Here is the best way to help your child at home with their procedural fluency in mathematics. What’s even better is that you can help your child with one maths game that can be adjusted for all students in Years 1-8. Interested?
Rob Profit-White, an international expert in the teaching and learning of mathematics, shared his expertise with five Taupō schools. He recommended that a relatively simple math game called Number Boxes was the best way for parents to help their children with maths.
Although it may seem like a bold statement, Rob Profit-White certainly knows his subject well, and the teachers at Wairakei Primary School quickly returned to their classrooms to teach this game to their students.
Room 10 got started with a two-digit plus a one-digit game of number boxes with a target number of 35.
Students drew a number line below their number boxes to help them keep track of their addition and make the best decisions about what digits to keep and what to throw away.
Tracey-Anne identified that Number Boxes was an easy game to play at home because you only need scrap paper and a pen. The tricky bit was having a ten-sided dice. Instead of a dice, she decided you could use a pack of cards and make one of the picture cards a zero.
Ella suggested a normal dice would be easier to find at home, or you could probably find a digital dice pretty easily.
Adam decided that they could play the games with their younger siblings by making it a one-digit number box plus another one-digit number box and having a smaller target number like 12.
Victoria thought she might be ready to tackle a four-digit box game with her older brother. Ella wanted to try a multiplication number box game.
The flexibility of Number Boxes is easy to see. The addition of a number line helps support students with their procedural fluency.
Ask your child what, how, and why questions as you play the game. This will help them to think, talk, and act like a mathematician.
Thinking Questions
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What is the answer?
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How did you get your answer?
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Why do you know it is a reasonable answer?
Room 2 - Year 5 & 6 class, has also been playing Number Boxes. They also started with a two-digit and a one-digit number. To add to the challenge, this senior class had to decide on their own target numbers.
Room 13 - Year 2 class learnt Number Boxes too. Check out this version of the game, which adds three one-digit numbers together.
A teacher’s core job, according to educational consultant Neill O’Reilly, is to ‘cause learning’. This is a simply-worded, yet aspirational goal for one teacher in a dynamic classroom environment. It clarifies why teachers do what they do each day, and the ‘why’ is very important.
Having been a teacher here since 2014, I am passionate about Wairakei Primary School. The school’s values provide a superb foundation for learning to happen, and staff and students live these values every day. The school has a busy and unique setting, a variety of active students, friendly whānau and many hardworking professionals.
Literacy, numeracy and languages are my passions in education. I believe in the importance of the basics and preparing each child for continued success in their later school and working years. Getting something just right is important to me and I admire students who put in the effort needed to achieve at their own pace. Providing support and extension is important and something Wairakei Primary School does well. Teaching in the senior school is my area of focus.
One of the rewarding roles I have is being staff representative for the Board of Trustees. My spare time is spent gardening and biking.
Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.
– Anthony J. D'Angelo
My goal is to provide learning opportunities that inspire students to be curious and creative. In a supportive environment students will explore, question and discover elements of the world around them.
Specialising in literacy education has meant I can support students to develop their reading skills. Sharing engaging stories with vibrant illustrations are a stepping stone to creating a range of unique artworks that are displayed with pride.
This hands-on approach is an important part of learning in my classroom. Students discover how words and numbers work using materials. They participate in science experiments, physical activities and creative pursuits. By accepting challenges, taking risks, making mistakes and problem solving students develop an understanding of their capabilities and develop resilience.
When I am not in the classroom I can be found in the garden. It is my connection to the natural world. The time taken to nurture and care for plants is rewarded by experiencing the beauty of flowers blooming and the taste of fresh fruit and vegetables. The sensory connection I have when gardening inspires many art projects in my class. It is important that students believe their ideas and opinions are valued and they have the opportunity to share their personal experiences. I believe that classrooms are successful when a collaborative learning environment is created by students, teachers, whānau and the school community working and celebrating progress together.
Every child deserves a classroom where they feel valued and well liked by their teacher. This is a goal of mine as it makes a safe place for students to learn and grow. While I enjoy all areas of teaching and learning, mathematics is a particular passion. Supporting students to make connections between mathematical ideas and identify patterns and rules in our number system gets me very excited.
In my classroom students are encouraged to be brave, cooperative, and open to learning. It is a safe place to take a risk. Reflection is important, along with the celebration of student success.
When not at school, time spent mountain biking and exercising my energetic dog keeps me fit for a busy classroom. Helping students learn and develop is at the centre of everything I do and I am happy to continue this journey at Wairakei Primary School.
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