Calculation
The 2014 National Curriculum changes, and the introduction of a national arithmetic paper from 2016, necessitated a review of calculation policies and procedures. Following collaboration with Liz Hopkins (author at Buzzard Publishing) here we provide several documents that should help primary and secondary schools in this process.
- Progression in Addition and Subtraction
- Progression in Multiplication and Division
- Calculation Overview
Times Tables
A collection of resources to improve pupils’ recall of the multiplication and division facts up to 12 × 12 and become a Medi (‘Maths Jedi’!) at knowing their times tables.
Posters
Practice
Problem solving and reasoning resources
These Tarsia activities support problem solving and reasoning. Note that you will need to install Tarsia software to access the contents of these zip files:
- Set 1: Basic. Pupils cut out the pieces and solve the puzzle using multiplication and division facts. Some puzzles may include a missing answer indicated by a question mark. If this is the case, pupils need to solve the puzzle to find the missing value.
- Set 2: Maths Detective. These puzzles contain mistakes. Print out the solution page and ask pupils to find all the mistakes. Some puzzles may include a missing answer indicated by a question mark. If this is the case, pupils need to solve the puzzle to find the missing value.
- Set 3: Connect. Pupils cut out the pieces and solve the puzzle using related multiplication and division facts. Some puzzles may include a missing answer indicated by a question mark. If this is the case, pupils need to solve the puzzle to find the missing value.
- Pattern sniffing (5× table). Print off the coded times tables in strips and ask the pupils to work out the times table that has been coded. The 5× table is the easy place to start. 9× table (medium) and 3× table (hard) versions are also available. Other times tables can be created using the ‘Wingdings’ font.
Fluency resources
These tasks support procedural fluency. Pupils complete the tasks using multiplication and/or division facts. When they can complete the tasks correctly, pupils can then be timed. Pupils aim to beat their Personal Best (PB) over time. Many thanks to the Maths Teams at Montgomery, Percy Shurmer and Anglesey AET Academies for developing and sharing the contents of these zip files.
Stick on the Maths
A ‘Stick on the Maths’ activity comprises a 3 by 3 grid with nine questions, statements or scenarios. Alongside this there are nine cards that can be placed on to the grid to provide a solution or fact that matches the question (statement or scenario).
We have found that pupils really engage with these activities when they are both provided on paper for them to move the cards around, while also displayed on screen at the front of the classroom. ‘Enabling content’ will allow you to view the activity ‘full screen’, and move the cards by clicking and dragging the border of the box.
You can also choose to hide the ‘solution’ cards for an alternative way of using the resource. Most of the activities can be used without the cards by challenging pupils to produce their own set of solutions. These can be could be shared with a partner, or written on post-it notes and placed on the projected image (hence, ‘Stick on the Maths’).
And yes, we know … they are still named and listed by old NC Levels. This is a job we haven’t quite found time for yet, but at some point we will rename everything. In the meantime, this is no reason not to use them! Once you’ve heard the reasoning that these problem-solving activities generate we are sure you will agree!
