Maths with Sue PD

Today in our Staff meeting we had our Maths Facilitator Sue Pine come visit us to teach us about "Talk moves" and mathematics in the classroom.
She started our session off with a maths problem- this is listed below.
How many different ways can you solve: 18x5=

10x5=50
20x5=100
100-(2x5)=90

9x4=45
45+45+90
9x10=90

She got us to think about different ways.
It was really interesting, because my answer was instant and fast, which was not right at first. So looking at this in a classroom context this would be seen as a Misconception: the way the student has understood the problem. In some way this was good, because it gave me a better understand of how some of the children would think in the class. The misconception that I came up with is that some children may solve it: 8X5= 40 and then add the remaining 1 from the 10 which would make 140

But then I reread the question again to regain my understanding it solved it again. This time I had a different strategy which was like the one above :
10x5=50
20x5=100
100-(2x5)=90
Growing up as a child Mathematics was not a strength of mine but since becoming a teacher I have become stronger at in and also have a better understanding of the children's thinking and those that are finding it difficult in Maths beacause I used to be one of those students growing up.


Number talks: Using doubling and halving as an exercise in the classroom.
Giving them the oppertunity to talk about numbers to be able to think about numbers and think about numbers differently.
Using array to be able to show the numbers.

For younger children: What do you know about the number 5 eg: it is the half of t10. it comes after 4 and before 6.

IF WE CANT REMEMBER OUR TIMETABLES WE NEED TO BE TEACHING THEM STRATEGIES SUCH AS ARRAYS TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE MATHS PROBLEMS. IF STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE CONCEPTS OF ARRASY THEY CAN NOT SOLVE BIGGER NUMBERS.

HOW CAN WE TEACH CHILDREN STRATEGIES TO LEARN THEIR TIMETABLES.
if you can not learn your times tables you actually have a strategy.

WHAT DID YOU DO WITH YOUR STUDENTS TODAY?

Which number strategies, knowledge and measurement do I ned to know by the end of year 6

• Multiplicative thinking
• Proportions and ratios.
• place value. 
• fractions
• decimals
• conversions-Time 24 hour clocks.
• Geometry- 3D shapes, aras/volumes.

Basic fact knowledge

Word problems

Part-whole 

Place value. 

STRATEGIES:

• Advanced addition and subtraction.
• Derived multiplication.
• Fraction of a number by addition and multiplication.

Measurement:

• Time and attributes of objects that are appropriate.
• Sort two or three dimensional shapes.
• Refelction, rotaional, translation. 
• Draw/create nets.
• Draw a plan/front view of an object.

Where do we want our students to be at the end of the year? Especially from a problem solving point of view. 

Every child can achieve to their highest level. If we believe in them.

How can we provide opportunties for children to be able to achieve, even through struggles. 

Using talk moves to extend children's thinking and problem solving. 

Having mixed ability groups for mathematics which extend children thinking and problem solving. This also entails children have have that. Having high expectations for the children so that they believe that they can achieve. 

I found the session once again very informative and am looking forward to implementing this more in my Mathematics prog. and seeing the children fly in their mathematics and getting them up in their levels. It may be challenging but it is always worth the challenge to get to the great results!!