Maths
At Linthwaite Ardron, we use Power Maths. Power Maths is an exciting whole-class mastery approach, which has been recommended by the DfE. It is a resource that has been created for UK schools based on research and extensive experience of teaching and learning around the world and here in the UK. It has been designed to support and challenge all pupils, building on the belief that every child can become a successful mathematician.
How does this support our approach to teaching?
The philosophy behind Power Maths is that being successful in maths is not just about rote learning procedures and methods, but is instead about problem solving, thinking and discussing. Power Maths includes practice questions to help children develop fluent recall and their conceptual understanding. Power Maths uses growth mindset characters to prompt, encourage and question children. They spark curiosity, engage reasoning, secure understanding and deepen learning for all.
How do we structure our maths lessons?
Every lesson is divided into sections that involve plenty of discovery, sharing, collaboration, practice and reflection. Children are encouraged to solve problems each day through the use of concrete resources, pictorial representations and abstract thinking.
- Discover – Each lesson begins with a problem to solve, often a real-life example, sometimes a puzzle or a game. These are engaging and fun, designed to get all children thinking.
- Share – The class shares their ideas and compares different ways to solve the problem, explaining their reasoning with hands-on resources and drawings to make their ideas clear. Children are able to develop their understanding of the concept with input from the teacher.
- Think together – This is a journey through the concept, digging deeper so that each child builds on secure foundations while being challenged to apply their understanding in different ways and with increasing independence.
- Practice – Children practice individually or in small groups, rehearsing and developing their skills to build fluency, understanding of the concept and confidence.
- Reflect – Finally, children are prompted to reflect on and record their learning from each session and show how they have grasped the concept explored.
How do we support and challenge our pupils?
- Power Maths is based on a ‘small-steps’ approach, sometimes called a ‘mastery approach’. The concepts are broken down so that children can master one idea without feeling over-whelmed.
- There are a range of fluency, reasoning and problem solving questions in each lesson that are designed to support the different needs and confidence levels within a class. Each lesson includes challenge questions for those children who can delve deeper into a concept.
- We use manipulatives and representations to support learning and to deepen children's understanding.
- Appropriate mathematical vocabulary is used and supported by the learning environment and teacher questioning.
- Children who may have misconceptions of a concept are supported through 'strengthen' activities.
- Challenge for pupils grasping concepts quickly is provided through depth and breadth of experience and 'deepen' activities.
Please click on the links below for further information and documentation.
