DIVISIBILITY RULES

I have found discussing these strategies with my students helps them understand the tables and gain confidence.

A whole number is divisible by:

Many of my students also like to make fortune tellers using the multiplication and division facts that they are finding tricky to learn.   

STAYING SAFE ONLINE

Online abuse and vulnerability of children is again in the news.  The percentage of children under the age of thirteen becoming victims of online abuse has risen alarmingly in the last few years.  Parental guidance settings, apps that block advertisements and virus protection programs can help reduce the danger, but do not eliminate it.   The need to educate our children about online safety and to revisit this learning frequently is genuine.  

The acronym SMART is a strategy that I have used and revisited with students.

        SAFE Explain it is not safe to share passwords, personal details, or photos on the Internet.  Explain that photos and videos on chat lines can be shared and be seen by others.  Have a No Strangers rule so that they are only communicating with their friends. Encourage your child to tell you if someone is trying to "chat" with or meet them. 

MEETING Repeat that they should never arrange over the internet to meet anyone even with one of their friends present.

ACCEPTING Advise them not to accept 'friend' invites from strangers or open emails from unknown senders.  Discuss the dangers of viruses and hacking.

        RELIABLE There is a huge amount of information on the net and anyone can put it on there.  So, check more than one site when looking for information on line.

      TELL If they see something upsetting or offensive on the Internet, or feel threatened then they should tell someone.   Peer on peer abuse has also increased and this can make it more difficult for your child to speak out about the abuse whilst at the same time lowering their self-esteem and confidence.  Reassure your child that even if they have not followed the above advice and as a result are accessing unsuitable or distressing images or messages that they should still tell you. 

If you are concerned, CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) offer advice about online abuse as does the NSPCC 0808 800 5000.  Children and young people can also contact Childline 0800 1111.  Call 999 if you think a child is in immediate danger or 101 if you suspect a crime has been committed.

DIVISIBILITY RULE FOR 3 AND 6

Is it multiple of 3?

Can you divide it by 3?

The divisibility for rule for three is really useful to know.

A number is divisible by 3 if the sum of each digit is either 3, 6 or 9.

With it you can very quickly know if a number is a multiple of three. 

For example;

51            Add the two digits                 5 + 1 = 6

                The answer is 6 so therefore 51 is a multiple of 3

109          Add the three digits         1 + 0 + 9 = 10     now add 1 + 0 = 1

                  The answer is not a 3, 6 or 9 so 109 is not divisible by 3

4125        Add the digits       4 + 1 + 2 + 5 = 12

                Add the digits        1 + 2 = 3

                   4125 is a multiple of 3

2715219        Add the digits 2 + 7 + 1 + 5 + 2 + 1 = 18                     Add 1 + 8 = 9

                        2715219 is divisible by 3

Knowing this rule is also useful for identifying numbers that are multiples of 6.

The divisibility rule for 6 is that the number has to be even and the sum of the digits are divisible by 3.

For example:

72    Add the digits together 7 + 2 = 9

        72 is a multiple of 6. 

It is an even number and the sum of the digits is 9 and therefore a multiple of 3.

93    Add the digits together        9 + 3 = 12        1 + 2 = 3

Although 93 is divisible by 3 it is not divisible by 6 because it is an odd number.

My students really enjoy experimenting with numbers to see if they are multiples of 3 or divisible by 6.  They especially enjoy creating small presentations to show others their maths skills.  

STRATEGIES TO HELP DISORGANISED STUDENTS

Many children find it difficult to be organised, with the result that they can misplace belongings and miss home learning deadlines.  Sometimes children become independent on their parents to organise and manage things for them. The following strategies support the development of organisation skills and encourage children to take responsibility for their belongings and their learning.

Together with your child organise a weekly/ daily schedule which should be displayed in a prominent place, for example, placed at your child's eye level on the front door.  When completing the daily schedule discuss a colour code/ symbol key to use so that your child has a sense of ownership for the schedule. Give your child a sense of responsibility for their belongings and learning by encouraging them to check they have everything they need for the day.

Model good organisation skills by regularly using a family calendar. (Weekly and daily schedules can be found and downloaded for free from the Internet). 

 

If possible, keep PE kits, school bags and instruments in a set location so your child can independently collect what they need for the day.

Have a designated place and time (written on the weekly schedule) for your child to complete their home learning.  This space, should be free from distractions such as mobile phones, and equipped with some essentials: paper, pencils, etc.  In the same way, encourage your child to prepare for this home learning time and have visited the toilet beforehand.  If you find that your child is constantly getting up and delaying completing or starting the activity it may be that they need support with it.  

Many schools have a home-school journal in which students record their home learning tasks.  Often schools put the home learning assignments online.   Encourage your child to share their journal and the school's website with you and together add any homework deadlines to the family calendar or schedule.   In addition, many schools run a Homework Club which gives a student an opportunity to complete assignments at school with the support of a teacher should require it.  

Essentially, follow Mrs Beeton's advice from 1861,

"A place for everything and everything in its place."

A STRATEGY FOR LEARNING THE 4 TIMES TABLES

Some students find learning the multiplication tables tricky.  The strategy of learning that the four times table is double the two times table i.e. double, double has supported students that I tutor. 
so 4 x4 can thought of as double 4 and double again .

4 x 4 
4 x 2 = 8 x 2 = 16

This strategy can also be used to learn the 6 times table to by doubling the threes.  so 6 x 6 can thought of as 6 x 3 and then double

6 x 6
3 x 6 = 18 x 2 = 36


It can even be used to learn the eight times tables by double, double, double.   

