Thursday 11 January 2018

Strategic Approaches - Bar Modelling

A whole school strategic approach to Bar Modelling can develop secure conceptual understanding for children within addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, ratio and percentages. Bar Modelling can further support the students development in the understanding of algebra.

Recently Pip was invited to lead a whole school staff training session at a primary school which recognised that for such a key approach for learning it was essential that everyone 'buys into' the model, and that each teacher appreciates their role and responsibility. It is key to get all the staff 'on the bus' if you want all the students to be engaged with the approach.



An opportunity to explore the various elements of mathematics using the visual bar model convinced teachers of the benefits for learning.  Mathematics questions, at the start of the session, that they had found to be challenging became simple with solutions that could be explained.  "It's easy when you ..."  -  a frequent comment as teachers realise for themselves the ease with which questions can be answered and reasoned.  There is also confidence that  using a bar model students across the whole school would be able to access the mathematics.

The advantages of a whole staff training session were easy to see and the feedback extremely positive.   




Everyone has a responsibility to deliver their part of the the learning journey for each and every one of the children.

If you would like to discuss Bar Model training for your staff 


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