Maths GroundWork Philosophy Page

Maths GroundWork 10 - 13 and 12 - 14 is for children in the last years of Primary school and the first three years of Secondary school. It has been designed by two teachers with a combined experience of 40 years teaching in the comprehensive sector.
During this time, the child encounters 'real' maths for the first time. This is the crucial period; a solid foundation of understanding and the confidence to tackle different situations is important. Get it wrong and you are left with that all too common feeling of never quite getting to grips with a topic before the teacher moves on to the next one.

This is where Maths GroundWork can help.

Our methods are fairly traditional.

Completing a course takes about 30 weeks; becoming competent at maths takes time.

There are 120 exercises, each of 8 problems. No two problems within an exercise are on the same topic. A thread on one topic continues over 10 to 30 exercises, consolidating and developing through time, to be revisited at a later date. In Maths GroundWork 12 - 14, for example, Pythagoras Theorem is introduced from exercises 30 to 60 then revisited periodically thereafter. The exercises are easily marked by a responsible person; no tutor is required.

The early sets of exercises are straightforward; success here builds confidence. As the course progresses, the exercises contain more difficult questions. Straightforward questions are included all the way through to exercise 120; this ensures each exercise is completed within a relatively short spell and doesn't lead to discouragement. Typically, early exercises take 10 to 20 minutes while later ones take 20 to 30 minutes. The package is contained within an easy to maintain wallet.

The routine instilled over the 30 weeks is a very useful discipline. Suggestions for maximising the benefit from the course are included in the User Guide/Answer booklet.

Topics covered in Maths GroundWork 10 - 13 include:

Number - basic arithmetic, mental arithmetic,rounding, money

problems, putting numbers in order of size

Perimeter

Area - rectangles, triangles, composite shapes

Fractions - simplifying, simple adding and subtracting, finding

a fraction of something, multiplying a whole

number by a fraction

Decimals - adding and subtracting, multiplying / dividing a

decimal by a whole number

Percentages - finding a percentage of something

Conversions - between fractions, decimals, percentages

Angles - types, angles in a rectangle / triangle

Time

Temperature

Algebra - evaluating expressions, solving simple linear

equations, forming an equation, simplifying

expressions, extension work leading to solving very

simple quadratic equations

Sharing in a ratio

Simple co-ordinates

Miscellaneous - including problem solving, rates of change,

Fibonacci sequences

Topics covered in Maths GroundWork 12 - 14 include:

Number - factors, rounding, positive and negative numbers, fractions, decimals, percentages, simplifying and sharing ratios, standard form / scientific notation

Angles - types, complementary / supplementary,

corresponding / alternate, finding missing angles,

interior / exterior angles in a polygon

Pythagoras - including simple problems, distance between two

points

Area - rectangles, triangles, quadrilaterals, circles, composite

shapes

Symmetry - line, rotational

Circles - circumference, area

Volumes - cuboids, prisms

Metric measure

Algebra - removing brackets, simple factorising, simplifying

expressions, evaluating expressions, solving linear

equations and inequations, sequences, changing the subject of a

formula, introduction to simultaneous equations

Graphs - co-ordinates, straight line graphs, interpreting,

gradient, plotting simple quadratic graphs, mid-point

of a line

Similar shapes

Statistics - frequency tables, frequency diagrams, mean,

median, mode, stem-leaf charts, pie charts,

probability

Transformations - reflection, rotation, enlargement

Problem solving

Mathematics is seen as a dry subject which pupils have to do at school. There is competition from other, newer subjects and pupils are tempted by the more exciting prospect of a year spent in project work and open discussion, rather than dull, old maths. It is no surprise that the number of pupils taking Maths at senior level in schools and at university is decreasing. It is our hope that Maths GroundWork can make a contribution towards reversing this trend.




Maths GroundWork 10 - 13 and 12 - 14 is for children in the last years of Primary school and the first three years of Secondary school. It has been designed by two teachers with a combined experience of 40 years teaching in the comprehensive sector. During this time, the child encounters 'real' maths for the first time. This is the crucial period; a solid foundation of understanding and the confidence to tackle different situations is important. Get it wrong and you are left with that all too common feeling of never quite getting to grips with a topic before the teacher moves on to the next one. This is where Maths GroundWork can help. Our methods are fairly traditional. Completing a course takes about 30 weeks; becoming competent at maths takes time. There are 120 exercises, each of 8 problems. No two problems within an exercise are on the same topic. A thread on one topic continues over 10 to 30 exercises, consolidating and developing through time, to be revisited at a later date. In Maths GroundWork 12 - 14, for example, Pythagoras Theorem is introduced from exercises 30 to 60 then revisited periodically thereafter. The exercises are easily marked by a responsible person; no tutor is required. The early sets of exercises are straightforward; success here builds confidence. As the course progresses, the exercises contain more difficult questions. Straightforward questions are included all the way through to exercise 120; this ensures each exercise is completed within a relatively short spell and doesn't lead to discouragement. Typically, early exercises take 10 to 20 minutes while later ones take 20 to 30 minutes. The package is contained within an easy to maintain wallet. The routine instilled over the 30 weeks is a very useful discipline. Suggestions for maximising the benefit from the course are included in the User Guide/Answer booklet. Topics covered in Maths GroundWork 10 - 13 include: Number - basic arithmetic, mental arithmetic,rounding, money problems, putting numbers in order of size Perimeter Area - rectangles, triangles, composite shapes Fractions - simplifying, simple adding and subtracting, finding a fraction of something, multiplying a whole number by a fraction Decimals - adding and subtracting, multiplying / dividing a decimal by a whole number Percentages - finding a percentage of something Conversions - between fractions, decimals, percentages Angles - types, angles in a rectangle / triangle Time Temperature Algebra - evaluating expressions, solving simple linear equations, forming an equation, simplifying expressions, extension work leading to solving very simple quadratic equations Sharing in a ratio Simple co-ordinates Miscellaneous - including problem solving, rates of change, Fibonacci sequences Topics covered in Maths GroundWork 12 - 14 include: Number - factors, rounding, positive and negative numbers, fractions, decimals, percentages, simplifying and sharing ratios, standard form / scientific notation Angles - types, complementary / supplementary, corresponding / alternate, finding missing angles, interior / exterior angles in a polygon Pythagoras - including simple problems, distance between two points Area - rectangles, triangles, quadrilaterals, circles, composite shapes Symmetry - line, rotational Circles - circumference, area Volumes - cuboids, prisms Metric measure Algebra - removing brackets, simple factorising, simplifying expressions, evaluating expressions, solving linear equations and inequations, sequences, changing the subject of a formula, introduction to simultaneous equations Graphs - co-ordinates, straight line graphs, interpreting, gradient, plotting simple quadratic graphs, mid-point of a line Similar shapes Statistics - frequency tables, frequency diagrams, mean, median, mode, stem-leaf charts, pie charts, probability Transformations - reflection, rotation, enlargement Problem solving Mathematics is seen as a dry subject which pupils have to do at school. There is competition from other, newer subjects and pupils are tempted by the more exciting prospect of a year spent in project work and open discussion, rather than dull, old maths. It is no surprise that the number of pupils taking Maths at senior level in schools and at university is decreasing. It is our hope that Maths GroundWork can make a contribution towards reversing this trend.