Mar 03 2008
Yr 6C Maths
YEAR 6, C MATHS GROUP – INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
The main priority for this group, is to improve each student’s understanding of number.
In particular I am focusing on the following aspects during Semester 1:
- Place value of whole numbers (from 3 digits through to large numbers in the millions)
- The structure of the base 10 system and the patterns within it
- Automatic response to basic addition and subtraction facts - speed and accuracy
- Patterns relating to addition and subtraction and place value
- Solving addition and subtraction word problems (where the emphasis is on being able to recognise what process to use) – starting with 2 digit numbers and working towards 3 & 4 digits
- Solving multiplication and division word problems (where the emphasis is on being able to recognise what process to use) – starting with 2 digit numbers and working towards 3 & 4 digits
I strongly believe that if your son has sound understanding of the number system, then he can use those understandings to work at a higher level and in other areas eg measurement or geometry.
How can you help?
I have parents regularly ask how they can help their son improve their understanding of maths. Below are some examples of how you can help. These can be done mentally or with pen and paper. They can be done many times – repetition is beneficial.
- Lots of additions or subtractions that follow a pattern eg 2 + 10, 12 + 10, 22 + 10, etc; or 105 – 10, 95 -10, 85 -10, etc. This helps cement the understanding of the base ten pattern of our number system. Make them more challenging by adding or subtracting 100, eg 2 + 100, 102 + 100; or by starting with a larger number eg 382 + 10. You can also try adding or subtracting 1000.
- How many to make 10? eg if I start with 3? Repeat until it is automatic for all 10 combinations.
- How many to make 100? Eg if I start with 32? or 67, etc.
- How many to make 1000? Start with easy ones eg 300, 600, 400, etc. then move on to ones that end in fifty, eg 350, 650, 450, etc. Then move on to ones that end in other tens eg 370, 420, etc. (The how to make a hundred should help with this.) After this try ones that end in multiples of five eg 345, 285, etc. Finally, choose any number under 1000 eg 987, 142, etc. Using patterns when doing this can also help eg 247, then 347; or 247 then 257, so once again the base ten system is emphasised.
- Give table questions eg 7 x 8. Do them in order or randomly. The 2, 5 and 10 times tables are the easiest. Then the 3 and 4. Use the 3s to do the 6s (say every second number of the 3s to get the 6s. And do the same with the 4s and 8s.) Then do the 7, 11 and 12 time tables.
- Word problems. Make them up in the car when travelling somewhere and always start easy so that they feel success at the beginning, eg I had one dollar and bought a mini mars bar for 40 cents, how much left?; or John had 15 marbles and won another 10, how many does he have now. Try addition, subtraction, multiplication and division – keep them easy enough to do in your head.
Colin Becker – March 4, 2008
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