Category Archives: Tools

Avoid  the TRAP of Algorithms!

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It is not our usual habit to run commercials or advertisements, but this is exactly what we have been talking about with our students and the teachers we train. Great book:

Developing Mathematical Reasoning: Avoiding the Trap of Algorithms illuminates a hierarchy of mathematical reasoning to help teachers guide students through various domains of math development, from basic counting and adding to more complex proportional and functional reasoning.

Get the book HERE

Download and use Pirate math

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Rigorous evaluations of all four iterations of Pirate Math Equation Quest indicated that third- and fourth-grade students experiencing mathematics difficulty demonstrated improved word-problem performance with Pirate Math Equation Quest compared to students who did not participate in the intervention

See all their wonderful tools HERE

Use manipulatives

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So much fantastic work has been done on using manipulatives within maths lessons. For example, counters in ten frames can be used to model addition calculations that border ten. This highlights efficient mental strategies, helping children to move beyond counting strategies. Similarly, place value counters can be used to conceptually understand a column subtraction, modelling the process of regrouping. In these instances, the manipulatives can bring to life the key mathematical ideas, leading children to a deeper understanding.

Often, though, manipulatives can be used less frequently as children move through KS2. Also, their use can be primarily in developing number fluency, rather than being used as a tool for problem-solving.

How, then, can manipulatives be used in KS2 for all children, to develop a deep understanding of more complex mathematical ideas?

Read the whole article HERE

six strategies that encourage students to explore, create, reflect, and connect—even during the testing season

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When state testing season arrives, classroom routines can quickly fall apart. Schedules shift, instructional time is cut, and students often sense the disruption. It’s easy for learning to take a backseat, but it doesn’t have to.

Read this interesting article HERE

Dyscalculia in the mud

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Teaching outside helps kids with dyscalculia engage in hands-on, real-world math experiences, making abstract concepts more tangible and easier to grasp.

See the instagram post HERE