Natural Maths Newsletter 7 (Nov - 2011)

Attention: Maths Coordinator

This will be our last newsletter this year. Knowing what busy places schools are at this time of year we have provided some Christmas Problems to keep your Lower, Middle and Upper Primary grade students challenged and engaged right to the end of term. The problems for the Lower and Middle students were developed in discussion with teachers from Harris Fields State School who provided invaluable advice as to what students want from Santa this year. The Upper problems are from our competition and are old favourites of Johnny’s. We hope you will find something there to add a little Xmas spirit to your maths lessons as the end of term approaches. Click here to download the problems in .pdf format.

Use the STAR model with these problems. Remember that the problems for Junior and Middle students are only suggested starters; change the numbers or the gifts to match the needs and interests of your students.
Check out how one clever teacher is using the STAR model with her Grade 1s.

Clever Teachers

Kate Lubach from Harris Fields State School has been using the STAR model with her class and they love it. She has a clever strategy to ensure that the students actually use each step effectively. She has made up four carrier bags, one for each part of the STAR model. Inside the bags she keeps laminated copies of each question to be used at that particular step.

The students know that they must be able to communicate and explain each stage before they move onto the next. For instance students are expected to say what the problem is about, show what and where the important information is to be found and what they have to find out before they move onto the next stage, which is thinking about and making a plan for action. There has been much modelling of the process and now the students are becoming able to use the model independently.
They can be seen putting the completed bags to one side and starting on the next one. Nice work Kate!

Number Scramble

Our fifth app is now on sale in the Apple store and we have put a lesson plan for it on the web site. Click here to go to the relevant page. The apps have been created with amazing support and advice from the Mavego group. Adrian and Hemalatha have been unstinting in their support of this venture and we are really grateful to them for all that they have done to help us make these five apps a reality.

 

What’s going on at Natural Maths

We have a very busy Christmas period ahead of us and will be launching two new Place Value software packages for the IWB very soon – more of that in the first Newsletter for 2012. Also coming soon is our blog. We will try to get it up and running and active over the Christmas holidays so get involved and help us shape our blog.
2012 looks as if it will be bigger than Ben Hur with professional development already planned in South Australia, Rockhampton and other parts of Queensland.
Have a wonderful and peaceful Christmas and all the best for 2012!
Johnny and Ann