At Lesley Ellis School, we teach mathematics as a valuable tool for making sense of the world. Students are encouraged to construct meaning and apply concepts to a range of real-life problems and, as a result, they come to value mathematics as a meaningful and practical subject that has many applications in their everyday world.
Learning the Basics
Young children develop an understanding of basic mathematical concepts by actively engaging with objects and materials. When working with blocks, puzzles and other toys, children make observations about size, quantity, sequence, patterns, space, speed and categorization. Through these meaningful activities, children build on their existing knowledge and theories and develop problem-solving skills.
Much of our math curriculum is experiential – lessons are designed to engage children in the practice of counting, multiplying, dividing and measuring as part of a hands-on activity. For example, a class might create a “virtual” restaurant, requiring them to calculate or pay a bill, and make correct change. Another class might use spreadsheets and computers to calculate a family budget based on income and expenses.
Students are challenged to work in-depth on problems using mathematical tools, manipulatives, conversations with peers and their own understanding to actively solve a variety of problems. Time is allowed for the children to think about the problems and to model, draw, write and talk about their ideas. Students discover materials and resources available to them and use these resources both inside and outside of school. At the end of the day, it is our goal that the students will use their knowledge in real-life situations and hence, view math as an exciting and integral part of their everyday lives.