Mathematics
Maths at Sacred Heart
Maths at Sacred Heart
Have you ever walked down the hall during a Maths lesson? On Monday, I had the chance to pop into several classes, and what I saw was focused, explicit, and calm learning. Each student was actively following their teacher’s directions and developing their mathematical understanding.
In Prep, students were expanding their mathematical vocabulary, exploring concepts of “tall” and “long.” In Year 1, students practised skip counting by 2s and 5s, both forwards and backwards—building fluency and confidence with numbers. Further down the hallway, Year 3 students were tackling tricky homework questions and exploring the addition of fractions, deepening their problem-solving skills.
This year, we have worked hard to ensure that every minute of our Maths lessons is purposeful and teachable. It is wonderful to see this focus and engagement being achieved consistently across all year levels. This is something we are extreamly proud of at Sacred Heart.
The love for Maths at Sacred Heart is contagious! Just look at Elwood from Year 3, she was so eager to practise that she even printed her own Maths sheets at home to complete. We are so proud of her passion and excitement for learning times tables. Elwood plays three games every night, and her hard work is paying off, she’s one of our newest students to earn a Gone Green certificate in Year 3! Keep up the amazing effort, Elwood!
Zara has been going the extra mile, even learning alongside her older sister at home. Her dedication and effort are outstanding, and we are so impressed with her achievements. Keep up the fantastic work, Zara—we can’t wait to see all that you accomplish in mathematics!
Maths at Home Recommendation
Game: Number Detective
Turn your child into a maths detective!
How to play:
- Pick a mystery number between 1 and 50 (or higher for older kids).
- Give your child clues about the number using maths hints:
- “It’s an even number.”
- “It’s greater than 20 but less than 30.”
- “It’s a multiple of 3.”
- Your child must use the clues to guess the mystery number.
Make it trickier:
- Add more complex clues using addition, subtraction, multiplication, division or prime numbers:
- “If you double me, you get 40.”
- “I am 5 less than a square number.”
- “I am a prime number.”
“I have exactly 4 factors”
Variation for older children:
- Let them create their own mystery numbers and clues for you to solve!
Why it’s great:This game encourages logical thinking, problem solving, and number sense. It also gives kids practice reasoning with number properties in a fun, playful way.
What does Maths Practice look like at home?
"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." — Robert Collier
Learning maths is much like building a puzzle, every small piece of practice contributes to the bigger picture. Each time students practise number facts, solve problems, or try new strategies, they strengthen their skills and make meaningful connections between concepts.
Even short, daily sessions, whether through games, NumBots, Times Table Rock Stars, or everyday activities, help children gain confidence and develop a mindset that maths is both enjoyable and achievable.
Just as students are encouraged to read at home, regular maths practice is equally important. What does maths practice look like in your household? Do you encourage your child to access NumBots or TTRS? Do you play card games, solve number problems, or explore maths in daily life? Every small effort makes a difference, and your support plays a key role in your child’s success.
Mak Bulte
Maths Leader