Maths

What is Maths No Problem?

At Sacred Heart, we want to ensure that children master mathematical knowledge and skills. For this reason, we use Maths No Problem from Year 1 to Year 6. It is a fully researched approach and follows a similar structure to lessons in Singapore.

When the children learn new content, they will begin by working with concrete objects first to help develop their understanding. They can then move onto pictorial representations and finally the abstract- writing the numbers. This is known as the CPA approach.

This video explains the CPA approach in more detail:

CPA in Singapore Maths stands for, Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract. It is a highly effective approach to teaching that develops a deep and sustainable understa...

Children are encouraged to use a variety of methods so that they have a secure understanding of the mathematical concepts they are learning. Often, these methods can seem ‘different’ to the method parents were taught. This link takes you to more videos that explain some of these methods in more detail to give you a greater understanding of what we teach in school.

https://mathsnoproblem.com/en/parent-videos/

What does a Maths lesson look like at Sacred Heart?

Maths No Problem is a problem-based approach that focuses on one problem in great detail during every lesson. The children have time to explore this idea through discussion and the use of resources such as counters, blocks, cubes, place value counters, paper, tens frames and whiteboards.

After the discovery phase, there will be a class discussion. At this point, all ideas are welcomed. This allows all children to share ideas and to have the confidence to do so. During discussion times, children feel free to debate with one another and teach each other. The teacher guides the learning in the lesson but it is the children that generate answers and explanations.

The children then journal these ideas. A journal is a chance for them to write down their ideas to answer the question and to explain their thinking.

Next, the teacher completes a guided practice (from the textbook) and the children then finish the lesson by having an opportunity to independently apply the skills they have learnt in their workbook.