INSPIRATIONAL MATHEMATICS WEEK
Last week, students celebrated all things mathematical as part of 'Week of Inspirational Mathematics'. Students were delighted to be able to welcome parents and grandparents into their classrooms to share in their learning.
Activities during the week also took place before school, with the students working on mathematical puzzles, as well as in lessons across the curriculum. Mr Grew, for example, got the students to form groups of different numbers during their PE lessons and then skip count in those numbers. The week culminated in a whole campus activity, where students investigated how far they could reach if they stood fingertip to fingertip.
Students had lots of fun while learning and they will continue to do so as mathematics lessons continue into the future. Our aim here at St Joseph's with the Inspire Mathematics project that we are involved in are:
- to improve the mindsets of all students towards mathematics, so that they see the learning in this subject area as a positive experience.
- to make connections between what students learn at school and mathematics in everyday context.
- to enable students to be able to explain their mathematical thinking rather than just complete processes.
- to recognise that mistakes are an important part of the learning process, which help our brains grow important connections.
- to understand that learning is not always easy and that sometimes we have to go into "the pit".
Parents are encouraged to take every opportunity possible to discuss 'maths moments' with their children as they occur. However, don't be too eager to provide solutions as the real learning takes place when children struggle - and sometimes fail. It is not easy for parents to take a step back and allow mistakes to be made but research very clearly indicates that this is beneficial.
