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Zaytouna Primary School

Maths

"Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas."

Subject Overview:

Mathematics is a creative and highly inter-connected discipline that has been developed over centuries, providing the solution to some of history’s most intriguing problems. It is essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, and necessary for financial literacy and most forms of employment. A high-quality mathematics education therefore provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics, and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.

 

Subject Intent: 

Maths is the foundation for understanding the world.

Mathematics is an important creative discipline that helps us to understand and change the world. It is an interconnected subject that is essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, and necessary for financial literacy and most forms of employment. A high-quality mathematics education therefore provides a foundation for understanding the world.

 

We want all pupils at Zaytouna to feel confident and fluent in mathematics. They should experience the beauty, power and enjoyment of maths and develop a sense of curiosity about the subject with a clear understanding. At Zaytouna, we are mathematicians who foster positive can do attitudes and we promote the fact that ‘We CAN do it!’ We believe all children can achieve in mathematics, and teach for secure and deep understanding of mathematical concepts through manageable steps. We use mistakes and misconceptions as an essential part of learning and provide challenge through rich and sophisticated problems. At our school, the majority of children will be taught the content from their year group only. They will spend time becoming true masters of content, applying and being creative with new knowledge in multiple ways. We encourage collaborative learning as we know that shared sustained thinking produces team-working skills, divides the task and multiplies success.

 

Children will also draw inspiration from the Muslim mathematicians and Arabic influences from the past that have contributed to many mathematical concepts that have shaped the curriculum, such as Arabic numerals and Algebra, which derives from the Arabic word for equation (Al-Jabr).

 

We intend for our pupils to be able to apply their mathematical knowledge to science and other subjects in school, and recognise its importance in the world of employment. At the end of their time at Zaytouna, we strive to ensure that every child is ready for the next step in their mathematical journey.

 

Good mathematics is not about how many answers you know…. it’s how you behave when you don’t know

How maths lessons are structured at Zaytouna

Review: 

A lesson begins by recapping learning from the last lesson or to revisit earlier areas taught – a perfect opportunity for retrieval practice and to help retain important skills and knowledge!

 

Anchor Task:

Children then work together to solve an interesting problem using their existing knowledge or by discovering and trying new methods.

 

Main Teaching:

The teacher then models a specific method or learning message they want the children to understand.

The main teaching could include:

  • addressing any misconceptions or mistakes observed during the anchor task.
  • Explicitly stating the key learning message or method that the children must focus on for the remainder of the lesson.
  • drawing together different methods and representations

 

Guided Practice:

Before beginning their main task, children will be given some similar questions to help assess their understanding.

 

Depending on their success on their guided practice, this will help to assess whether they will need additional support to complete the main learning outcome.

 

Independent Practice:

A chance for children to complete some independent learning.

What do children learn in maths?

At Zaytouna, we use White Rose Maths resources to aid our Maths mastery lessons. At each key stage, the White Rose Maths curriculum covers the whole of the content of the 2014 National Curriculum. More than this, the scheme of learning is designed to support the development of reasoning and problem solving alongside fluency to ensure challenge and ambition for all pupils.

 

Please find below the schemes of work for each year group.

Times Tables

At Zaytouna, we use Times Tables Rockstars to aid and support the learning of times tables up to 12x tables.

 

What is Times Tables Rock Stars?

Times Tables Rock Stars is a carefully sequenced programme of daily times tables practice. Each week concentrates on a different times table, with a recommended consolidation week for rehearsing the tables that have recently been practised every third week or so.

 

Children are encouraged to partake in weekly class or Year group battles. If your child has forgotten their login details, please contact your child’s teacher via Class Dojo.