Primary Maths

Practising SATs-style questions

To help prepare pupils for SATs, we can build their confidence by revising topics and making sure they know what to expect. Here are some ways to make sure pupils are familiar with the style of the SATs papers and questions. General principles Always start any SATs practice work with… Read More

Homework to prepare for the SATs: KS2 Maths

To make sure pupils get the SATs practice they need, it makes sense to set homework that also involves parents/carers. Here are some things to consider. Set short, focused activities, following on from work in school While children need practice in tackling a mixture of problems on different topics,… Read More

The Multiplication Tables Check – what do you need to know?

The introduction of the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) means schools and teachers are looking for new ways to develop speed and recall of multiplication facts up to 12 x 12. What is expected of pupils? The incoming MTC is set to be administered online in timed conditions… Read More

Teaching for mastery: The pros and cons

Written by Jo Lees Jo has taught and led mathematics in primary and secondary settings. She is a former member of ACME and is on the MA committee for CPD. In her current post, apart from co-authoring The Shanghai Maths Project for Collins, Jo leads a large local authority… Read More

Questioning for Mathematical Reasoning

The 2014 National Curriculum for mathematics has three main aims- it seeks to enable pupils to develop fluency, problem solving and reasoning in mathematics. I work in a relatively large local authority, supporting teachers of mathematics to improve outcomes for pupils, amongst other things. Following the 2016 end of Key… Read More

Explaining a mastery approach to parents/carers

Every new generation of parents must scratch their heads when their children show them their maths homework, with methods of teaching and learning mathematics going through more changes than any other subject. Over the past fifty years there has been rote learning, then ‘new maths’, discovery learning, set theory and… Read More

What is Teaching for Mastery?

Mastery is not a new idea, but perhaps it seems like a new word that has been used for something we have always wanted for children – for them to understand conceptually and procedurally the mathematics they are learning. For this to happen, a number of things need to… Read More

‘@CollinsPrimary host ‘A Mastery in Maths’ special Twitter chat with Primary Rocks

On Monday 24th April 2017 at 8pm we co-hosted a Twitter edchat with Primary Rocks and @grahamandre. The discussion topic was teaching for mastery in Primary maths and these were the questions: We had a fantastic response rate and loved hearing directly from teachers about their experiences and opinions on… Read More

Cultivating Curiosity

At the end of last year I was asked to speak at The Educational Collaborative for International Schools (ECIS) Educators Conference in Copenhagen. The theme of the conference was Cultivating Curiosity, not just from the viewpoint of inquiry as a catalyst for learning, but also in trying to… Read More

Teaching activities to celebrate Euro 2016

Fans of English football will recognise that this summer marks the 50th anniversary of England beating Germany in 1966 to win the World Cup. Fifty years on, England, with their array of footballing stars, will be seeking a Euro win after winning all of their qualifying matches. This series of activities will help your class get into the excitement of Euro 2016 whilst learning new skills and knowledge. Read More