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The purpose of teaching maths is to
enable children to understand arithmetic, shapes, and measurement,
to handle mathematical information, and to help them develop the
skills to use these in every day life.
In the primary school, the National Curriculum divides maths into
four areas:
- Using and Applying Mathematics
- Number
- Shape, Space and Measures
- Handling Data
Using and Applying Mathematics
In this area, children are taught how to apply maths to everyday
situations, including the use of mathematical terms and vocabulary.
Number
This area covers counting, adding, subtracting, multiplying and
dividing. As well as learning tables "off by heart" (by the end of
Junior school), children practice mental arithmetic and various ways
of writing sums out. They learn how to read problems and work out
how to solve them.
Shape, Space and Measures
This area includes learning about the properties of shapes (such as
triangles, squares and rectangles), including their names and what
makes them the similar to, and different from, each other. It also
includes learning about measurement - length, area, volume and
weight - and how to use measuring equipment such as rulers and
scales. Finally, it includes learning to tell the time.
Handling Data
This begins to be taught at Key Stage 2, in the Juniors, and
includes learning how to collect and sort information, and how to
present it in graphs and charts.
The Numeracy Hour
Following on from the Literacy Hour, the government will be issuing
guidelines for all schools to incorporate a Numeracy Hour into their
daily routines. Check back here for more information later!
Maths Year 2000
If you are looking to increase your knowledge, and your families
knowledge of mathematics in the new millennium, you may be
interested to know that Maths Year 2000 launches in January to
increase the understanding and awareness of maths for everyone. The
project wants to help create a "let's do - can do" attitude towards
maths and give everyone the chance to increase their confidence and
maths skills and discover the fun and excitement of numbers.
Helping your child at home
There are plenty of things that you can do to help your child at
home. Even children as young as four can expect homework, see
Parents On-Line for more information on helping your child at home.
http://www.parents.org.uk
Parents On-Line have developed a range of downloadable modules that
contain all the resources to help at home. These include games,
activities and printable worksheets. |
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