Mathematics in Scottish Primary Schools should be taught as a fun and creative subject which forms a core for other subjects. Children should enjoy learning mathematics and to be able to connect with mathematics by understanding the links to why they need to learn it.

Scottish Executive (2010) believe that teachers have the responsibility to promote the development of numeracy. To do this teacher are advised to use active learning strategies and to make relevant links to other subjects.

Next year for my second year placement I am attending an international school in Switzerland and their main aim is active learning. I am excited to see exactly how they use active learning and their pedagogical approaches which make this so successful.

Throughout my academic reading, linking maths with other subjects seems to be a very prominent subject. Winter et al (2009) say that to improve mathematical competence in children, teachers need to help the children make the necessary connections between learning. Liebeck (1984) agrees that teachers must provide the children with suitable experiences to perform successful matching.

I believe this picture sums up exactly what everyone is trying to say. It includes active teaching strategies which I have already mentioned. Also real world applications as I’ve said children need to be able to make these appropriate connections before being able to learn fully. Teacher facilitation and learning environment I believe to be closely linked themselves as the teacher, by using suitable methods, need to create a fun and flexible learning environment.

I think this video has some great ideas for active learning in mathematics through the use of sport although I do have some criticism. I think the use of worksheets is unnessecary, I think as soon as the worksheets come out the children will disengage as for some children their gym time is the only time they enjoy because they don’t have to write!

There is verbal, fun methods of assessment rather than using worksheets. As long as the children are participating fully and enjoying what they are doing then there shouldn’t be a need for worksheets at that time. Children will being to relate physical education with writing and worksheets which isn’t the case.