Gems of maths understanding or ‘ah-ha’ moments are often similar for teachers regardless of their location Over the past 25 years, I have been very fortunate that my business has given me the opportunity to travel and work in several countries. During this time, I have delivered thousands of hours of professional learning to help […]
READ MOREFocus on Fractions: A Visual Model to Teach Multiplication and Division of Fractions
Employing Computational Thinking when teaching multiplication and division of fractions. There are a few statements from primary school mathematics that seem to be universally imprinted in the minds of adults. Two of these relate to multiplying and dividing fractions. For multiplication, adults usually recall the rule, “Multiply the top numbers and multiply the bottom numbers.” […]
READ MORELanguage in Mathematics: Parents Teaching the Concept of Multiplication
What’s a parent to do with two children, two approaches, and two vastly different outcomes in teaching the concept of multiplication? Similar to those reading this article, I am passionate about mathematics education, and as a parent of two young children, I am very interested in the homework they bring home! In this article, I […]
READ MOREThe Stepping Stones to a Prosperous Career
Did you know that in 2016, the University of Sydney revealed up to 62 degrees would require the completion of Higher School Certificate Mathematics, at a higher level than General Maths? In the latest edition of Education Matters magazine, ORIGO Education founder, James Burnett explains how a solid maths education is key to preparing students […]
READ MOREThe Doubling Strategy for Multiplication
The doubling strategy is great for multiplication! What strategies could you use to solve this problem mentally? What strategies would your students use? When I pose this problem to teachers in professional learning sessions, many mental strategies get revealed. Here are just a few that are often shared. “Double sixteen, then double the result.” “Multiply […]
READ MOREThink Multiplication to Make Division Facts Easy
The think-multiplication strategy is the key for learning the division facts with ease! Division facts. They just may be the most challenging of the number facts to learn. But they don’t have to be challenging at all. Using the think-multiplication strategy is the key! Students who know the multiplication and division facts and who understand […]
READ MOREEffective Strategies for Mastering the Nines and Sixes
The nines and sixes multiplication facts are a breeze with the build-down and build-up strategies! The nines and sixes multiplication facts are sometimes considered harder to learn than the other basic facts. With the right foundation and the multiplication strategies described in this article, they can be a breeze! Let’s start with the foundation. Fluent […]
READ MORESkip the Skip-Counting Strategy for the Fives Facts – The Use-Tens Strategy is Better!
The use-tens strategy for multiplication For over a decade I’ve had the privilege of working alongside teachers to carefully consider the most effective ways to teach their students maths concepts and skills. One skill that teachers have described as challenging for students is fluently recalling the fives multiplication facts. When I investigate further, I often […]
READ MOREProblem-Solving: Using the Right Problem at the Right Time to Challenge Students
This article is the first in a four-part series on problem-solving. Remember Goldilocks? She was looking for “just right” as she rummaged through the house of the three bears. As teachers, we’re also looking for “just right.” How do we offer our students mathematical challenges which are “just right?” This question applies to the classroom […]
READ MOREPowerful Strategies for Teaching Number Facts
Auri was a precocious 9-year-old who would often struggle with math. Auri’s teacher, Mrs. Farmer, noticed that she would grow tired and get easily frustrated when trying to mentally solve even some of the simplest problems. The good news was that Mrs. Farmer was an expert teacher and knew how to help Auri move from […]
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