The Maths Room NZ

It is often said that AI can “do the maths,” but this claim misunderstands what doing mathematics truly means. While AI can perform calculations and generate step-by-step solutions with impressive speed and accuracy, it does not think, reason, or understand in the human sense.
Mathematics is not simply about producing correct answers; it is about forming connections, recognising patterns, justifying reasoning, and grappling with uncertainty. When a student solves a problem, they are engaging in cognitive struggle that builds conceptual understanding and resilience. When AI generates a solution, it is predicting patterns based on data, not constructing meaning.
The real educational concern, therefore, is not whether AI can compute — it clearly can — but whether students are surrendering the very thinking processes that mathematics is designed to develop. If AI replaces that intellectual effort rather than supporting it, we risk raising answer-getters instead of problem-solvers.

It is the same situation here in New Zealand!

French children are increasingly struggling to read analog clocks as digital screens take over their daily lives. While the national curriculum introduces the "petite aiguille" and "grande aiguille" between the ages of 6 and 9, many students lose the skill shortly after their lessons end.

The transition from the 12-hour circular face to the 24-hour digital format used across Europe creates a significant cognitive gap for the younger generation.

Teachers in France have noted that students now view the analog clock as a complex math problem involving fractions and base 60 rather than a quick way to check the time.

This shift has become so noticeable that some exam centers are replacing traditional wall clocks with digital ones to prevent students from panic when they cannot calculate how many minutes remain in a test.

The reliance on smartphones has turned a once-essential life skill into a niche academic exercise.

I’m a big fan of structured learning and daily practice!

The report assessed how curriculum changes from term one this year - as well as the 'hour a day' reading, writing and maths requirement - affected students' English and maths achievement.

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I thought this was an interesting analogy with why students should not be reliant on AI for doing all their learning.

The mistake a lot of parents and teachers make when addressing AI with their kids and students is The mistake a lot of parents and teachers make when addressing AI with their kids and students is leading with a moral argument. They say plagiarism is bad a...

Last week of maths at The Maths Room NZ for the year. Some very nice decimal plotting on 1mm graph paper by this Year 6 student. We used verniers to measure each walnut diameter and then weighed them on scales. Then we drew a line of best fit and found the relationship between variables was strong positive and linear.

The introduction of cursive writing will have a positive effect on the writing of maths digits! No question!

“Handwriting activates areas of the brain linked to learning new information and memory retention, taught organization skills and helped children compose their thoughts" https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/350323591/schools-and-government-advisers-odds-over-cursive-handwritingI was very pleased to hear the latest suggestion that primary school teachers should formally teach cursive writing. It’s not the writing in cursive style per se, but the structured approach wh...

Kisses or not?

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Circle measurement that tricked the exam question writers!

The SAT Question Everyone Got Wrong How an SAT question became a mathematical paradox. Head to https://brilliant.org/veritasium to start your free 30-day trial, and the first 200 people get 20%...

Here’s some Christmas Angels…oops I mean Christmas Angles! Happy Christmas 🎄

Enrolments are now being taken for 2024
Early expressions of interest are helpful for allocating time slots - places are limited.

Maths tuition is offered in person at The Maths Room NZ in Beckenham Christchurch or online anywhere.

​**NEW**The Junior Launch Programme (designed for Year 6 - 8 students)

Term 1 : 29 January - 8 April 2024 Mondays 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm OR
27 January - 5 April 2024 Saturdays 11:15 am -12:15 pm

10 week course, maximum class size is 4. Designed for Year 6-8 students who have maths gaps and need support to gain confidence with maths learning. Content will include, but is not limited to, column addition and subtraction, column multiplication, fractions and decimals, sequences and coordinate plotting.