Maths at The Bewbush Academy

 

 

Our aim for the teaching of maths at The Bewbush Academy is two fold: for the children to be fluent in their number bonds and times tables, and for the children to use and apply that knowledge as independent problem solvers.

 

To aid us in this task, we use Mathematics Mastery to guide and support our lessons.





 

Mathematics Mastery leads the children through three strands of learning with the aim of becoming independent problem solvers. They are mathematical language, mathematical thinking and conceptual understanding.


Like most subjects, maths has a language which needs to be understood in order to be successful. Many words in maths have other meanings in the wider world, so it is important that the children understand what these words, such as volume, chart, difference and product mean in the context of maths. The children are introduced to the star words for each lesson and their understanding of them probed in order to clarify misconceptions. The correct vocabulary is then expected to be used throughout the learning.


 

As part of their learning, the children are encouraged to develop different strategies for mathematical thinking. This might be finding patterns, whether in numbers, shapes, data sets, or to find what is the same and different. They might put numbers into contexts by telling mathematical stories, or they might need to find out what is wrong in a given situation and correct the misconception, explaining what the correct thinning should be.



                             

 

By using a range of representations, both concrete and pictorial, the children’s conceptual understanding is solidified enabling them to build on their knowledge year on year as they dive deeper into the world of maths. This might be using various aids to understand place value, such as counting toys, Dienes blocks or place value counters, bead strings to understand decimal place value or Cuisenaire rods to explore fractions. Bar models are used as pictures to understand written problems and to help the children to visualise the missing numbers they are trying to find.




 

There is a lot of knowledge which needs to be kept going over the year, so Maths Meetings are regularly held to practise fluency of number bonds and times tables, as well as helping the children to remember what they have learned and embed it further in their mathematical memory.