Mathematics
Maths at Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart Parish School
Maths at Sacred Heart – Term 2 Wrap-Up
We’ve continued to build on the strong foundations established in Term 1, with a particular focus on lesson timing as we bring cognitive science to life in our classrooms. Here are some key highlights from the term:
✔ Fluency Superstars: We’ve continued to embed Times Table Rock Stars into our daily practice and proudly celebrated 26 students from Years 3 to 6 who received their Gone Green certificates.
✔ Staff Professional Learning: Teachers engaged in ongoing professional development focused on the timing of Maths lessons, helping us make every moment a teachable one.
✔ Launch of Tailored Maths Support (Prep–Year 2): A new targeted program was introduced this term, supporting some students in building number sense and fluency through small-group sessions and the use of home platforms such as NumBots and Times Table Rock Stars.
✔ Strengthened Whole-School Consistency: Staff worked to align Maths instruction through a shared timetable, consistent problem-solving strategies (e.g. CUBES), and a common instructional language—ensuring a cohesive and high-quality learning experience across year levels.
We’re proud of the progress made this term and look forward to building on this momentum in Term 3 and beyond.
Times Tables in real life
During our recent Year 6 trip to Canberra, we had the privilege of visiting the Royal Australian Mint. While touring the facility, our guide put our students to the test—asking them to recite their 10 times tables as quickly as they could. To say they were fast would be an understatement! As he continued to explain the history of our currency, he turned the challenge to me, asking for a rapid-fire run through of the 12 times tables. I happily handed it over to the students, who once again rose to the occasion. The guide was genuinely amazed and remarked that he had never seen a group of Year 6 students with such quick and confident number recall.
At school, we dedicate five minutes a day to building fluency through number recall, but the results speak for themselves. This daily practice is not only strengthening students’ mathematical foundations, it’s building confidence, deepening understanding, and developing lifelong skills. Many students also choose to practise at home for an extra ten minutes each night, with some now confidently exploring their 13, 14, and even 15 times tables!
In June alone, our students from Year 3 to 6 answered an incredible 188,964 questions correctly across the school. This commitment to regular practice is setting them up for success, not just in the classroom, but in everyday life where quick number sense makes a real difference.
Maths on the Holidays
Students are encouraged to keep up their Numbots and Times Table Rock Stars practice throughout the holidays to maintain fluency and confidence in number work.
In addition you may like to keep your child’s maths skills active during the holidays with these engaging and practical activities:
- Shopping Budget Challenge: Give your child a budget and let them help plan a grocery shop. They can compare prices, calculate totals, and work out change.
- Nature Numbers Walk: Head outside and go on a number scavenger hunt! Look for patterns in leaves, count steps between landmarks, or estimate the height of trees and buildings.
- Build & Create: Use blocks, LEGO, or household items to build structures. Encourage your child to measure, estimate, and calculate area or perimeter.
- Weather Watch: Track the weather each day and record temperatures. Create graphs to show changes over the week and discuss patterns.
- Creative Cooking Maths: Let your child invent their own recipe using set quantities and ratios. They can write it down, name it, and serve it to the family!
“Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.” — Albert Einstein
Mathematics is more than just solving equations, it’s a creative and powerful way of thinking. Like poetry, it helps us find patterns, express ideas, and understand the world in deeper ways.
When children engage with mathematics in real-life contexts, whether it’s planning a holiday schedule, building with LEGO, or solving puzzles, they’re not just practising skills. They’re learning how to think logically, reason clearly, and explore problems with confidence. These everyday moments help turn maths from a subject into a mindset, one that will support them in school and beyond.
Mak Bulte
Maths Leader