‘Mathematics is not about numbers, calculations or algorithms: it is about understanding’

Maths is the science that deals with the logic of number, quantity, shape and arrangement. Maths is all around us, in everything we do. It helps us make sense of many of the puzzles and great questions in life – in past, present and future. It is the building block for everything in our daily lives, including mobile devices, architecture, art, money, engineering, and even sports.

Children develop fluency in facts, procedures and concepts. We ensure a varied and consistent approach to learning the fundamental skills in mathematical fluency. We ensure fluency is an integral part of our maths lessons and our junior children in engage in Times Tables Rockstars and practise calculation strategies. This allows children to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately.

We can reason mathematically by exploring lines of enquiry. To be mathematical reasoners, our children will be able to reflect on solutions to problems and determine whether they make sense. This will develop the bridge necessary to problem solve more complex activities.

It gives our children a platform for understanding the world, and all it has to offer. It provides the tools and necessary skills to make connections, reason mathematically and bring about a sense of curiosity and enjoyment about numbers and its many connections in our lives.

Maths helps the children to aspire by assisting in developing their long-term goals for the future; it helps them to develop their number sense and apply these to different areas of the curriculum. This key skill helps us to rationalise and make simple decisions necessary for many aspects of our daily lives. They would not develop the confidence to make calculated risks or to ‘aim high’ in their aspirations. This will develop their financial literacy and money skills.

Allowing children to collaborate is an essential part of each maths lesson. Children are given the opportunity to verbalise, question their mathematical thinking, and alter this in light of other children’s ideas. Children are encouraged to use concrete resources if needed to show their mathematical thinking and make connections between different areas. 

Children have a positive experience of mathematics because we give them the tools to be successful. Children enjoy maths lessons because they are given the structure, which supports their progress. They are given the opportunity to apply their mathematical knowledge – developed through fluency and reasoning – to a range of increasingly challenging problems. They develop links and use strategies experienced and modelled within a maths lesson, which allows them to break down problems through investigation and perseverance.

Helping your child with maths

Helping your child with their maths at home is really important. It isn't just about sitting at a desk to help them with their homework. Maths is all around us, we use it everyday hundreds of times.

Three golden rules to help you child with maths

1. Be positive yourself. NEVER say 'I can't do maths' or 'I didn't like maths at school'. You are your child's greatest role model. You don't want your child to think not doing maths is OK, it isn't.
2. Talk to your child when you are using maths, e.g.
   1. Using money in a shop
   2. Using time to work out how long the journey will take
   3. Sport is full of numbers, personal bests, world record scores. Watch MOTD together, there are hundreds of numerical statistics to discuss.
3. Praise you child's effort, rather than their talent or result. This will show them that by working hard they will always improve. At. St. John's,we encourage using the word 'yet'. For example a child may say, "I can't do this YET, can I have some help please?"

Use the first link below to go to the National Numeracy Family Maths Toolkit. The second link below that takes you to a site that provides confidential and free help for parents who may struggle with maths themselves and want to, but find it difficult to help their children.

Our Calculation Policy is a really helpful guide for parents that helps show how we teach maths at school today. It has pictures and hints showing parents how you can help children at home with their homework, or when using maths in general.

Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check

The multiplication tables check (MTC) is statutory for primary schools in the 2021/22 academic year.

The purpose of the MTC is to determine whether pupils can recall their times tables fluently, which is essential for future success in mathematics. It will help schools to identify pupils who have not yet mastered their times tables, so that additional support can be provided.

Schools must administer the MTC to all eligible year 4 pupils between Monday 6 June and Friday 24 June 2023. 

Please see the link below for extra information regarding this check. 

TTRockstars

At St John's, all our junior children have a TTRockstars account.

TTRockstars is an online program that is designed to perfection with the help of people having immense experience in the field of mathematics. The software is carefully formulated for children from the age group of 8 to 10. The mission of TTRockstars is to provide every child with a fun and inspiring platform to learn their times tables and build confidence in them. It is pertinent to mention here that if a child can get through with learning different times tables during their initial stage of life, it helps them develop a sense of accomplishment and, thus, confidence to take up tasks during their course of education career in a more positive way.

TTRockstars has over 15,000 schools using its software to impart the training to children. The process is made fun by introducing games to the learning process. The children could enjoy a few games, wear rocking outfits, use props such as guitar and play music. Not only this, but the app also lets you indulge in healthy competition amongst your classmates. The game leads to determining rankings, giving you a chance to improve your rank, and much more.

England Rocks Tournament

We're celebrating Maths Week England by taking part in a friendly times tables (and division) competition. The competition runs from 07:30 GMT Monday 14th November to 19:30 GMT Wednesday 16th November. It's all done online via play.ttrockstars.com.

Children can play in any gamemode with every correct answer to a multiplication or division question, earning themselves, their class and the school a point. The Times Tables Rock Stars platform will calculate the class average (the number of correct answers per pupil in the class who play during the competition hours, subject to a daily 60-minute limit (see below)). Winning classes in the school and in the competition as a whole will be the ones with the highest average.

To support player wellbeing, there is a daily time limit of 60-minutes per player. In other words, each player can earn competition points for up to 60-minutes between 07:30 GMT and 19:30 GMT on 07:30 GMT Monday 14th November to 19:30 GMT Wednesday 16th November. Once the player goes beyond 60-minutes of play on that day, they will still earn coins but will no longer earn points towards the competition.

In the spirit of the competition, please don't play on their behalf but by all means encourage and support them to the extent that it doesn't cause high stress levels or impact on family plans.

Our Mathematic Masterclass Team 

Five of our Year 6 children will be attending 6 Mathematic Masterclasses at Belper Secondary School. To follow what they do each week, please see below.