At Baltasound Junior High School, we know that students need to make the most of their potential. To help them achieve this, we have developed a school wide numeracy policy to ensure all students work on their numeracy skills which helps develop their ability to solve problems, make decisions and take responsibility in their everyday life.

To encourage and develop numeracy skills, we thought it would be good to highlight useful strategies for teachers, parents and students. These will help students use maths to meet the demands of everyday life.

Strategies for Teachers to use

  • Use consistent strategies and language across the curriculum and be aware how maths techniques are used in other subjects within school.
  • Help parents understand mathematical techniques and methods (see links below).
  • Develop use of mathematical language and vocabulary.
  • Develop students’ skills in estimation, accuracy and reasoning.
  • Develop students’ ability to perform mental calculations.
  • Use everyday scenarios and real life mathematical problems/situations.
  • Encourage students to explain and comment on their strategies/working out (and that of others).
  • Identify students who require additional support with maths.
  • Provide information to other subject teachers on appropriate expectations of learners and difficulties.

Strategies for Parents/Guardians to use

  • Try to use mathematical language/vocabulary at home.
    • Use phrases like how much, how big, how small, how many?
  • Discuss the use of numbers, patterns and shapes in your everyday life.
  • Discuss the use of mathematics in everyday jobs/tasks that you may carry out.
  • Discuss monetary situations like shopping, budgets, credit cards and such like.
  • Encourage your son/daughter to estimate, measure, compare (lengths/heights) and reason.
    • Use phrases like does that look sensible, how much do you think that would be and how did you work that out?
  • Use timetables (for ferry/bus/train or similar), and make use of calendars and clocks.
    • Have your son/daughter work out what ferries you would need to book for your trip to Lerwick at the weekend.
  • Ensure your son/daughter is aware of how much things cost and how to compare different prices.
  • Play number games and work things out together.
    • Maths games like Sudoku are good for working on maths and reasoning skills.
  • Perhaps your child works things out using a different method – try and learn this method yourself.
  • Encourage your son/daughter to organising things, categorise items and make collections.
  • Ask at the school if you are unsure about anything your child is doing or having issues with – all staff are able and willing to work with you.
  • Use the links below – these are excellent resources from the BBC stepping you through various mathematical methods and strategies.

To view the school numeracy policy, click here.

BJHS Numeracy Newsletters

Why not try out some of our Numeracy Newsletters? They contain worked through examples, games and competitions all related to numeracy and mathematics.

BBC Skillswise Links

The following links are good to help you improve your own numeracy skills. They contain examples to work through and video clips showing the relevance of these skills.

  • Numbers
    • Number lines, Number Symbols, Decimals, Rounding & Estimating
  • Calculations
    • Add, Subtract, Multiply & Divide
  • Percentages & Fractions
    • Percentages, Fractions, Ratios, Proportion & Probability
  • Measuring
    • Imperial & Metric, Length & Distance, Capacity, Weight, Time & Date and Money
  • Shapes
    • 2D Shapes, Areas, Perimeters, Maps & Plans, Angles and 3D Shapes
  • Graphs
    • Collecting Data, Lists & Tables, Graphs & Charts and Averages & Range

ParentZone

The ParentZone website is a fantastic site to allow you to find out more information regarding your child’s education and there is also a series of links and information about how you can help your child at home. Below is the link to the Numeracy page on the ParentZone website.

Supporting numeracy at home | Learning at home | Parentzone Scotland | Education Scotland