Primary Maths

The Primary Framework for mathematics organises learning objectives into the strands below. These also map onto the National Curriculum.

Problem solving
Communicating
Reasoning
Numbers and the number system
Fractions, decimals, percentages and ratio
Operations and the relationships between them
Mental methods
Solving numerical problems
Written and calculator methods
Shape
Position and movement
Measures
Processing and representing data
Interpreting data

Assessment for Learning will form an integral part of the teaching process but beyond this 2Know! can be used to support teaching of Mathematics in a wide range of ways.

Built in Simple Calculator
Each 2Know! responder and all NEO 2s have a built in, easy to use calculator function. So children can become accustomed to using a calculator in an effective way. Their final calculations can be sent to the 2Know! toolbar for whole class display and results displayed.

Instant Real Time Results
These results can form a very important part of the teaching process itself because in using 2Know! to display results children are able to see for themselves certain aspects of the learning objective strands. So, for example, by asking a question of the class and displaying the results teachers are demonstrating the effective use of processing and representing data. The data is real-time and as questions progress children will see the resultant changes in representation. They will also be able to interpret data, fractions, decimals, percentages and ratios.

Maths Questions Library
So 2Know! is an ideal tool to support Mathematics teaching. Within the package is AccelTest, holding a library of Mathematics questions which can be easily adapted for individual or group use. Teachers can also develop their own question banks from scratch in this intuitive test creation package.

Using CRS and NEO 2 to support Accelerated Maths
Accelerated Maths is a personalised programme of maths practice for all years from Year 2 to GCSE. The software is designed to follow a regime of ‘practice – test – review’. CRS and NEO 2 integrate perfectly into the recording of answers in this system. Teachers will concentrate on teaching the syllabus whilst being able to set individualised practice worksheets on each topic for each pupil. When the pupil has reached proficiency in practicing each topic they will complete a similar worksheet under test conditions. If they achieve an 80% accuracy on the test then they are awarded mastery of the topic - but that is not the end of their engagement with that topic. Two weeks later each pupil will start to receive new review questions on the topics they have mastered in their ongoing practice worksheets, thus ensuring continuous review and practice of the skills they have learned.

See the Renaissance Learning website for more details about Accelerated Maths™. [Please make hyperlink to AM section of RP site here]

Benefits of using Accelerated Maths
The most obvious benefit to teachers is the reduction of routine workload which in turns frees up valuable time to be used for teaching, monitoring and one to one intervention. In broad terms the benefits can be put into 3 categories:

Teachers need never produce another assessment sheet. Accelerated Maths will produce endless assessments on the topics that the teacher chooses and at the level appropriate for the individual pupil. Furthermore a clever algorithm ensures that every assessment sheet is different whilst maintaining the appropriate level of difficulty.

Teachers need never mark another worksheet. Accelerated Maths worksheets can be marked using 2Know! CRS or NEO 2. Indeed homework can even be marked online via Home Connect. In this way pupils get instant results and teachers are freed from the burden of endless marking.

Teachers will have all information readily accessible in an electronic mark book. As the assessments are marked and as the pupils achieve mastery of the topics all this information is automatically logged within the assignment book within Accelerated Maths. This allows the teacher to have up to the minute information on pupil progress and the status of the class as well as detailed input into the planning of future lessons.

A complementary addition to this is MathsFacts in a Flash which is an online program of mental maths problems. The levels are graded for difficulty and follow through the basic mathematic skills of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division with some decimal and fraction questions at the highest levels. Each level must be mastered, against the clock, before the pupil can progress. This fun, interactive program reinforces the practice element of mathematics and improves mental agility for pupils of all levels.