Supporting children with their homework on Primary MyMaths

By Isobel, 20 January 2025. Posted in Primary

Did you know that MyMaths includes resources to support children when they are completing their homework?

If a child is finding a homework tricky or needs a recap of the topic before they begin, MyMaths is here to help! Every MyMaths homework task has a matching lesson on the same topic. The lesson provides step-by-step examples and opportunities to practise maths skills in a low-stakes environment where children receive feedback without any scores.

The lessons also support parents to support their children by using the same language, representations and methods that their children have been taught in class.

For example, if your school is following the White Rose Maths schemes of learning, your Year 6 children will soon be learning about algebra and might be set this MyMaths homework on algebraic thinking:

The image shows a page from the MyMaths homework ‘Algebraic thinking’. The question states: "Area of a rectangle equals length (l) multiplied by width (w). What are the possible values for l and w that give an area of 68 centimetres squared?" The child needs to complete a table of six pairs of values for l and w. — For this question, children need to find all the possible pairs of values for the length and width of a rectangle with a given area.

If they get stuck, children can get help by looking at page 3 of the matching lesson, which has a similar question:

The image shows a page from the MyMaths lesson ‘Algebraic thinking’. The question states: "I am thinking of a rectangle. Its area is 18 centimetres squared. What numbers, when multiplied together, give the answer 18?" There is a completed table of possible pairs of values for the length and width. The final sentence reads: "All the possible solutions are factor pairs of 18." — The worked example in the lesson models the skills and methods that children will need to complete the question in the homework.

This step-by-step example shows children how they can work systematically to find all the possible pairs of values and connects this to their previous learning about factors.

For many homework tasks on upper Key Stage 2 topics, MyMaths also offers support in video format.

The image shows a screenshot from a MyMaths video on algebraic thinking in area problems. The question states: "I’m thinking of a rectangle. Its area is 48 centimetres squared. What are all the possible lengths and widths for this rectangle?" There is a blank table which has been partially completed with possible pairs of values. — The matching video provides more worked examples with supporting audio narration.

While children are doing their homework, they can get support easily by accessing the matching lesson and any videos from the menu.

The image shows a page from the MyMaths homework 'Algebraic thinking', with the menu open. In the menu there is a red box around the items 'Try the lesson' and '4 videos'. — Open the menu by clicking on the menu icon in the top right corner of the homework.

Children can also open the lesson from the pupil portal before starting the homework, if they want a reminder of the concepts covered in class.

The image shows the screen that children see when they access the homework 'Algebraic thinking' in the pupil portal. There is a button that they can press to start the homework and a button that they can press to try the lesson. — When children access their homework in the pupil portal, they are given the option to try the matching lesson first.

We hope you found this post useful. Go to our support site to find more information for pupils or for parents on getting help with MyMaths homework.