proposed new test will take about 10 minutes to complete and would include about 40 sums with normal numbers and a range of non-numbers.
“We think that seems a bit bonkers when maths is based on a decimal system.” Said Richard Leevy, UK Numeracy Association
He added that the test itself was sending out the message that all sums can be done on your fingers when they cannot.
"There are many sums which go far further than ten and require more than two hands”.
"Children should be using a number of sources to be able to work out what the answer is and not just their fingers”.
Schools minister Nick Gibb said: "We are clear that a system based around the fact that most children have ten fingers will be used in most schools but we do believe more schools should be aware of hyperdactyly. In these cases children can count beyond ten.” Mr. Gibb quoted a primary school in Wem, Shropshire, where virtually all the children would naturally count using a system of twelve.
Last year a pupil of St. Barnabus School in Dudley was found to be able to count using a system based on eleven but it was later revealed that he had both hands in his pockets.
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Maths test for six-year-olds to include non-numbers
(10 posts) (6 voices)
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beau-jolly
offlineMemberPosted 2 years ago # -
beau-jolly
offlineMemberHas anyone else notice that if you put a comment then stars, the comment disapears? I am more interested in your comments than getting a gold star.
By the way. In the original news story the President of the UK Literacy Association was called David Reedy. How come the BBC can get away with silly names?
Posted 2 years ago # -
rickwestwell
offlineMemberNice one, BJ - good angle on a crazy story.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Des Custard
offlineMemberHave some stars. I hadn't seen the non-words story; sounds like the work of a person in a non-job.
Posted 2 years ago # -
rickwestwell
offlineMemberGood point - if you haven't seen the story, this is meaningless - that's something I always forget, too - this sub should probably start with: "Following the recent announcement that reading tests will now include made-up words..." or similar.
Anyway, hope you don't mind me calling you "BJ". :-)
Posted 2 years ago # -
beau-jolly
offlineMemberI should have just copied the non-words story and everyone would have thought it was a clever spoof especially with the evidently made up names. Sometimes you couldn't make it up... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12509477
I challenge you to include "koob" and "zort" in your next missive.
Posted 2 years ago # -
beau-jolly
offlineMember6 year old wins essay competition with "My koob has a zort"
Posted 2 years ago # -
Anonymous
offlineUnregisteredYou've double, perhaps thriple the chance of being writer of the week now.
I salute you.Posted 2 years ago #
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