How is KS1 division and multiplication taught in schools nowadays? Please help!

[Valski]

Hi there,

I am trying to under the approach to teaching division and multiplication to Year 1 pupils. I am well aware that many of the areas I learnt at school are no longer taught in the same way (who'd have heard of phonics testing when I was in school?!).

I need to reinforce both division and multiplication with my Year 1 daughter but want to ensure I use the same approach as that used in schools in 2015. Please can anyone advise on this?

Many thanks, Valski

In Y1 counting in 2s, 5s, 10s. Repeat addition. Arrays.
Sharing objects

I think in Y1 multiplication is only somewhat touched upon, so I am not sure how much "reinforcement" you can do.

Here is how I introduced Dd1 to multiplication in Y1 - we did a lot of word problems where multiplication is used. For example - I'd draw several dogs and ask - how many ears do 5 dogs have, how many paws, how many tails. And I made sure to show her that she doesn't need to count 1,2,3, but count in twos for example.

Then I'd draw 3-eyed aliens with 5 limbs, etc. and come up with more questions. So, the concept of multiplication clicked quite easily.

The I made sure that she learned the language used for multiplication - so it could be "2 lots of 4" or "2 groups of 4" or "2 times 4".

Division is easiest to introduce as sharing equally. Smarties work wonders when you are demonstrating it.

Once the child understands the concept and starts learning their tables, you can show them with counters that 3x5 is the same as 5x3. Just arrange counters in 5 rows of 3 and show that you can turn it and you'll have 3 rows of 5. Later you can use the same rows of counters to show that multiplication and division are in inverse operations.

We used Schofield and Sims "Learn Your Timestables" workbook as well as Times Table Lotto game to hell with the tables.

Good luck!

These links should help, and Woodlands school has resources for pretty much everything for primary school. [If the link doesn't work properly, search yourself for
woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk and then for Resources.]

nrich.maths.org/2466

www.ictgames.com/

www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/page/default.asp?title=Woodlands%20Junior%20School&pid=1

Maths is in the new National Curriculum for Year 1:

Statutory requirements
Pupils should be taught to:
solve one-step problems involving multiplication and division, by calculating the answer using concrete objects, pictorial representations and arrays with the support of the teacher.

Notes and guidance (non-statutory)
Through grouping and sharing small quantities, pupils begin to understand: multiplication and division; doubling numbers and quantities; and finding simple fractions of objects, numbers and quantities.
They make connections between arrays, number patterns, and counting in twos, fives and tens.

These websites helped my Year 1 class

www.topmarks.co.uk/Flash.aspx?f=multiplication

www.topmarks.co.uk/Flash.aspx?f=grouping

Thanks to everyone. I really do appreciate the tips and websites everyone mentioned. I am going to have a scour on the web round a few of these. Like the idea on how many paws, ow many tails and also giving daughter objects to actually distribute into groups and see whether can be shared between her and her little sister evenly. Thanks so much everyone!

Valski

Once they understand e.g. 3 dogs/how many legs, you can do it in reverse, e.g. 16 legs/how many dogs, 12 legs/how many ants etc.

There is a good book that covers how math teaching these days is different from the way we learned.