Numeracy Update

The Importance of Productive Struggle in Mathematics

As parents, it can be difficult to watch children find something challenging. Our natural instinct is often to step in and help straight away. However, in mathematics, a little productive struggle is one of the most valuable parts of learning.

When children are given the opportunity to think deeply, try different strategies, make mistakes and persevere, they develop confidence, resilience and stronger problem-solving skills. These are the skills that help them become independent learners.

If we provide the answer too quickly or show children exactly what to do every time they are unsure, we can unintentionally take away valuable learning opportunities. Instead, we can encourage them by asking questions such as:

"What have you tried already?"
"Can you think of another way?"
"Does this remind you of something you've solved before?"
"Can you explain your thinking?"

These types of questions encourage children to keep thinking rather than giving up or waiting for someone else to solve the problem for them.

At school, we encourage students to embrace challenges and understand that learning often happens when something feels just a little difficult. Productive struggle helps children build perseverance, confidence and a growth mindset—important skills that extend well beyond the mathematics classroom.

Remember, sometimes the best way to help is not by giving the answer, but by encouraging your child to keep thinking.

Learning to Tell Time at Home

The year 3 students are currently learning to read the time on analogue clocks to the nearest minute. It is tricky! Here are some ideas to help your child read the time at home. Year 3 students need to be able to read the time on analogue and digital clocks to the nearest minute by the end of the year. The best way to help is to have an analogue clock in the home and refer to it when stating what time you will start dinner, reading, watch a show, head to bed or school. As you do things during the day, try to make a point of looking at the clock and saying what time it is, pointing out where the hour hand is. Teaching how to read analog clocks with ease... including a video for parents - Back-to-Front Maths | Kennedy Press ( a good website )

Ensure you have an analogue clock at home to refer your child to. Your child might be used to seeing digital times, but they’ll start learning using analogue clock faces, so the more they use one, the more confident they’ll be. You could also get them an analogue watch to support their learning. In Year 3, students move beyond "o'clock" and "half-past" to read analogue clocks to the nearest minute. This is a big leap! We are teaching this skill at the moment and have noticed for many how difficult it is. You can support your child's learning at home with three quick, everyday habits:

Spot the hands: Remind them that the short hand counts hours, and the long hand counts minutes.
Count by fives: Practice skip-counting by 5s around the clock face (e.g., pointing to the 4 means 20 minutes).
Count the tiny lines: For exact times, find the nearest big number and count forward using the small minute ticks.
Match with digital: Point to an analogue clock and ask them to check if it matches the microwave or oven time.

Talking about time during your daily routine—like noting when dinner is ready or when bed time starts—makes a massive difference. Happy counting!