Practical Maths

In the Mathematics curriculum children at all levels will have experience of all five areas of the curriculum, Number, Algebra, Shape & Space, Measures and Data. Memorizing number facts (tables), estimation and real life problem solving are strongly recommended.                                                                         

For Junior Classes

• Ensure your child can recognise colours.
• Take part in incidental counting at any time eg. when setting the table count the cutlery in ones, pairs or threes.
• Practice the number rhymes that your child learns in school.
• Establish an awareness of time; morning, night, evening, before/after lunch etc.
• Ask and tell your child the time as frequently as you can.
• Make patterns qnd thread beads in pattern using colour, shape etc.
• Make sets of clothes pegs, spoons, coins etc.
• Play simple card games; Go Fish, Old Maid, Snap.
• Use language of position- on, in, above, below, behind etc.
• Use language of comparison-bigger than, larger than, tallest, oldest.
• Order; 1st., 2nd., 3rd.. Line up toys - which is first, last, third.
• Name the days of the week and months of the year.
• Let your child estimate before counting the number.
• Count larger numbers using objects ie. cards in a pack, sweets in a tin etc.
• Encourage use of dot-to-dot books.
• Play with real coins. Buy and sell toys, items in the kitchen etc. Talk about the coins. Let your child look at the change you get in the shop. 

For Senior Classes.

• Listen to your child recite her tables.
• Send your child to do small shopping errands. Get her to estimate how much the shopping will cost and the change she will receive before she goes.
• Let your child budget her pocket money. Managing her own savings account is a good idea.
• The metric system is in use. Make sure you use the correct terms; kilometres not miles and kilograms not pounds and stones.
• On journeys take note of distances, how long it takes to get to places and how many kilometres per hour.
• Compare prices of fuel - diesel/petrol. How much per litre?
• When organizing birthday parties or any meal include children in working out the amounts that will be needed, eg. how many sausages will be needed to give everyone three each.
• Let your child weigh ingredients during baking/cooking.
• Point out the weight and capacity of any foods/products you come across in the kitchen/bathroom. Point out anything of interest eg. even though a bag of sugar is smaller than a box of cornflakes it is heavier.
• Get your child to measure rooms for new furniture, carpets, tiles etc. when the occasion arises.
• Play board games ie. Discover Ireland, Snakes and Ladders, Game of Life, Monopoly, Scrabble etc.
• Incidental learning and questioning eg. when having pizza what fraction of the whole pizza is each slice? what fraction are you going to eat? what fraction is left? How much per slice if the whole pizza cost €3.50? etc.

Homework Hints

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