Day: December 10, 2007

News: More maths, less testing

n overhaul of national testing and school league tables in recognition that the system of high-stakes testing has become too nerve-racking for children.

Polly Curtis, education editor of The Guardian writes today that the Government will pave the way for an overhaul of national testing and school league tables in recognition that the system of high-stakes testing has become too nerve-racking for children. Ministers will give the go-ahead to introduce a form of tests which allow children two attempts and put more emphasise on teacher assessment – provided the results of a pilot, begun last week, bear out their high hopes.

More space will be made for maths and reading, as well as a review of the SATs. More on this later in the week.

Free Y1 maths worksheet: Understand subtraction

This maths worksheet uses the subtraction sign with numbers up to 10. The sign for subtraction could well be new to children of this age.

calculate graphicThis maths worksheet uses the subtraction sign with numbers up to 10. The sign for subtraction could well be new to children of this age. Think of the statement 7 – 4 as a sentence which can be read as:

7 minus 4

7 subtract 4

or 7 take away 4.

A number line can be helpful here. To take 4 from 7 start with the larger number which is 7, and then make four hops back, first to 6, then 5, then 4 then 3.

There is a number line on the worksheet, but it would be better to provide your own.

Many children will use their fingers to count the number of hops backwards they have made, there is nothing wrong with this. Alternatively they can mark the hops backwards on the number line itself.

Free Y1 maths worksheet: Use the subtraction sign (pg 1)