Numeracy: middle primary years

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What do we mean by numeracy?

Children develop numeracy skills when they use mathematical ideas in their everyday situations. They begin to make sense of these situations by asking questions such as:

• How many?
• Does it fit?
• How big is it?
• Which way will I go?
• Is it likely to happen?
• How much is there?
• Will there be enough?

Families can help

You may feel that the maths children do at school is different from how you were taught, or that maths was not your best subject. You are however still able to help your child in many ways. This information will assist you in helping children learn and enjoy using their mathematical ideas in daily activities.

• Listening to, and talking with them about prices, directions for making things and the shape of materials they are using.
• Asking questions like:
  • What will happen if …?
  • Why does …?
  • How do you know that?
  • How did you work it out?

• Pointing outhow the right measurement is important when using a recipe or when following instructions to make or build something.

• Looking for opportunities where children can:
  • choose from a variety of materials of different shapes and sizes for games and for making things to play with
  • sort and organise things like collections of swap cards, coins, games, CDs and videos
  • be involved in making plans and designing their own cubbies, furniture and vehicles for use in their games.

How can families and schools work together?

• Talk with your child’s teacher about numeracy at home and at school and raise any concerns with them.
• Ask the teacher how you can support the class mathematics program at home.
• Help your child to enjoy the mathematics they do at school by talking positively about work they bring home.
• Support the teacher and school by attending parent meetings and volunteering your time or support.
• Find out how mathematics teaching has changed since you were at school.
• Find out how your child uses a calculator at school.
• Help your child to plan how much money she will need for her lunch or outings at school. For example, have her write the amount on envelopes and orders. Ask her to check if she has enough money.

Using the calculator to find out about numbers

When children play with their calculator they enjoy finding out what happens when they press different keys. Talk about what they did to change the numbers on the screen.

Use the calculator to count up to large numbers.

To count by 5s press:
5 + = = =

To count by 10s press:
1 0 + = = =

Try this with your child and see the numbers ‘grow’ on the screen. Ask your child to stop and predict which number comes next. Check to find out.

Some children like to say the numbers as they show on the screen and enjoy writing them down on a long strip of paper. Ask: Is there a pattern you can see?

• Try starting from a number like 7 and count by 2s, 5s, 10s, etc.
• Try counting backwards from 1000 by 10s using the – key.
  

Back to zero: take turns to change one of the digits in a number like 526 to 0 in one move. For example, to change the 2 to 0 in 526 subtract 20 resulting in 506. Keep going until the screen shows 0.

You can help your child with multiplication tables

Ask questions such as:

• How many times did you have to add 7 to get to 42?
• How many 6s do you think there would be in 42?
• Use your calculator to check if you were right.

Fridge list

Families can look for opportunities to point out and respond to children’s numeracy ideas. Encourage your child to ask questions to help her make sense of her everyday situations. Here are some examples of questions you can stick on your fridge:

• How big is it?
• Does it fit?
• Which way will I go?
• Is it likely to happen?
• Will there be enough?
• How much is there?
• What might happen if ...?
• Why does ...?
• How do you know that?
• How many?

Travelling

• When taking a long car trip, involve your child in using a map and ask her to find the best way to get there.
• When your child asks, ‘How long will it take?’, show her how to use road signs and the map to find out.
• When stopping to buy petrol ask: ‘Is the petrol cheaper here? More expensive? What is the difference?’

Sport

• Look at scores during a game and ask: ‘Who might win?’ and ‘Why?’ At the end of a game talk about how much your team won or lost by.
• Talk about times and records for major sporting events.
• Ask: ‘How fast did they swim? Is it faster than last time?’
• When going for a swim ask: ‘How deep is the water? How can you tell? Is it safe to swim or dive here?’

At home

• When talking about TV programs you could ask: ‘How long is the program? Do we have time to watch it before we go out? What time does it start? Should we record it?’
• Talk to your child about the strategies she uses in board, card and computer games.

Shopping

When shopping with your child ask questions like:

• Have you enough money to buy that?
• Will you get any change? How much?
• How much more will you need to buy another one? What can you buy for $2.00?

If you would like to know more

• Contact your local school or talk with your child’s teacher.
• Look up the web and use some of the following key words to search: numeracy, number sense, mathematical games, number, chance and data.

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