Maths

In Maths Problem Solving, our students are currently working on identifying, creating and continuing number patterns.  Our ability to identify a number pattern and identify its increasing or decreasing value is a key skill in the development of number sense, critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Using a calculator or the calculator app on our phones or tablets is a great way to assist our students in developing these skills.  A little known feature of calculators and the calculator apps is that when you repeatedly push the equals sign it turns into a ‘constant function'. 

For example, if you enter 2 + 2 and push equals, 4 will appear on the screen.  If you continue to push equals, the calculator will read 6, 8, 10, 12 etc.   The constant function is a brilliant, easy way for students to create number patterns and develop their repeated addition skills.  Once a student has developed some confidence with their repeated addition skills, they are a long way towards mastery of their multiplication facts and related division.

I have used the Close Your Eyes and Count activity many times over my career, and it is always a genuine joy to watch how quickly students are able to develop their repeated addition/skip counting skills and then use these skills to improve the accuracy and recall of their multiplication facts.

Only a minute or two is really needed for a student to practise these skills using the constant feature. 

• Ask your child what number pattern or multiplication table they want to improve eg: 7
• On the calculator or app, enter 7 + 7 
• Verbally or on a piece of paper they say/write “7” and then the number they think will be next eg “14”
• They push equals to check their prediction. If they are correct they then say/write the next number.  If they made a mistake they correct it and clear the calculator and re enter 7 + 7 and start again.
• Finally, once they are demonstrating confidence with the number sequence, they enter 7 + 7, close their eyes and count by 7s whilst hitting the equal sign.  Opening their eyes after counting a few numbers to see if they are saying the same number that is written on the screen.