How do we teach maths? At Minerva Primary School we follow a mastery approach to teaching maths using the Can Do maths resources and principles from Buzzard Publishing. Our lessons consist of new learning, deliberate practise, reasoning and problem solving, Maths on Track (M.O.T.) and times table teaching/practising. We believe all children should get the opportunity to deepen their understanding.
‘New learning’ lesson structure. These lessons follow a structure to help all children achieve and to get the chance to deepen their understanding. These lessons take place four to five times a week. The lesson structure is as follows:
Hook/anchor task – An anchor task/hook is frequently used to engage the pupils in their learning. Pupils are given time to explore problems. This creates a clear purpose to the learning and provides a climate where questioning and mistakes are celebrated.
Teach it – Concrete and pictorial representations are chosen carefully to help build procedural and conceptual knowledge together. Practise it – Children practise their new learning (and methods) with support as needed from a peer or adult. All children can achieve. Do it – Children experience success by having a go at a few straightforward examples independently, including what it is and what it is also. Twist it – ‘What it is not’ (a key misconception) is used to secure understanding of what the learning is. Children have a go independently and a class discussion explores it further. All pupils are expected to develop at least a secure understanding of each small key learning point. This is a chance to secure learning. Deepen it – Opportunities to solve problems applying the key learning. This can further develop confidence, understanding and apply the skill to other contexts. Conclude it – A short summary of key learning.
Other lessons. Deliberate practise – these lessons take place when a skill needs further and deliberate practise. They consist of using the skills from a new learning lesson and giving further practise through solving more calculations.
Reasoning and problem solving – these lessons use the skills learnt and put them in different contexts to ensure the children can tackle challenges and solve calculations when put to them in different ways. They will consist of word problems and puzzles in order to challenge thinking, apply knowledge and deepen understanding.
M.O.T. – These are sessions that take place in addition to the new learning lessons. These are opportunities for deliberate practise, maths games, working one-to-one or with small groups of learners to re-cap or extend learning and working on times tables. These take place four to five times a week also.
Times tables – At Minerva School, we understand it is important to teach times tables using a variety of models and approaches, as well as providing opportunities for formative tests. We have dedicated sessions which focus on an individual times tables as a class, small groups and one-to-one. We use an online programme Times Tables Rock Stars to aid engagement and support home learning.
