Week 3

Despite all these students showing up as just below on the PAT math assessment and at a similar level, I am finding their knowledge very different, so much that I started doing individual teaching on one day. I am thinking of creating individualised ICT lessons to guide their progress and allow me to work with pairs and individuals. They have repeatedly asked to use computers, so it may be a hook for them.

Already three of them are splitting place value, although it is not consistent, so when they where struggling to see how to split the numbers I got out our money. They quickly ask for change to subtract amounts which was my aim. I'll use more money activities next week to reinforce.

I got out cubes and tried the famous YouCubed "How is the pattern growing" activity. Only one boy really got it but I think I didn't guide the talk around it very well, so will try again next week with another pattern.

Week 2

This week we scattered the cards and played speed pick, cards that add to 10. Some of the group do not seem to have this basic knowledge, while the ones who do, it helps their speed recognition. We also used cubes and whiteboards to find all the 10's facts, with the students seeing the 1-10 pattern.

In an effort to help them understand place value in addition and subtraction problems, especially crossing the 10's, I used the abacus and 100's board. Both were useful although I would like to find some more material ideas.

However most importantly the students are acting more confident and showing more growth mindset when thinking about themselves as mathematicians.