Eastgate Academy Mathematics Curriculum
Ben Paull
Please click here to access the Eastgate Academy Calculations Policy. You can view our long-term plan through the document link at the bottom of the page.
The Power Maths Teaching Model
At the heart of Power Maths is a clearly structured teaching and learning process that helps you make certain that every child masters each maths concept securely and deeply. For each year group, the curriculum is broken down into core concepts, taught in units. A unit divides into smaller learning steps - lessons. Step by step, strong foundations of cumulative knowledge and understanding are built.
The Power Maths Lesson Sequence
At the heart of Power Maths is a unique lesson sequence designed to empower children to understand core concepts and grow in confidence. Embracing the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics' (NCETM's) definition of mastery, the sequence guides and shapes every Power Maths less taught. Flexibility is built into the Power Maths programme so there is no one-to-one mapping of lessons and concepts meaning you can pace your teaching according to your class. While some children will need to spend longer on a particular concept (through interventions or additional lessons), others will reach deeper levels of understanding. However, it is important that the class moves forward together through the termly schedules.
Whole Class Approach
Traditionally, children who learn quickly have been accelerated through the curriculum. As a consequence, their learning may be superficial and will lack the many benefits of enabling children to learn with and from each other. By contrast, Power Maths' mastery approach value real understanding and richer, deeper learning above speed. It sees all children learning the same concept in small, cumulative steps, each finding and mastering challenge at their own level. Remember that in mastery maths, EVERYONE can do maths! Those who grasp a concept easily have time to explore and understand the concept at a deeper level. The whole class therefore moves through the curriculum at broadly the same pace via individual learning journeys.
Lesson Design
Each lesson includes the following parts shown below:
Power up: A 5-minute mental recall activity to help gain fluency in Mathematical facts.
Discover and Share: This part of the lesson encourages ping pong teaching, a model where pair work, shared learning and teaching instructions are back and forth. This part encourages some discovery in pairs and some whole class discussions.
Think Together: This part of the lesson is where we follow the "I do, we do, you do method". The teacher models and explains, the children all have a go together and get chance to practise before the independent task.
Practice: Children use their Power Maths Workbooks during this part of the lesson and are encouraged to use resources modelled during the 'think together' section form the enable table. Children can work independently or collaboratively during this part.
Reflect: In the workbooks, children have an opportunity to consolidate their learning independently, as well as sharing this in a class
Deeper Learning Challenge: Additionally, at Eastgate Academy we also use deeper learning challenges if children complete the workbook and have extra time during the lesson to help deepen their understanding.