4 x 8 =
4 x 2 = 8 
8 x 2 = 16
16 x 2 = 32

 I frequently return to this strategy with students and use a variety of templates to practice with them.  This double, double flower has been popular.  

GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

As we develop through childhood so does our awareness of the world.  We became more aware of meeting and befriending others from outside the family unit.  Our knowledge develops to understand different cultures and habitats.  We gradually become aware of the world populated by other humans, essentially just like us.

The activities below are just a few ways of developing your child’s awareness of others both in their community and the world in general.   As we approach the School Summer break, these activities also provide your child with opportunities to develop their learning skills.

Each week of the summer holidays pick a new continent or country to explore.  A visit to your local library should provide you with lots of books to read and the internet is a very useful resource.  When using a search engine try adding the words ‘for kids’ so that the results are more child-friendly.   Your child may like to keep a journal of the countries they have researched in which they can write down facts and illustrate. 

Design and make their passport in which they can record facts about themselves and record places they have visited throughout the holidays.  Some children will enjoy recording the distances they have travelled in their passports.

Look at atlases and maps and use blank copies of world maps for your child to annotate with the oceans, continents etc.  Your child may also enjoy drawing their own maps to show the way from their home to the local shops.

Draw and design postcards of global cities as well as local places.

Learn to count to ten in a different language with your child.  There are many child friendly videos on the internet that can be used.

The United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is available on the internet in child friendly leaflets.  The Convention states the basic rights and needs of all children.  It encourages children to not only know their rights but also their responsibilities to themselves and towards others.  For example, ‘I have the right to play and be active.  I have the responsibility to play fairly and safely.’ 

b/d reversal strategy

 Reversing the letters b and d is not uncommon.  There are many strategies to support those students.  I recently used this one with a student who particularly liked it as she said the strategy was always in her hand.  

SPORTS AND LEARNING

Being fit and healthy is essential to all humans and nationally there is concern that children are not as physically active as previous generations. Being involved in sport or a physical activity is a great way to encourage a healthy lifestyle.  In addition, through sports we can develop our self-esteem, a sense of achievement and respect for others. It also teaches us to adhere to rules and develops an understanding of fair play.  Sport is something families can participate in together, whether it is as athletes or spectators.

Your child’s learning across the curriculum can also be developed through sports.   Listening and communication skills are developed not just by participation in a sport but also through discussion.  Encourage your child to explain their viewpoint objectively and to accept that others’ views may differ.  Reading skills can be developed by sports reports, sport themed books or biographies.  Encouraging your child to write their own sports report or create a fact file of a chosen athlete will develop their non-fiction writing skills.

Observing and recording results or sport statistics develops both maths and science skills.  For example, drawing bar graphs of gold medals won at the Olympics or recording their own times and those of other family members lapping the garden. Working out what time it will be when the match finishes or measuring how far they can jump. 

Through sport, your child can learn about the world and different cultures, for example, where is Pyeongchang?  What is the time difference there?  What was the average snowfall during the Olympics? 

Children can also be inspired by sports.  Sports can provide positive mentors and role models.  These people inspire us all not only with their achievements but also with their skills and determination to overcome any difficulties and to improve.   Unfortunately, there are also negative role models in sports but children may learn from these too, for example, it is not acceptable to verbally abuse another player or to cheat.  The following observation by John Wooden perhaps explains what we can learn from our role models, and about ourselves from sports - "Sports do not build character.  They reveal it!"

A MULTIPLICATION STRATEGY

I used this strategy with one of my students who was finding multiplying TU x TU using the compact method confusing.  It really helped him to understand what to do.  In fact, we only used the method a few times before he felt confident  enough to use the more conventional method. 

Another student was having a similar difficulty.  I showed her the method and we discussed it together.  That conversation enabled her to complete multiplication sums without the need to draw the shapes and colour code the numbers.  The conversation was enough.

WHY LEARNING A LANGUAGE IS IMPORTANT

There is strong evidence that people who are bilingual have stronger communication and cognitive skills.  Being bilingual gives the brain a good workout, enabling an individual to focus for longer and retain information more effectively.   Learning a language develops confidence in speaking and listening skills.  It helps us to understand our own language and culture whilst at the same time developing an awareness of the world.  These advantages can also be developed by learning a second language.

The main advantage of learning a language at an early age is confidence.  Young children learn their own language extremely quickly, constantly exploring, playing and mimicking words. Learning a language can be a rewarding whole family activity. A child who is learning alongside an adult, frequently experiences good role modelling in perseverance. Learning together can also be an opportunity to share strategies. 

The internet has many free resources and materials that can support your child, and you, in learning a second language.  Songs, poems, rhymes, TV programmes and stories in other languages which can develop listening, speaking and comprehension skills are easily found on you tube and other search engines. Many of these will include sub-titles and may be familiar to your child.   There are also good Apps which can be downloaded for free.

Use post-its and flashcards to learn everyday words and phrases; you may wish to label objects around the house or create a treasure hunt with the words.  The flash cards can be used to play matching games such as snap.  Flashcards can be created by you and your child, using magazines or by drawing your own images.  

Another activity to develop language skills is to create your own shop, recycling food packaging, etc.  Playing shop is a fun way to practice vocabulary and counting; it also develops mathematical skills.

 In our increasingly globalised society, the benefits of speaking other languages are invaluable.  This is perhaps best expressed in the words of Nelson Mandela;

"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head.  If you talk to him in his own language that goes to his heart."