Lets’s make it a mission to spread the joy of maths!

Some pupils love it, some pupils are less keen, some pupils enjoy some aspects of maths but not others. Some parents and carers are confident with supporting their child’s maths learning, others less so. How often do we hear the comment, “I was never any good at maths either”?

Similar statements could be applied to primary teachers. The very nature of primary teaching means that not all teachers are maths specialists. However, as learning facilitators, it is our job to instil a love for mathematical learning. To encourage and nurture a growth mind-set approach to mathematics and to foster a sense of belief in the real life benefits of the subject.

Of course, the basic arithmetical skills of the four rules of number are vitally important. Pupils need to have solid and effective strategies for calculation, so they do not become frustrated, but maths is so much more. Maths is about reasoning and understanding. The ability to be able to explain why something is so and to be able to demonstrate solutions in a variety of different ways.

A really skilled mathematics teacher will have the pupils wanting more challenge, wanting to set their own problems, wanting to change the criteria slightly and to justify new found solutions. Teachers need to be open minded and give pupils the chance to explore. This philosophy is prevalent in Early Years teaching and needs to be maintained to avoid the risk of pupils becoming disenchanted with mathematics.

Let us make it a mission, for all primary practitioners to be passionate proponents of the subject. Let us communicate the passion to our pupils and help them learn to love mathematics!