Maths Problem Solving

Problem Solving is probably the one area in Maths that is challenging for many students. 

Using a strategy to break down the problem can be helpful to students.  In our school, we use the 'RUDE' Approach to problem solving, which is outlined in the images below.

I have also made smaller desk topper versions for the children as a reference point.  It includes some mathematical language that often appears in problems, as well as a multiplication grid.

Some schools follow the 'CUBES' Approach. Display posters and a desk topper for this is also available, just click on each picture to be redirected to download.

I like to encourage the children to make a note of any useful mathematical language that will help them with problem solving in the future.  I usually put it inside their Maths book.  Click on the image to download it for free.

App Alert: Borrow Box

This app allows you to download books from your library for free from your home!

I only came across this app lately and it is suitable for students and teachers alike.  I have used it during the summer to download and read some books.

What you need:

A library card Device to download the app

What I like about it:

-It is free! (new books can be expensive) -Saves trips to the library (handy for busy parents) -Option to download 5 books and 5 audio books at a time (I like the audio option for some children who may be reluctant readers or just like to listen to a story sometimes).
-You can select a filter for 'Children' or search a specific title.

It is definitely one I will be recommending to some parents in September who want to encourage their children to read more.

The A to Z Project

A couple of years I decided to do an A to Z project with my class. Each week they completed a project based on a letter of the alphabet. Each student presented their project on Friday for the class. Sometimes I chose the topic for the children. For example, we were learning about Ireland, so the children researched a county for the letter C.

They also did some group projects. When learning about Europe, the children researched Germany and France in groups. It helped to improve their teamwork skills and organisational skills as they needed to make sure they had focused on different areas such as food, sport, landmarks.

We also did some practical hands on projects such as teepees for the letter T and bridges for B (click here to find out more about this project). I photographed the children's work and printed it for their scrapbooks where they had their A to Z projects stuck in. 

Project work proved very beneficial to the children as they they has the opportunity to learn a lot from each other, improve their presentation skills and organisational skills (as they have the week to complete the project). Also it gave them the opportunity to improve their ICT skills, giving them the choice to type their projects.

Mental Maths Lollipop Sticks

This year I am working in Special Education, helping some children with Maths.
I find the lollipop strategy useful to revise and consolidate topics that have been covered already.

How it works:

Each time we complete a topic, I write it on a lollipop stick and add it to the jar.
Each day at the start of our Maths session, the children pick one of the lollipop sticks.
I ask them 10 questions based on the topic.
The children try to figure them out mentally, but they sometimes use a mini whiteboard.  I also use visuals, if it supports the child. e.g. using dienes blocks for place value

Not only does it constantly revise what they have learned, which is beneficial for all children, it also shows me if we need to go back over a topic.  It is also a great way to revise the Maths language, as you can see in the sample questions below.

It could also be used a classroom just as easy.....give each child one question based on the topic or use mini whiteboards and they can all do the same 10 questions.

Here are some of the topics we have included to date.

(Time, Division, 2D Shapes, Lucky Dip*, Place Value, Fractions, Decimals & Percentages, Lines & Angles, Times Tables)

Lucky Dip*: I ask a random choice of questions from all the topics we have covered!

Here are a sample list of questions I ask the children in some of the topics.

Multiplication

What is 3 x 4?
What is the product of 5 and 6?
Can you think of the factors of 24?
7 times 7 is.....
Count in 5's up to 60
List the first 5 multiples of 6.

Fractions, Decimals and Percentages

What is half of 30?

What is 1/4 as a decimal?

Give an equivalent fraction for 1/5.

What is 50% of 10?

Write 4 2/4 as an improper fraction.

Target Number

Check out sample questions for that here.

Magnetic Calendar

I bought this magnetic calendar in Smyths recently to use with some of the children I work with in. (This is NOT an ad, I purchased the product myself for under €20!) It comes with 82 magnets.

Personally, I am going to use with one particular child to develop a sense of time on a daily basis. There are lots of other ways you can integrate it into the classroom, particularly in the Infant level, or as a daily activity to do with an SNA or independently.  I have listed some ideas of how you can really get your moneys-worth with this resource! Feel free to add other ideas in the comments below.

Ordering the days/months of the year (Maths)

All of the months and days are provided and it would be a nice hands on activity to put them in order. You could separate the school days from the weekend. The months could be matched to the correct season. 

If the child is good at putting them in order, you could remove one of the magnetic days/months and see if they can figure out which one is missing.

These magnetic tiles could also be used instead of writing answers, if fine motor skills is an issue.

Oral Language

There is such scope for oral language development with this resource. As the children become used to it, it could be used as a stimulus for recording a child being a weather forecaster. The child could also be recorded saying their news using the activities as a prompt. This would be particularly nice for children who have an iPad, as it creates a nice link with home, when they can see these videos.

It provides some lovely opportunities for vocabulary and language development, even the temperature monitor has a range of words to describe the weather. 

Writing

If you wish, it could be a visual cue for a writing activity as it provides a lot of the language for the children. I really like to used it on the book creator apps on the iPad, incorporating I.T. The children can take photos of the calendar when they have it completed and write a sentence or two underneath. They can also record this sentence using the microphone on the iPad (more Oral Language).

Maths

The digit tiles can be used in so many ways for maths as an alternative to writing. Here are just a few ways I use them:

• ordering numbers smallest to largest or largest to smallest
• making a number that teacher calls out
• the number before/the number after
• addition/subtraction sums
• reading numbers, 1, 2, 3 or 4 digit numbers

Emotions/Feelings (SPHE)

I really like the emoji faces that are included and they can be used to discuss feelings/emotions with the children. There is a spare one that the children can add other emotions. They could also draw their own 'happy' or 'sad' faces. Using these they could create sentences (orally, using I.T. or writing), such as I am happy when.........

Visual Timetable

The calendar includes lots of extra curricular activities but you can always add your own and use the 'Activities' part as a visual timetable for the child.

Whiteboard

The second part can be used as a whiteboard, if you lift off the clear film that holds the supplementary magnets. This is really useful for a child who finds it difficult to copy material from the board, as they can use the information on the daily calendar to write on the board underneath. I would put it on their table, but you could leave it hanging on the wall too.

Advent Calendar

I have done this activity with my class over the past few years in the lead up to the holidays.

Usually I do it as a whole class activity where the children each contribute to a day on the calendar. If you have more/less students, you can compile a large list together and then select your favourite ones to add to each date on the calendar. Each year the children really surprise me with some great ideas!

Each evening, the children try to complete one of the tasks and they colour each one as they complete it.

Some ideas that my students have come up with over the years include:

• No electronics for the evening
• Write a card to a relative
• Empty the dishwasher
• Spend 20 minutes reading
• Make mum/dad a cup of tea
• Do some exercise
• Pay a compliment to someone 
• Make a Christmas card for a classmate
• Clean your room
• Play a board game

You can download the resource by clicking on the image below!

Classroom Timeline (Recount Writing)

Last year, I started a classroom timeline with the children.

It tied in nicely in September with our Recount Writing genre.  We all planned out our piece of writing together first, with the children choosing 3 things they enjoyed doing in September.

I chose a few children to type up their work and we placed it under September with some pictures. It is a nice visual for them to remind them of all the work they have completed throughout the year.

We continued to add to it as the year progresses.