Maths

In Te Waipuna, we use PRIME Maths which focuses on making sure tamariki truly understands numbers before we move on to the next challenge.

Our Learning Way: 

We follow a three-step journey to make sure no one gets lost:

1. Concrete (Hands-on): We start with blocks, counters, and toys. If we can’t show it with our hands, we aren’t ready to write it yet!

2. Pictorial (Drawing): We draw pictures and diagrams to help us see what is happening to the numbers.

3. Abstract (Symbols): Once we understand the "why," we move to the numbers and symbols (+, -, =) you see in our workbooks.

What to Expect in Our Maths Sessions

• Talk Moves: We spend a lot of time talking about how we solved a problem. There is often more than one way to get to the answer!

• Mastery: We don't rush. We stay on a topic until everyone feels like a "Master" of that skill.

• The Books: You will see us using our PRIME Coursebooks and Practice books to track our progress.

Information for Whānau 

You might notice your child using different ways to add or subtract than the ways we learned at school!

• The Goal: We want them to have "number sense." This means they don't just memorise answers, they understand how numbers fit together like a puzzle.

• At Home: Ask your child, "Can you show me how you got that answer?" rather than just "Is it right?"

Why PRIME works for us at Oturu School

It turns our tamariki into problem solvers. Instead of being afraid of a hard question, they have a toolkit of strategies to try!