Parents’ TalkBallygarvan NS March 2014

4 items for discussion

1. Homework Policy2. Uniform Policy3. Anti-Bullying Policy Review4. Numeracy/Maths advice for parents

Homework Policy

Pupils:150 pupils responded to questionnaire• 90% said homework was important• At the senior end discrepancies arising eg 3rd

class taking longer to do homework than 4th

• 93% of pupils have access to internetParents:154 Parents responded93% said homework was important and agreed on same priority areas

Homework Policy continued

• 93% of parents do not want homework given at weekends

• 47% of parents believe homework in senior classes takes too long

• 88% of pupils have access to internet

Proposals following analysis of homework questionnaires

• Update and Circulate Homework Policy on school website following this review (Largely unchanged)

• No homework at weekends except occasionally and in exceptional circumstances, (subject to review).

• Class teachers consult to make sure amount given is gradually increasing throughout the school year and the class levels.

• Class teachers consult to ensure items being covered are consistent between same grades and between successive grades.

• Principal will collect samples of good practice in the area of homework being given in each class at different times in the year. This will be kept on file for staff.

• Principal will feedback to parents at PA Meeting

Uniform Policy

62 Respondents

• 97 % of respondents want a school uniform and over 90% chose the options for the school uniform that we have at present.

• We will not therefore be making any alterations to the existing uniform apart from trying to source an iron-on crest.

Anti-Bullying Policy Review

Review has to be undertaken in all schools in this term

• Principal attending seminar• Talk arranged for all staff, BOM and Parents on

31st March. Looking for parental input.• Principal will get input from some senior pupils-

( 4th/5th and 6th)• Revised policy will be available on website or

from the school office on request

10 Ways to Help Your Child Learn Maths

Seán DelaneyMarino Institute of Education

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We’ve all been here….!

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1. Promote a Positive Attitude to Maths

I was never any good at maths

myself

Some people are just good at maths and others are not

Sure when do you ever use algebra in

real life?

You’re doing honours maths? You must be a genius!

It’s not about the test!!

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2. Look at Tables Differently

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Learn Related Facts Together:6 + 7 = 137 + 6 = 1313 – 7 = 6 13 – 6 = 7

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Learning Number Facts

The fact table below shows the strategies that can be used with addition facts.

Introducing the ConceptDeveloping the Concept

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Addition Table

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Hundred Square

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Multiplication Table

3. Ask Your Child to Teach You Maths

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3. Ask Your Child to Teach You Maths

5 – 1

72 – 48

1 ½ + 3 ¼

148 ÷ 7

Find 10 % of 76

Say it out loud! Talk through every step

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4. Encourage Your Child to be Independent in Maths

http://blogs.psychcentral.com/always-learning/files/2010/05/math-mistakes-May-5-2010-003.jpg

From Maths Lab 2007

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5. Use Maths with your Child in Daily Life

Where in the school can a Blue Whale fit? (30m in length)

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6. Display Maths Work at Home

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7. Communicate with your Child’s Teacher

http://www.ncca.ie/uploadedfiles/G.5.%20Test%20results1.jpg

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7. Communicate with your Child’s Teacher

http://www.ncca.ie/uploadedfiles/G.5.%20Test%20results1.jpg

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Introduction to Addition Note This is the way we are doing renaming, please follow the same steps to avoid confusion. Take the sum 34+48Step 1Write T and U over the sum to help. TU 34+48Step 2 – U always start with Units and from the bottom.8+4 is 12 Can I have 12 units? No2 Units go under the Units and my Ten goes up under my Tens. Start from the bottom again, 1+4 is 5, 5+3=8TU 34+418 82

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Here is a list of the Maths topics covered so far by pupils in second class. How many ways can you make a specific number using two numbers e.g. 6 and 4 make 10, 3 + 7 make 10Adding both ways e.g. 2 + 6 is the same as 6 + 2Doubles e.g. Double 34= 34 +34= 68Drawing a sum e.g. 12-5 Addition- Sums with brackets e.g. (7+2) + 4= and add what is in brackets firstFriendly numbers i.e. 2 numbers that make 10 when you add them2d shapes e.g. circle, square. What are they called? How many sides, corners?3d shapes e.g. cube, cylinder. How many sides, faces, corners?EstimatingRounding up and down a number to the nearest 10 e.g. 24 rounds down to 20 and 38 rounds up to 40Skip counting e.g. 4, 8, 12e.g. How many fingers do 8 people have, how many legs do 6 people have?Addition with and without number- line and 100 squareSubtraction with and without number- line and 100 squareSubtraction with renaming e.g. 65-38= Missing numbers and empty boxes e.g. 12 + = 20, +5= 15, 20= 4 + , 13- = 8, -5= 12 Place value e.g. 35 is the same as 3 tens and 5 units Comparing and Ordering (Greater than and less than) and recognizing the signs for each.eg.Finding square corners in letters and shapes e.g.Understanding word problems and language aswell as knowing how to change the words into a sum:e.g. Find the difference between x and x, Find the sum of x and x, What change do I get out of 50c if I buy a lollipop for 24c? I need 15 cards for a full set but I only have 7…how many more do I need?The months of the year inc. their orderThe days of the weekThe seasons inc. which season comes after spring, before winter etc. Also which months are in which season.Finding lines of symmetry in a shape Any further queries, please don’t hesitate to contact me.R. Manley

Dear Parents,This week in maths we are starting a new unit on capacity. We have a capacity table in school with lots of different sized containers. Here we will compare containers using the following vocabulary: Empty, full, small, little, large, to the top, fill, how many? Holds more than, holds less than, the same as, soaks, overflows, level.At home it would be helpful if you discuss the difference between ‘empty’ and ‘full’. Emphasise that ‘full’ means ‘up to the top’. Let them experiment at the sink with various different size containers. How many little bottles will it take to fill this big bottle? etc.

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Some kids love making a mess!

8. Be Realistic about Textbooks

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8. Be Realistic about Textbooks

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9. Challenge a High-Achieving Child

MSW Logo

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Websites

• Logo: http://www.softronix.com/logo.html• Geogebra: http://www.geogebra.org/cms/• Geogebra (Primary School Version):

http://www.geogebra.org/en/wiki/index.php/Release_Notes_GeoGebra_4.0#GeoGebraPrim

• Scratch: http://www.scratch.mit.edu•

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10. Play Games that Encourage Mathematical Thinking eg

Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, Cards, Lego

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Websites we use

• www.scoilnet.ie Irish Curriculum areas• www.ncca.ie Info for parents on all curricular

areas• www.topmarks.co.uk• www.coolmaths4kids.com• www.4to12maths.com• www.funforthebrain.com• “Harry’s Tables”-Fun way of learning tables

through rhymes- book available in Eason’s.

What we are doing in Ballygarvan?

1. Communicating to parents about Maths language and methodologies

2. Being more consistent in approach throughout the school eg RUDE

3. Using more concrete materials4. Practical/Real-life Maths5. Making better use of assessments6. NCCA leaflets and info on website:www.ncca.ie

Remember!