“They didn’t do it like that in my day!”

Does your child ask for help with their maths homework and start talking in another language, using words like ‘partitioning’ and ‘number lines’? If so, you may feel the need for some translation. You should have received a leaflet showing how we teach calculation which is designed to explain some of the methods used to teach calculation in schools following the new Primary Curriculum 2014.

Which is more important: or

This will depend on the numbers involved and the individual child.

When faced with a calculation, no matter how large or difficult the numbers may appear to be, all children should ask themselves:

If I can’t do it wholly in my head, what do I need to write down in order to help me calculate the answer? Can I do this in my head? Do I know the approximate size of the answer? Will the written method I know be helpful?

When do children need to start recording?

The following table shows how some sort of recording is relevant throughout the primary years with mental strategies playing an important role throughout. This has slightly changed this year. ReceptionYear 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5 Year6 Making a record of a calculation Jotting to support a mental strategy Explaining a mental strategy Developing written methods to the standard method you learnt at school

It is important to encourage children to look first at the problem and then get them to decide which is the best method to choose – pictures, mental calculation with or without jottings, or structured recording.

Children attempting to use formal written methods without a secure understanding will try to remember rules, which may result in unnecessary and mistaken applications of a standard method. ?

Can anyone explain to me why the answer to this calculation is incorrect?

Some of the methods explained in this presentation involve ‘partitioning’ and a set of place value cards. These are easy to find online.

Equipment that we use

Resources Number line Number square Counters Place value cards Unifix sticks Ten frames

Problems will start off being verbal questions and will become more formal as they progress through Key Stage 1.

Children are encouraged to develop a mental picture of the number system in their heads to use for calculation. They develop ways of recording calculations using pictures, etc.

Adding and subtracting on a numberline Using a marked numberline try Using a blank numberline try

Adding and subtracting with a 100 Square Now try the same calculations using a 100 square

Adding and subtracting using 10 frames and partitioning

How the place value grid can help

Multiplying and dividing using arrays 3 x 4 = 12 4 x 3 = 12

Multiplying and dividing on a numberline

Try the following on a numberline: 4 x ÷ 5

After KS1 At the beginning of Year 3 children will begin to use formal written methods. There will be a workshop on these next week (

CALCULATIONS IN CONTEXT All the methods support children in using their mental and written skills to solve calculations. Children need to be encouraged to use the method that they understand and can use confidently. It is important that children are able to choose the most appropriate method for the calculation.

Using and applying appropriate skills is very important, when calculations are needed to solve a problem.

How can you help? As a parent/ carer it is essential that you help your child with their numeracy skills at home. This does not always mean sitting down with your child. Firstly try to make maths as much fun as possible - games, puzzles and jigsaws are a great way to start. It's also important to show how we use maths skills in our everyday lives and to involve your child in this. Identifying problems and solving them can also help your child develop maths skills. If you see him or her puzzling over something, talk about the problem and try to work out the solution together. Don't shy away from maths if you didn’t like it at school. Try to find new ways to enjoy the subject with your child.

How can you help? Find out which number facts your child is learning at school (addition facts to 10, times tables, doubles etc). Try to practise for a few minutes each day using a range of vocabulary. Have a ‘fact of the day’. Pin this fact up around the house. Practise reading it in a quiet, loud, squeaky voice. Ask your child over the day if they can recall the fact. Go shopping with your child to buy two or three items. Ask them to work out the total amount spent and how much change you will get. Buy some items with a percentage extra free. Help your child to calculate how much of the product is free. Use a TV guide. Ask your child to work out the length of their favourite programmes. Can they calculate how long they spend watching TV each day / each week? Use a bus or train timetable. Ask your child to work out how long a journey between two places should take? Go on the journey. Do you arrive earlier or later than expected? How much earlier/later? Help your child to scale a recipe up or down to feed the right amount of people.

Thank you! Please fill out an evaluation form and if you have any questions then please come and see me, or jot them down on a post-it note and leave on the tables. useful-sites-for-english-maths-ks2-sats

Improving your own skills Many adults think that they aren’t very good at Maths. If you think it’s time that you did something about your own Maths, there are lots of sources of help. There are national telephone and internet helplines available to help find an appropriate course. Learndirect: www.learndirect.co.uk Basic SkillsAgency: skills.co.uk/learners www.basic- skills.co.uk/learners BBC Skillswise:

There are several websites designed to help students of all ages find out about different topics in Maths: –The BBC site ( has excellent sections for revision at KS2 and KS3 ( the GCSE and Skillswise sections also give worked examples of mathematical problems`- particularly useful when your child doesn’t understand her homework and you don’t either…… –The DfES site for parents ( is the best source of information about teaching in schools, and how to support your child’s learning at home. –The Parents Online site ( gives information about children’s education, and how parents can support children’s education – particularly using the Internet.