KS1 maths methods

[Monkeymonstermum]

56-32

What method should a KS1 child be using for this? I know how I would work it out...but DS can’t tell me how he’s supposed to. He’s fairly good at maths so a lot of the time is coming up with the correct answers to maths questions but often doesn’t know why. He’s struggling with this and can’t tell me how he’s supposed to do it.

Does anyone have a summary of methods they’re supposed to use for different questions (or is it different in each school)?

Column method is much quicker, but that doesn’t make it better. These days we teach for understanding, so the range of methods go from physical representations, through visual ones (dots/lines, number lines), to formal compact ‘column’ methods. Some children can pick up column method very quickly, but if you don’t know why you’re doing something, it’s very hard to correct any mistakes or check your work.

Do you think that suits every child though?

This is why there is a new way... which involve various methods of solving the same number sentence. Because one particular method won't suit every child. So we show them various ways while building understanding, what they all mean ,why we do something, how numbers work.

Sometimes in SATS some questions have 2 points, one for result ,one for method. If the method is correct even if the result got muddled up, they still get a point because it shows they understood the question and how to solve it.

I think it's actually the really able children that struggle with the various methods as they think it's a faff and pointless as they know the result already.

Anna

Like demented pixie said, you “repartition” the 56 as:
56 is 40 and 16
29 is 20 and 9