Terrace Road Primary School

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Mathematics

Mathematics and Numeracy at Terrace Road Primary

Here at Terrace Road, we aim to engage children through our maths and cross-curricular numeracy activities, using concrete apparatus, the outdoors and ICT. Each day your child will take part in a maths activity. The activity will start with a mental maths warm up to engage the brain, before moving on to the teacher introducing and modelling a new mathematical concept or skill. Once the teacher has modelled the new skill, your child will have the opportunity to practice the skill, whilst still being supported as necessary.

Throughout the school we will develop an understanding of how numbers work and the use of basic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. We do this by providing a variety of practical experiences, that we know to be effective and productive. We always attempt to present realistic problems and investigations for children to explore by getting them to actively think, developing perseverance. Confidence, understanding, logical thinking and enjoyment are all ingredients of mathematical development.

Our Calculation Policy will explain how addition, subtraction, multiplication and division are taught in each year group.

What is mental maths?

The concept of mental maths still means being able to give an answer to a maths question after thinking about it, rather than making notes on paper, but in school mental maths skills are expanded to include being able to truly understand maths concepts and solve problems in a logical, methodical way. When children understand the processes and concepts we aim to develop quick recall.

Maths Revision Sessions

Each week your child will take part in a maths revision session. During these sessions the teacher will re-introduce a skill that has been previously taught. Your child will then take part in activities based around this skill to ensure that this area of learning is still fresh in their minds.

Talk for maths

Spoken Mathematical vocabulary is key to helping children develop and make progress. Giving children time is incorporated into learning to allow children to explore and discuss vocabulary. This allows learners to have a wider range of vocabulary and understanding in order to process worded problems, reasoning activities and maths and numeracy across the curriculum.

Reasoning and problem solving

Your child will take part in weekly reasoning and problem solving activities. Mathematical reasoning involves thinking through mathematical problems logically in order to arrive at solutions. It also involves being able to identify what is important and unimportant in solving a problem and to explain or justify a solution.

At Terrace Road we use the TASC (Thinking Actively in a Social Context ) wheel as a tool to develop children’s thinking and questioning skills, not only in maths but across the curriculum. As your child moves through the school they will be introduced to the sections of the wheel and become more independent when using the format of the wheel to tackle a problem. The questions allow the learners to think deeply about what the task is asking them to do, to think of as many ideas as they can, to share ideas with peers, to carry out the task and finally develop honest reflection skills. The TASC wheel acts as a tool to organise thinking and is a process that can be carried through to adult life and the world of work.

TASC wheel in the Foundation Phase:

TASC wheel in Key Stage 2:

Sumdog

At Terrace Road Primary School we have recently signed up to a fantastic online learning programme called Sumdog. Here your children will have the opportunity to play lots of maths-based games based on all areas of mathematical learning. Your child will have a unique login and password. Please see your child’s teacher for this information.

What matters in Mathematics and Numeracy...

1. The number system is used to represent and compare relationships between numbers and quantities.

2. Algebra uses symbol systems to express the structure of mathematical relationships.

3. Geometry focuses on relationships involving shape, space and position, and measurement focuses on quantifying phenomena in the physical world.

4. Statistics represent data, probability models chance, and both support informed inferences and decisions.

Progression in Mathematics and Numeracy...

Conceptual understanding – children explain concepts and understanding using different representations including verbal, concrete, visual, digital and abstract.
Communication using symbols – children use and fully understand the mathematical symbols and their abstract representations.
Fluency – children remember facts, relationships and techniques, which reflects in accuracy when applying skills.
Logical reasoning – children develop an understanding of the relationships between and within concepts, leading on to them being able to justify and prove them.
Strategic competence – children become increasingly independent in recognising and applying the underlying mathematical structures and ideas within a problem, in order to develop strategies to be able to solve them.