Schools are asked to set long term and short term goals.  Our curriculum goal for this year is to improve student outcomes in Mathematics and we will do this by adjusting what we teach and the way we do it. 

“The ability to make informed decisions and to interpret and apply mathematics in a variety of contexts is an essential component of students’ preparation for life in the 21st century.” 

NESA NSW Mathematics K–10 Syllabus

In classrooms we have been having discussions around why it is so important to be numerate. Students answered that we use mathematics everyday throughout our lives - in the home, to organise ourselves, shopping, banking and in our jobs (irrespective of the work we are involved in). As children progress through school it is too easy for them to say “I am not good at Maths”.  It’s strange!  We rarely here statement applied to other subject areas.  We also here a lot : “Mum/Dad said they were/are not good at Maths.”  I challenge all of our parents instead to show your children how you are good at Maths and how vital it is in your daily life.  To learn anything we need to understand why it is important. Please show them how you use maths in your cooking…

• reading scales on measuring cups and jugs
• using fractions to measure or divide
• ratio to increase or decrease the amount of ingredients
• estimating and measuring using kg,mg, mL, L

And that is just in the kitchen!

 We are narrowing our focus somewhat and particularly focusing in on Number and Problem Solving skills.  Ask them about their daily Number Talks wherein we are deepening their understanding of how number is constructed and can be applied.

I would love to hear of any of your maths stories with your children

Kim.hogan@mn.catholic.edu.au

Wellbeing

Over the next few weeks our school counsellor, Mrs Khaaylid Brown will facilitate whole class discussions around Wellbeing and Mental Health issues.  If you wish to opt out of this for your child please confirm this in writing.

God Bless

Kim Hogan