Getting it all in...maths and the second day of Forest School

This is our last Maths Main Lesson block, although we do 10 mins of maths every day. However, it is SUCH a contrast from when we first began and there were the number gnomes and everything was very visual and sweet...here is a typical board from the day...

We are counting in threes and sixes. We do sense of number - 20 and we do division. I have come to since realise that Class One and Two are quite similar in terms of numberacy and literacy. You are basically getting the foundations really strong during these years so that the children will be able to build on them and thus minimise the risk of dyscalcula. Which sounds like a relation of Dracula, but is not. It is like dyslexia, but really it can be minimised if children are not afraid of maths.

I cannot tell you how much fun we have in class when we do maths. In fact when i say we are doing division they are delighted and go yay!

So maths is an inner movement which is helped by outer movements. We walk the tables, we count it clapping. We use little clay beads/marbles which they have made themselves to make division a real thing. My idea is that as they are learning to count in groups they are also learning to divide in groups. Next year we will get them to memorise the tables and to do division mentally - which a few of them can already do.

I set them exercises and they are absolutely allowed to use their fingers or to use the claybeads. What we want now is to establish their sense of number and give them every confidence that maths is something which is wonderful and challenging.

Here is a board from a group which did division by 2, 3 and 4

Worksheet from a group which did a more complicated division
I had set a few tricks for them and they loved it

Another group that did some work independently

I do my own worksheets

I keep the gnomes in to keep the quality of the numbers and the operations. They also let me decorate the sheets appropriately. The little balls also echo the clay marbles which we use. I help children that can't do the work independently. It is far far better that children feel confident in asking for help than if they suffer on their own and feel they are floundering. Recently a child learnt to do addition. I was delighted. This time round they understood division. I cannot tell you the remarkable feeling of happiness that you see on their faces when the penny drops. It is like the sun suddenly comes out and shines over everything.

The more advanced side

We have not left form drawing behind as you can see!! We do it everyday still. Some children who struggled at the start are now excellent at it. It will really aid their cursive handwriting skills later on.

Sense of number - 20

Forest School...the elemental of Water

The children pretend to fish!

The flag with more leaves! We sewed 12 on this week



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A sunfilled day in a wood splashing about
it does not get better than this



Next week we count in sevens

The fairytale this week was the Firebird, a Russian one. It was lovely when i asked, what shape does the seven star also make? And one child was able to say 3!!

We have another two more days of the Maths Main Lesson and then we go back to English and Literacy.

Close up of our flag

Our sunflower seeds have grown

All over the school are sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds sprouting away! Can't wait to see them when we come back from the holidays!