Low Port Primary School Parent Curriculum Evening Mathematics

SEAL – Stages of Early Arithmetical Learning Big Maths

How can you help your child at home? Number word sequences – forwards and backwards Numerals – recognition, identification, sequencing, recognising patterns. Patterns – finger patterns and dot patterns. Some leaflets to assist you available.

Number Word Sequences Listen to your child as they count Counting backwards as fluently as forwards Ask your child to tell you number(s) before and after

Numerals Can you find the number…? Identify What number is this? Recognise Placing mixed up numbers in the correct order

Patterns Finger patterns Dot patterns Subitising

Finger Patterns Raising fingers one at a time whilst counting aloud. Show me… Bunny ears to 5. Show me 6. How have you made it? Can you find another way to make it? Doubles. Near doubles (+ - one)

VISION Dot Patterns

Written Algorithms Only introduced once the understanding of number structures is secure. Once a pupil can consistently show an understanding of mental jump strategies.

Videos Both P3 pupils Both reported as having a secure understanding of numbers within 100 One taught SEAL strategies for 3 months. Can you guess which one?

What is Big Maths? It is a regular/daily sequential programme of mental maths with a strong emphasis on learned facts and developing the mental agility to do something with these facts. It develops core skills in a clear method. All are taught in the same way, repeatedly, to embed these fundamental skills. Big Maths highlights how small steps of progress with core numeracy follow on logically from one to the next.

Why should we use Big Maths at Low Port Primary School? Clear progression from year to year Common methods taught and language used throughout the school that links to SEAL Build on prior learning and ensure children are secure in their knowledge Learning Intentions are clearly matched to Curriculum for Excellence Experiences and Outcomes Evidence can be gathered easily to inform planning/assessment Improve mental maths skills and general numeracy across the school

CLIC Big Maths is based upon the principle that there are 4 core skills that lie at the heart of numeracy. These core skills form the platform for virtually all other maths skills and are affectionately known as CLIC … Counting Learn Its It’s Nothing New Calculations

How will a daily maths session be organised? In a typical maths lesson - CLIC Sessions that also link to SEAL Counting – 5 minutes Learn Its – 5 minutes It’s Nothing New – 5 minutes Calculations – 5 minutes

How is progress measured? There are regular Big Maths Beat That timed challenges where pupils answer Learn It questions. The aim is to beat their previous score in a specific time. This is applied where appropriate. A CLIC test – a challenge (not timed) which is used to identify areas to work on and progress made.

Learn Its A ‘Learn It’ is a number fact that is learnt so well that it can be recalled instantly e.g = 7. They are number facts that we need again and again in all areas of numeracy. There are 72 number facts pupils should know by the end of Primary 7. After these facts have been learnt with instant recall it opens the door to a whole new world of numeracy. Children need a strong recall of Learn Its as well as a sound arithmetical understanding to be numerate.

Meet the Big Maths Characters! This friendly alien is PIM, the 'principle of irrelevant matter'! That means that number facts stay the same and it doesn't matter what you are counting: 3+4=7 is true if you are counting dogs, chocolates, metres, boys, girls or teachers! Pom is Pim's friend. He helps children learn the maths vocabulary so that they can talk about their maths. Pom helps the children to learn about factors, square numbers and prime numbers.

Squiggleworth, the Place Value Pet! What is that squiggle worth? 438 Mully helps children to put numbers in order. Count Fourways Learning to count out loud in four particular ways, rapidly advances a child’s numeracy. The four ways are: counting in 1s, 2s, 5s and 25s.

Some Big Maths Strategies It’s Nothing New! The message that there is ‘no new maths’ is a critical part of making children conscious of the learning process and helps build their maths confidence. Some of the key elements of this aspect of CLIC are: – Adding with Pim – Jigsaw Numbers – Smile Multiplication

Adding With Pim There is no new maths involved when we add multiples of ten together = 7 3 things + 4 things = 7 things So it’s nothing new that… 3 tens + 4 tens = 7 tens = 70

Jigsaw Numbers Jigsaw numbers are just number bonds. They total a special number in our number system, e.g. 10, 100 or Technically they are called complements but calling them ‘jigsaw numbers’ makes them far more accessible and Memorable for children. I know the missing piece to 10 I know the missing piece to the next multiple of 10 I know the missing piece to 100 I know the missing piece to 1000 I know the missing decimal piece

How Can I Support My Child? Help your child to practise their ‘Learn Its’ at home when they come to this. Ask your child to discuss their Big Maths experiences with you as this helps reinforce what we are beginning to introduce here at school. Praise! Celebrate the successes. Make maths fun, active and appealing! As a school, we are developing a leaflet to share with you at home as we implement this approach within Low Port.