1. New Wave Mental

2. New wave mentals is a six-book mental mathematics series for Australian primary school students. The series provides a daily activity set of mental maths problems covering all areas of the mathematics curriculum. What is New wave mentals?

3. Sample of daily activity set in New wave mentals (taken from New wave mentals E) The series provides a daily mental maths activity set covering all areas of the mathematics curriculum.

4. Maths facts page in New wave mentals (taken from New wave mentals C) Supplementary maths facts pages are placed at the back of the book to assist students having difficulties with particular facts. These maths facts are pin pointed to the children’s academic level.

5. Friday tests in New wave mentals (taken from New wave mentals D) At the conclusion of the week the test comprises of concepts presented during the week. Weekly test do not commence until Book D. Books B and C include five daily activity sets. Formal testing is not seen as appropriate at this age. Assessment data can be gathered from the daily activity sets.

6. Answer page and student record in New wave mentals (taken from New wave mentals D)

7. New wave mentals teachers guide The New wave mentals teachers guide provides supporting documentation for implementing the program and assessing students’ mathematical progress.

8. Support material in New wave mentals teachers guide

11. The importance of Mental Computation Mental computation is the foremost computational skill used in society. More than 80% of all mathematical computations in daily life involve mental computation and estimation.

12. Classroom time devoted to computation

13. Mental Computation The role of mental computation is a way of allowing children to explore number and other mathematical concepts. Flexible mental computation allows children to see beyond concrete representations.

14. Flexible mental computation strategies In your head add 43 and 48. How did you solve the problem? Write down your strategy. Answer: 91

15. Flexible mental computation strategies Adding from the left 40 plus 40 is 80 3 plus 8 is 11 80 plus 11 is 91 Counting on I’ll count by tens. 48…58…68…78…88 Then I’ll count by ones. 89…90…91 Making tens 48 plus 2 is 50 50 plus 40 is 90 90, plus 1 more is 91

16. Flexible mental computation strategies Doubling 48 plus 48 is 96 Since 43 is 5 less than 48 96 minus 5 is 91 Making compatibles 43 and 7 are compatible because they make 50 50 plus 40 is 90 90 plus 1 more is 91 Bridging I’ll break up a number and add the parts 43 plus 8 is 51 add 40 more is 91 Can you think of any other ways to solve this problem?

17. The value of sharing New wave mental problems Share the strategies employed by the children for one or more of the questions in the activity set each day. Children will witness that the teacher values flexibility of thought and will be encouraged to try different strategies. Sharing will provide the students with alternative methods for computing a problem.

18. New wave mentals New wave mentals provides access to a broad range of mathematical concepts.

19. Mathematical concepts covered Number Pre-algebra Space Measurement Chance and Data

20. Number Examples Level B Level D Level G

21. Pre-algebra Examples

22. Space Examples Level B Level D Level G

23. Measurement Examples Level B Level D Level G

24. Chance and Data Examples Level B Level E Level G

25. The benefits of New wave mentals Introducing Reinforcing Re-teaching Assessing

26. Introducing New mathematical concepts are introduced in the Monday activity set. Upon noting any difficulties children have during the session, the teacher can consider these topics as “teaching points” for the week.

27. Reinforcing The concepts introduced in the Monday activity set of New wave mentals are repeated throughout the following week(s) in the daily activity sets. This structure provides teachers with an opportunity to highlight particular needs in the classroom and develop their students’ understanding of specific concepts and skills.

28. Re-teaching The concepts raised earlier in New wave mentals are revisited throughout the ensuing weeks. This revisiting provides teachers with an opportunity to reassess students’ understanding and target individuals and groups of children who need re-teaching of specific mathematical concepts.

29. Assessing Assessment is ongoing and continuous throughout the year. The assessment is both formative and summative. Teachers and children are able to view at a glance concepts mastered and those which require further attention. Whole-class assessment – weekly tests Whole-class assessment – concept specific Individual assessment – concept specific Student record sheet

30. Using New wave mentals in the classroom Daily use Timing Organisation

31. A week with New wave mentals Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

32. Alternative uses for New wave mentals Homework Work stations Games Assessment Children creating their own mental maths problems