Numeracy

What is number sense?

Number sense begins in the early years and continues throughout children’s schooling. It enables us to think about numbers and represent them visually; solve everyday problems and know when our answers are reasonable. Research has found that many students who struggle with mathematics, lack the number sense needed to know how to solve a math problem. Jo Boaler, Professor in Mathematics at Stanford University, presents a short video called What is Number Sense? which shows what students do when they use number sense to solve math problems.

Terminology

• What is an acute angle, a quotient or a trapezium? A Maths Dictionary for Kids by Jenny Eather can help you to easily check the meaning of maths vocabulary. This is a very useful dictionary for both teacher aides and parents.

Fractions

• Eddie Woo records classroom lessons and shares these videos on his Woo Tube channel. He has now expanded the videos to cover areas such as technology, however the following link is about mathematics. Mr Woo’s explanation of integers is informative, and begins by exploring the meaning of the word. This is another illustration of the importance of students’ understanding of academic content words. 

Spatial Reasoning

• In 5 Compelling Reasons for Teaching Spatial Reasoning to Young Children, it is explained why we should include more of a focus on spatial reasoning in the classroom. According to research, the quality of block play at 4 years of age is a predictor of high school math achievement, and spatial reasoning can improve number sense in students who struggle in this area.

Useful Resources

The youcubed website by Dr Joanne Boaler is full of practical ideas and useful resources about mathematics teaching and learning.