Times tables...easy!

Having trouble with your times tables?

Knowing your times tables is one of the most important building blocks in your Mathematical learning. I know what some of you are thinking, 'That's what calculators are for!' Yes, calculators make large computations quicker, however, as students are learning Mathematical concepts all through school they need to be able to quickly find solutions so that they can focus on the working out and not the times table fact.

In my experience as a teacher for over 12 years, those students who know their times tables spend all their brain power on learning concepts and do so more quickly and effectively.

It's also my experience that the best place to learn (by this I mean practicing) times tables is at home.

Lucky for you, I have a couple of resources that I have seen work. Also, here are some other ideas that assist in the learning of your times tables:

1. Understand that there is not that much to learn in the first place. After learning your 1's and 10's the amount you need to remember goes from 100 to 64. Then, understand that multiplication works both ways, ie. 5x7 = 7x5, so there are only 36 combinations to remember.
2. Start with skip counting. Learn the skips really, really well before you start memorising the multiplication.
3. Revise times tables you know, but focus on one times tables at a time.
4. As you are learning a new times table write it out so that their mind can associate the numbers together (3 x 5 = 15)
5. Practice for short amounts of time but often.

Some effective strategies video clip

Some Week 7 activities

Spelling

After over a year of investigation into a particular spelling program based on current research that focuses on students specific skills and needs, MACC Primary has commenced a revamped spelling program this year.

Words Their Way is the program we have been using for spelling this term. Students are involved in sorting and writing words into categories based on word patterns. Students often discuss and give evidence for reasons why each word should go into each category, which builds their understanding of each word pattern.

Here are a few word sort discussions taking place:

Maths Groups

At the start of most Maths lessons students take part in some warm up questions that revise concepts they have explored. But....every now and then, students will split up into Maths groups and complete a range of activities that give them a chance to brush up on a few areas that they need work on or extension in, as well as providing a chance to use their skills in some Maths games.

Happy Birthday Brianna!

Highlights from Week 6

Music

5B have been learning a percussion piece called Carmen. It's been lots of fun practising different parts and playing a range of percussion instruments.

History Research on the Australian Gold Rush

I have been very impressed with the level of researching skills 5B have displayed in the last few weeks. They have attentively listened and quickly applied some simple strategies that they were presented.

Clean up Australia day

A Friday afternoon walk to Jack Nash reserve with all of stage 3 and year 10 has made our local parks, walkways and waterways a much cleaner place.

The exercise was great, however, the helpful attitude and enthusiasm of our students was most commendable.

Here were two of the stars.

Joy in the midst of trials

'Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.' James 1:2-3

We completed an art work today that was started in week 1. Not that we were that slow. No, we spent a couple of devotions talking about this passage found in the Bible. We discussed that, although we can be in hard times, we can have a joy inside us that is the hope of Jesus and of his great love and ability to see us through.

Students have also been exploring the concept of tone, light and shape when drawing.


Joy in the midst of trials

Primary Assembly

We had our first Primary Assembly today. It was a wonderful opportunity for our choir to show what they have learned in the short couple of weeks prior.

We also presented some Key Learning Area awards for Christian Discovery.

Congratulations to Odelia and Joshua.

ReachMeet

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