Learning and Teaching

MATHEMATICS AT GALILEE    

Jane Ferris

jferris@gsmelbournesth.catholic.edu.au

Parent Training in Number Intervention

Early next term, on October 9 (9-10am), we will be holding a training session for parents interested in working with children in Number Intervention.  We currently have a small group of dedicated parents who work regularly with children from Prep to Year 2.  The results of their intervention are clearly to be seen in the progress of the fortunate children with whom they work.

Number Intervention training provides parent helpers with clear, simple guidelines to work with children, usually individually, occasionally in pairs.  Parents are given a step-by-step programme to follow, as well as materials to support learning in each area.  In the junior grades, we focus on forwards and backwards number word sequences and early addition and subtraction strategies.

Current parent helpers and learning support officers will be available at the training sessions to discuss their valuable experiences and to lend support where needed. In the words of Anastasia Kritikos (parent helper since 2016), ‘All you need is to love working with children!’ The work is straightforward and guided – you don’t need to be a Maths whiz!

We hope to see you on October 9.  If you can’t make it on that day, but would like to be a part of the programme, please let me know via email, so that an alternative date can be offered.

Thank you again to our fabulous parent helpers.  You really make a difference and we appreciate you very much!

Maths in the Classrooms

It’s great to see so much enthusiasm for Maths amongst the children in the classrooms! Congratulations to our teachers for engaging the children in learning Maths in a variety of interesting and exciting ways.

In Year 2 this week, the children have been working on Multiplication and Division. They explored the concept of grouping by decorating biscuits in various ways, as well as sharing snakes between the children in the class. The Year 2s had a lot of fun developing knowledge and skills in Multiplication and Division in a very hands-on way….and then they were able to snack on their creations! 

Our Year 6 classes have recently participated in ‘The Block’, their very own version of the TV show.  Groups were given a budget and were asked to source and ‘buy’ the furniture and materials necessary to create rooms for their homes.  It was a wonderful way to engage the children while developing skills and knowledge in the area of Financial Maths.