This may seem a lot for pupils to grasp, which is why regularly practising mental maths tasks is important.Ĭhoosing between mental and written methods If a question is best solved using mental methods, pupils then need to select the most efficient method to solve the given calculation. In arithmetic tests, many pupils will take a long time using written methods when they could find the correct answer mentally. They need to become adept at analysing a calculation to decide if it is best to complete it using a mental or a written strategy. However, it is important that pupils understand that completing calculations mentally is not always the best strategy. When tackling more complex mathematical problems, such as multi-step problems or order of operations calculations, using mental strategies to solve parts of the calculation can also reduce the perceived complexity of the task, making it far more manageable. Mental maths is also essential in everyday life consider how much more difficult it would be to calculate monetary totals in real life without the ability to quickly add approximate totals mentally. Some questions can be solved far quicker using mental strategies compared to written strategies. Slide taken from Third Space Learning’s SATs intervention programme with a warm up question on mental maths. Our tutors understand that some questions are best solved using mental strategies and encourage pupils to verbalise their mental strategies in the problem solving. This helps them to gauge the pupil’s understanding of a topic, or just as an icebreaker activity. During our online maths tuition lessons, tutors start with a quick warm up question that usually involves mental maths. Mental maths should be introduced once pupils have a secure understanding of the abstract maths concept of numbers and security in key facts (see our blog on mental maths strategies for more).Īt Third Space Learning, we understand the importance of mental maths in the mathematics curriculum. A pupil may be able to recall number bonds to ten, for example, but they also need to know how to apply this knowledge to a question they are solving. When discussing mental maths, the focus is not only recalling facts quickly but also applying known facts. The perfect resource for improving mental maths in KS1 and 2.The Ultimate Mental Maths Pack: 150 mental maths questions.Choosing between mental and written methods.
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