Would you like to help your child with maths?

Hopefully the following pages will help you to do just that!

Calculating Mentally

The expectation, for the average child, is that he/she is able to mentally add or subtract any pair of 2 digit numbers by the age of 8 or 9. The  child should also know their 2,5 and 10 times table by heart.

Formal written calculation should not be taught until these have been achieved. This development stage will vary considerably from child to child.

Key skills and understanding include:

Know number bonds up to 20- all addition/subtraction facts, up to 20, and their inverse.

3 + 4 = 7
4 + 3 = 7
7 – 3 = 4
7 – 4 = 3
By knowing one fact, we know at least three others

Deriving facts from known facts

If we know   3 + 4 = 7, then we also know
30 + 40 =70 and
                   300 + 400 =700, and, later,
0.3 + 0.4 = 0.7
 

Multiplication tables and division facts.

3 x 4 = 12
4 x 3 = 12
12 ÷ 3 = 4
12 ÷ 4 = 3
By knowing one fact, we know at least three others
 

Calculations are presented horizontally to ensure children focus on the numbers involved and develop mental strategies for quick, efficient working out.

28 + 11 = 28 + 10 + 1 = 39
25 + 26 = 25 + 25 + 1 = 51
162 – 99 = 162 – 100 + 1 = 63
 

Children must be able to mentally add/subtract any pair of 2 digit numbers before moving on to formal written calculations. Informal jottings should be encouraged to support this process:

e.g. the use of a number line