Support for parents on numeracy and mathematics methods and approaches

Published 10/03/2021.  Last updated 06/06/2023

This page has links to eight videos which can help you to support your child’s learning of numeracy and mathematics. The videos outline a range of methods and approaches. They cover the following topics:

  • early numeracy foundations
  • addition and subtraction
  • multiplication and division
  • fractions, decimals and percentages
  • algebra and problem solving

Videos

  1. Early Level – This video will focus on early number development and associated skills. Included is reference to approaches to early development of number sense.
    YouTube video: NPFS - Learning Together Session 1 - Early Number Development (05/06/2020)

  2. Addition and Subtraction – Pre-requisite skills are mentioned here as well as place value partitioning and visual approaches to addition and subtraction at first level (Primary 2-4). Examples provided can be extended to cover second level also (P5-7).
    YouTube video: NPFS - Learning Together Session 2 - Addition and Subtraction (09/06/20)

  3. Multiplication and Division – Links between multiplication and division are explored and visual approaches to multiplication and division are explained using concrete materials and visual representations. Suitable for first or second level learners.
    YouTube video: NPFS - Learning Together Session 3: Multiplication and Division (11/06/20)

  4. Fractions – This video explores what a fraction is, equivalence, ordering fractions and calculating fractions of a quantity. Suitable for learners in primary two to primary seven.
    YouTube video: NPFS - Learning Together Session 4: Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages (16/06/20)

  5. Decimals - This video explores the concept of decimals, place value, ordering decimals and the links to fractions. This is suitable for learners in primary four to primary seven.
    YouTube video: NPFS - Learning Together Session 5: Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages Part Two (18/06/20)

  6. Percentages – The focus of this session is looking at what percentages are, establishing the links between fractions and percentages and calculating the percentage of a quantity. Suitable for learners in primary four to primary seven.
    YouTube video: NPFS - Learning Together Session 6: Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages Part Three (19/06/20)

  7. Algebra - Younger learners will explore and use the language of less than, greater than, equal to and not equal to and will also solve simple algebraic problems where a symbol is used to represent a missing number. For older learners, the focus is on using concrete materials and visual representations to solve algebraic equations.
    YouTube video: NPFS - Learning Together Session 7: Algebra (23/06/20)

  8. Bar Modelling & Problem Solving - explored in this session will be basic word problems through to more advanced examples using a bar model to represent the problem. Examples will be provided for many numeracy concepts, including ratio, multiplication and division and fractions.
    YouTube video: NPFS - Learning Together Session 8: Problem Solving and Word Problems using Bar Modelling (25/06/2020)

Video link for all videos in a Youtube playlist.

The videos are also available from the National Parent Forum of Scotland’s website.

Further Information

BBC Bitesize - Maths - BBC Bitesize

Scotland Learns – A newsletter for parents and carers | Scotland Learns | National Improvement Hub (education.gov.scot)

Support for parents on numeracy and mathematics methods and approaches

Published 10/03/2021.  Last updated 06/06/2023

This page has links to eight videos which can help you to support your child’s learning of numeracy and mathematics. The videos outline a range of methods and approaches. They cover the following topics:

  • early numeracy foundations
  • addition and subtraction
  • multiplication and division
  • fractions, decimals and percentages
  • algebra and problem solving

Videos

  1. Early Level – This video will focus on early number development and associated skills. Included is reference to approaches to early development of number sense.
    YouTube video: NPFS - Learning Together Session 1 - Early Number Development (05/06/2020)

  2. Addition and Subtraction – Pre-requisite skills are mentioned here as well as place value partitioning and visual approaches to addition and subtraction at first level (Primary 2-4). Examples provided can be extended to cover second level also (P5-7).
    YouTube video: NPFS - Learning Together Session 2 - Addition and Subtraction (09/06/20)

  3. Multiplication and Division – Links between multiplication and division are explored and visual approaches to multiplication and division are explained using concrete materials and visual representations. Suitable for first or second level learners.
    YouTube video: NPFS - Learning Together Session 3: Multiplication and Division (11/06/20)

  4. Fractions – This video explores what a fraction is, equivalence, ordering fractions and calculating fractions of a quantity. Suitable for learners in primary two to primary seven.
    YouTube video: NPFS - Learning Together Session 4: Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages (16/06/20)

  5. Decimals - This video explores the concept of decimals, place value, ordering decimals and the links to fractions. This is suitable for learners in primary four to primary seven.
    YouTube video: NPFS - Learning Together Session 5: Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages Part Two (18/06/20)

  6. Percentages – The focus of this session is looking at what percentages are, establishing the links between fractions and percentages and calculating the percentage of a quantity. Suitable for learners in primary four to primary seven.
    YouTube video: NPFS - Learning Together Session 6: Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages Part Three (19/06/20)

  7. Algebra - Younger learners will explore and use the language of less than, greater than, equal to and not equal to and will also solve simple algebraic problems where a symbol is used to represent a missing number. For older learners, the focus is on using concrete materials and visual representations to solve algebraic equations.
    YouTube video: NPFS - Learning Together Session 7: Algebra (23/06/20)

  8. Bar Modelling & Problem Solving - explored in this session will be basic word problems through to more advanced examples using a bar model to represent the problem. Examples will be provided for many numeracy concepts, including ratio, multiplication and division and fractions.
    YouTube video: NPFS - Learning Together Session 8: Problem Solving and Word Problems using Bar Modelling (25/06/2020)

Video link for all videos in a Youtube playlist.

The videos are also available from the National Parent Forum of Scotland’s website.

Further Information

BBC Bitesize - Maths - BBC Bitesize

Scotland Learns – A newsletter for parents and carers | Scotland Learns | National Improvement Hub (education.gov.scot)