A wee message from Mrs Simmons for her classes

I’ve really enjoyed my Monday mornings in Primary 2 this term. The children have been very keen to learn new strategies & have tackled any tasks I set them with great enthusiasm.  They really are a terrific bunch!

This term we have worked on addition & subtraction using tens frames & counters, open number lines, bar models & think boards. We started to learn how to take important information from word problems and use it to help us create number sentences that would help us calculate the answer to the question. Our last week together was spent introducing multiplication as equal sets & groups of. Hopefully we can continue to explore this concept more in the new year. In the meantime, enjoy the well-earned rest & have a lovely Christmas when it comes. 🎄

Wednesday mornings have been great this term, spending my time with Miss Duffin & P6B. Together we have explored various ways to multiply & divide. We started by using place value counters and arrays before moving on to several pictorial strategies. We looked at partitioning, doubling & halving, the grid method, rounding & compensating and VIPS. The children were always ready to learn and willing to try new strategies, which made my job much easier. Hopefully I get to spend some more time with them again in Term3. In the meantime, enjoy the well-earned rest and have a lovely Christmas when it comes.

I’ve worked with P3 on several occasions this term. During my visits we have focused on addition of 2 & 3-digit numbers. We started by using concrete materials- dienes, straws and place value counters. We learned how to represent the numbers with the materials and then when & how to exchange, units for a ten and with some children, tens for a hundred. In P3B we then learned how to represent this pictorially. When adding 2, 2-digit numbers we also learned how to use our knowledge of friendly numbers to add on an open number line. Hopefully my visits will continue next term. In the meantime, enjoy a well-earned rest and have a lovely Christmas when it comes.

Best Wishes,

Mrs Simmons 😊