From Jane Buhagiar - Maths Learning
‘Maths Help’, or ‘Maths… Help!’
Its important for our students to have a healthy, positive attitude towards maths learning. Earlier this year, and, in fact, throughout the year, the focus for maths lessons at St Pius X is to develop a positive maths identity and be powerful learners of Mathematics.
After the first couple of weeks at the beginning of the school year, your child may have told you about some new things they’ve learnt about Mathematics, like maths was invented by people and not discovered. And that new maths is being discovered all the time. Maybe they told you even babies do maths! Your kids may also have said that there are 5 drawers in the Mathematics ‘filing cabinet’. And those 5 drawers contain Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, Data and Number.
As a parent or caregiver, you might also be wondering how you could help your child be a powerful learner of Mathematics. Over the coming weeks short articles will appear, like this one, in the newsletter to hopefully support you in that endeavour.
A video link is attached, sourced from the NSW Government Education website, which is a really helpful insight into what is happening in the classroom and how to help at home. Key points in the video are:
- Maths is about understanding and not learning by rote
- There is always more than one way to get the right answer
- Children are taught mental strategies, like using number lines, to figure problems out in their heads
- Ask ‘What is the question asking you?’
- Practise the multiplication facts (times tables)
- Don’t jump in with the answers
- Stay positive
- Talk to the teacher if your child needs more help with homework
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q__rcPdk9MA&t=66s
Much of what is stated in the video aligns with what happens in our classrooms here at St Pius X. We have skilled teachers who approach Mathematics with care and dedication and with the aim to build powerful learners and users of Mathematics.
I’d love to hear any feedback you have from this video, or any questions you would like answered in future articles.
Cheers
Jane