Around the School

"The standard you walk past is the standard you accept." 

- Lieutenant General David Morrison (OA)

Welcome to Week 3. I hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable weekend with family and friends and thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful weather we are experiencing at the moment. 

During the holidays we once again remembered those who have sacrificed for the peace and freedom we are so fortunate to have today. Of course that event was Anzac Day which has become such an important occasion in our nation's brief history. Thank you  to Mrs Bearman for her organisation of a special school liturgy to commemorate Anzac Day on our return to school, it certainly highlighted how lucky we are here in Australia. 

Last Tuesday evening it was great to see our parent body and staff members in attendance at the 'Real Talk' workshop. It was a valuable opportunity to learn more about how to talk to your children on a range of topics that they will encounter in their world today. One of those interesting topics was around children's use of technology and the role of parents in supporting their children navigate the many pitfalls and dangers of the social media age they now live in. The following day 'Real Talk' facilitated a session with our students in Year 4 and Year 6 discussing topics of self worth, personal identity, good decision-making and cyber-safety. 

On Sunday we celebrate Mother's Day! To all our mums all the very best for this Sunday! I trust and hope that it is a special and rewarding day spent with your families…never forget just how wonderful you all are…Happy Mother’s Day!  

Armidale Diocesan Mathematics Initiative

At the moment our Stage 1 students are busy learning about addition while Stage 2 begin this week with subtraction. Thank you to our staff for embracing this opportunity,  we are so lucky to have such dedicated professionals at St Joseph’s. Please see the information below to assist your child at home.

Maths At Home.

Stage 1 - Addition 

Promote and encourage mental strategies for adding numbers. Ask children to add the totals of the numerals of the number plate in front of you when driving, adding small amounts when shopping, etc.

Parents sometimes wonder why we teach their children addition strategies. “Why not just memorise the facts?” 

Here’s some reasons why:

1. Learning strategies makes addition facts less overwhelming. Instead of memorising every addition fact individually, all it takes is some simple strategies.
2. Focusing on strategies is more efficient. Children learn the facts much more quickly–and remember them much better–when they use strategies to find the answers.
3. Children develop confidence in their math skills as they realise that maths is for understanding, not just memorising.

Think of addition strategies as stepping-stones. Stepping stones aren’t there for you to stay teetering on; they are there to help get you across the creek.

Stage 2 - Subtraction

For many years, the expectation was that students would only use the formal written algorithm rather than their own mental strategies for addition and subtraction. 

However, students now find that they are strongly encouraged to utilise a wide range of written and mental strategies for addition and subtraction. The introduction of diagrams such as the bar model and the empty number line allowed students to record their mental strategies, which in turn has permitted teachers and parents to see student thinking. Naming these strategies has allowed teachers and students to discuss possible strategies using a common vocabulary.

Rather than teach rules and procedures, we now need to encourage students to explain their strategies using both concrete materials and diagrams to demonstrate their knowledge of addition and subtraction.

For further information follow these links: 

Jump, Split or make the next 10 

What is the Bar Model?

Whenever possible try and point out the concept of subtraction in everyday situations. If there are four birds in the garden, then one flies away, ask, “How many now?” and count them together. Of course, we tend to do this type of thing naturally with our children anyway, but making a conscious effort to model the counting and to use the correct vocabulary can really help them when they come to learning subtraction in a slightly more abstract way later. If you use an alternative method for subtraction with trading such as ‘borrow and pay back’, by all means explain your method.

Have a fantastic week!

Greg O'Toole