Grade 3/4 News

Maths with a Twist: Thinking About Thinking (and Multiplying While We Are At It!)

This term in Fluid Group Maths B, we have been diving into the wonderful world of multiplication and division and discovering that they are not so different after all! 

We have been exploring a range of strategies to help us solve multiplication problems more effectively (and without breaking into a sweat!). These include repeated addition, skip counting, halving then doubling (yes, it’s a thing!), drawing arrays, and using number lines. There’s no one-size-fits-all here, each student is learning to choose the method that works best for their brain.

But we have not stopped there! We have also been learning to explain our thinking. That’s right, maths is not just about getting the right answer, it’s about how you got there. Enter: metacognition (also known as “thinking about your thinking”) 

By tuning into their own thought processes, the students are starting to recognise which strategies help them succeed and which ones are best left in the “maybe next time” basket. This kind of self-awareness not only builds confidence but helps students tackle tricky tasks with more independence. Plus, it helps me as a teacher to provide better support, and saves me from becoming a mind reader.

To celebrate this learning journey, I turned the tables and let the students become the teachers! I filmed short videos of some them bravely standing in front of the class to explain how they solved multiplication problems using one of the strategies we have been exploring. Now, a small disclaimer: the sound quality of the videos will not win any Oscars), but if you put your ear close enough to the device you are watching from, you will see and hear the students passionately pointing, drawing, and gesturing like true maths pros.

I am very proud of those courageous students who stood up and shared their thinking with the class. If we had more time, I know we would have had more budding TV stars!

I hope you enjoy watching the videos (sound or no sound!) and seeing just how far your mathematicians have come. And don’t be surprised if you hear them muttering about arrays and doubles in their sleep, I call that dedication!