Getting Confident With Maths at Work

No matter what job we have, we use maths every day – for example when budgeting, organising schedules, measuring materials and managing our time. It might not be exactly like the maths we did at school, but it is maths.

If we feel anxious about numbers, it can make us feel less confident and make it harder to progress in our careers. But there are some things that we can do at work to make numbers feel less daunting:

Tip 1: Don’t rush – maths at work is not a race

Feeling under pressure to get answers quickly can make you feel even more anxious about maths. But it’s more important to be right than to be fast. Try to stay calm and take the time to find an approach that you can feel confident with..

Tip 2: Talk about how maths makes you feel and ask for support if needed

You might think you’ll look silly or be judged if you say you find maths uncomfortable, but many people feel the same way. It can be hard to speak up if you’re struggling but if you point out an area you need help with employers and colleagues are often very supportive.

Tip 3: Find the right place to do the maths

Often people feel stressed when doing maths in front of others and a busy and loud workplace can make it hard to focus. Finding a space away from colleagues to tackle maths tasks can help you feel less pressured. If that’s not possible, try asking people to give you some time and space to work it out and come back with the answer later.

Tip 4: Use any tools available to help – maths at work isn’t an exam

Many people think that they aren’t good at maths if they can’t do it in their head. But in everyday life, maths doesn’t need to feel like a test. There are many tools in the workplace that can help us, like calculators, or even using Google or YouTube. Big tasks can often be split into smaller ones that feel much less daunting.

Tip 5: Being anxious about maths isn’t the same as being bad at maths

Being anxious about maths isn’t the same as being bad at maths.

Start feeling more comfortable with maths now by trying the National Numeracy free online resources, designed for adults with low confidence.

Making your own play dough is easy and cheaper than buying it from the shop. Plus, it's fun to make!

Here’s a recipe for you to try making it at home with the kids. You might get messy, so it's best to wear old clothes!

Safety warning: please add the boiling water to your dough carefully. Make sure the boiling water is not in reach of children. Don’t let them touch the play dough until it is cool enough.

Recipe for no cook play dough

• 400g plain flour
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 100g salt
• 2 tablespoons cream of tatar
• 250ml- 375 ml boiling water (add it a little at a time until the mixture feels just right!)
• Food colouring 

Equipment needed

• A large bowl to mix in
• A spoon to stir the mixture
• A tablespoon 15ml (if you don’t have one a tablespoon use three teaspoons x 5ml)
• A measuring jug

Method

1. Mix the flour, salt, cream of tartar and oil in the mixing bowl.
2. Add the food colouring to the boiling water.
3. Now add the coloured boiling water to the dry ingredients.
4. Keep stirring until it becomes a combined dough.
5. Allow the dough to cool down and take it out of the bowl.
6. Knead it for a couple of minutes until it stops being sticky. You might need to put a lot of effort into the kneading.
7. If the dough is still too sticky, add a bit of flour until just right.

Making play dough is a great way to practice your weighing and measuring skills and with older children. Young children can count the tablespoons of cream of tartar. You can all guess what colour the play dough will be!

You don’t need to buy special play dough toys. Children can use a rolling pin or an empty plastic cup to roll out the dough. A milk bottle top can be used for to cut out small circles and the edge of a plastic cup for large circles. Children can cut the play dough with a butter knife or use a pencil or fork to make holes in the dough.

Maths fun with play dough

There are many ways for children to use maths through play dough.

Use play dough to make number rhymes come to life. You could make five little play dough cakes with your child and sing ‘five currant buns in the baker’s shop’ or five frogs for ‘five little speckled frogs’.

Pick some flowers and leaves to press into your play dough. Can you make a pattern of a flower then a leaf then a flower and repeat it?

Explore size with play dough, can your child make a big animal with the play dough and then a tiny one?

Can they make a long roll of play dough, one that is shorter and then one that is the shortest?

If you’re aged 19+ and do not already have a GCSE at grade C (or equivalent) in maths, Multiply is available to you. 

We are offering courses and initiatives for beginners and those who want to build on their maths knowledge to take Level 2 qualifications or even GCSEs.

With online tutorials and content also available, you will be able to learn at a pace and time that suits you.

Make sure you keep up to date with how we can help! There's never been a better time to make your maths skills count.

We are looking for tutors to come and join our pool of teaching staff.

If you have the skills, experience and a Level 3 or above teaching qualification then working for us could be a great additional job or or opportunity to work hours that suit you around your other commitments.

We are looking for tutors in a range of subjects and with a range of skills including to deliver Multiply courses and activities!

See the links below to apply for a vacancy

• Community Learning Adult Tutor (Family Learning and Multiply)
• Community Learning Adult Tutor
• Qualification and Skills Adult Tutor - Digital Skills, ALDD, Art, Counselling and BSL