At times, we understand it can be challenging to determine exactly what your learner needs to succeed. However, our team is here to support you, and we are always happy to collaborate to find the best approach for your child. Working together, we can ensure your child has everything they need to move forward confidently.

Many parents opt to change their child's math grade level to provide them with extra time to solidify important mathematical concepts. If you are looking to make an adjustment, please contact our friendly support team to facilitate this change.

In general, these are the fundamental skills we strive to teach children while learning mathematics:

​Concept: Trusting the Count

- This skill refers to a child's ability to visualise numbers from zero to ten and have a deep understanding of what each number represents. For example, your child should see a seven as one more than six, one less than eight, three and four, or five and two. Trusting the count is a concept separate from addition and subtraction. It focuses on the idea of fully comprehending what each individual number means.
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How do you know if your student trusts the count?

To assess if your student trusts the count, you can conduct a simple exercise. Roll a die, and ask your student to identify the number of dots without counting them. Alternatively, you can hold up different numbers on your fingers for two seconds and see if your student can identify how many there are at a glance. If your student needs to count the dots or the number of your fingers, then they may need additional practice trusting the count.

For resources on trusting the count, please visit the following link.
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Concept: Place Value

- This skill involves your child being able to count large numbers confidently and efficiently and understand how to compose, name, compare, order, and sequence numbers with two or more digits. This concept also involves understanding how to represent larger numbers in terms of their parts, such as understanding that fourteen is ten and four more.
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How do you know if your student understands place value? An effective way to assess if your student understands place value is by playing a game with them. Create a basic number line using a fence or a long, straight footpath. Write zero at one end and forty at the opposite end. Ask your student to mark where they believe twenty would go on the line without counting. If they accurately identify the halfway point, then they have a strong understanding of place value. You can also ask them to add other numbers, such as ten and thirty, to assess their skills further.

For resources on place value, please visit the following link.

​Concept: Multiplicative Thinking

- This skill involves your student being able to manipulate large numbers strategically and understand a variety of approaches for solving multiplicative problems, rather than solely relying on addition. Students with a solid understanding of multiplicative thinking have the ability to explore numbers in terms of groups and group size, such as understanding that six eights can also be thought of as 3 groups of 16.
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How do you know if your student can think multiplicatively?

A straightforward way to assess if your student can think multiplicatively is by using a large number line exercise. Create a number line using either a fence or a long, straight footpath. Write zero at one end and forty at the opposite end. Ask your student to mark where they believe twenty would go on the line. If they can assess the halfway point without counting, then they are demonstrating strong multiplicative thinking skills.

For further resources on explicitly teaching multiplicative thinking, please visit the following link.

We are always here to support our students and their families in any way we can.