At Mount Helena Primary School, we utilise the Concrete, Pictorial and Abstract method to explicitly teach problem solving skills. This approach supports all types of learners and enables students to become confident and proficient problem solvers.
To achieve this, we use resources and strategies from Dr Paul Swan through the Leading Effective Numeracy Program. Dr Paul Swan is an award winning author, leading mathematician and developer of games and materials to support students in learning mathematics.
Our teachers use a combination of hands on materials, games and practical application of numeracy skills. Through utilising the Numeracy Block model and the gradual release model, students are guided through explicit teaching, practice and consolidation activities to provide amble opportunities.
To assist with home and school connection, we utilise our Mathletics subscription to provide additional opportunities for student practice. This platform offers engaging activities from Pre-Primary to Year 6 and provides instant feedback on student progress to teachers, parents and the child.
As part of the consolidation and practice element, all students from Pre-Primary to Year 6 use Australian Signpost Maths. These practice books provide engaging lessons and reinforce class lessons.
Here are some quick activities you can do at home with your child to help them develop their numeracy skills:
Kindergarten to Year 2:
- Play ‘I Spy’ or other games to identify shapes, numbers and patterns
- Dice are a great addition to any toy collections. Roll the dice and say, make or write the numbers identified. Rolle the dice and add the numbers together to find the total.
- Play number games online with your child
- Play ‘Pop’ and other Paul Swan games – check out the video below on how to play Pop!
- Use coloured pegs, blocks, beads or cutlery to begin a pattern for your child to continue. For example, red, blue, white, red, blue, white…
- Encourage your child to draw, create and describe their own patterns. Use them for borders or greeting cards or on material.
Years 3-6:
- Use sport scores in many different ways and ask your child some questions:
- How does your favourite sport tally the sore?
- What maths is presented on the tally?
- How do other sports tally the score? For example, tennis, golf, cricket, netball, football…
- What maths do you use to find the total of the scores?
- Are there other ways to record the score?
- How long do your favourite sport games fog or in minutes and seconds?
- Are they divided into halves, quarters or something else?
- What are the shapes of different playing fields and courts? Talk about the edges and angles.
- How can you estimate the perimeter and area of a playing field?
- Use weather maps and ask your child some questions: Check our http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/or look at weather maps in the newspaper
- What is the difference between the minimum and maximum temperature for each day?
- Find a seven-day forecast then record the actual temperature for each day and compare. Was the forecast accurate? What were the similarities and differences?
- Use the information on the weather website to explore differences in weather from your area to others. How much rain do you get compared to others? Are there differences in temperature?