5 Bringing Maths to Life

Match some of the activities we did today with the concepts they help convey.

• icecream sticks and matchsticks

• fraction addition

• 1-2-3 chits

• Measurement

• paper folding

• place value and ascending & descending order

• Tailor's shop

• multi-digit operations

How do pairs enhance learning in maths? (Tick all that apply)

• Children ask each other questions

• Children explain concepts to each other

• If a pair is struggling, they can ask another pair for help

• One child can use the hands on material while the other writes, then vice-versa

What is a good way to handle a diversity of mathematics levels in the classroom?

• Separate the strong and weak learners into groups

• Ignore different levels, tell everyone to do the same questions

• Allow different pairs to work at their own pace

• Proceed at the pace of the syllabus, regardless of level

What order do we follow in ALfA Numeracy?

• Concrete: children use physical objects (e.g. ice-cream sticks and matchsticks)

• Abstract: Children use mathematical notation (e.g. numbers and operations)

• Questions: Children make more questions for each other

• Pictorial: children represent this symbolically (e.g. tally marks)

What is the ALfA approach to teaching maths facts like the times tables.

• There's no need for children to learn this

• Children must memorize through rote learning

• It's best to learn through activities and games