Maths tips
It's useful for you to have some understanding of what numeracy
involves for students and, in particular, which aspects of numeracy
the programme can best support.
Mental maths is all about solving number problems in your head.
By offering mental maths activities through Number Partners games,
you are giving students the chance to improve their maths skills in
a fun and exciting way and you can help them become familiar with a
variety of number strategies as they tackle mathematical
problems.
Below are some tips that should help you get the most from the
content of your session.
Strategies
- Change and adapt the rules of the games as the
term progresses, this can make it more interesting and
challenging.
- If students are getting restless, change the
activity - it could be too easy or a little too
challenging.
- Don't be afraid to digress from the game if a
student asks you to explain or is keen to try something else. Use
your knowledge and real life experience to help you.
- Ask them to explain - even if they are right!
This lets you know that it is not a fluke and may help them cement
the process in their own head. It will also make it less daunting
when you need to pick apart a wrong answer!
Exercise: Write yourself a list of friendly How? What? Why?
questions that you can use in your sessions.
- Once you have asked a question, give them time
to explain. Although they have the right answer, it might take a
little time to work out how to explain it to you.
- Always exhaust mental methods before reaching
for a written method or a calculator.
- There are lots of ways to solve a number
problem. Strategies like number lines or multiplication facts
should help them with trickier sums. You can get a quick guide to
these with our strategies sheet. However, they may have gone
about it in a completely different way. If the answer is correct
and they can explain how they got there - it's okay!
- Use the right vocabulary. Using terms that
students use in class will make it easier for them - if you have a
new term to teach them, explain it and go back later to check they
have got it. Some handy vocabulary can be found on the strategies sheet.
- Where possible, use a real life context to
help explain tricky number situations or develop ideas.