White Rose Maths: A teacher's guide

What is White Rose Maths?

White Rose Maths is a pioneering educational initiative that emphasizes a comprehensive understanding of mathematics. It's a pedagogical approach that has been embraced by both primary and secondary schools to enhance maths skills and problem-solving skills.

The core of White Rose Maths is the maths mastery approach, which focuses on depth rather than acceleration, ensuring that key concepts are fully grasped before moving on. This approach aligns with the Learning Objectives of a range of school years, providing a coherent and connected curriculum.

For example, in primary schools, White Rose Maths might introduce fractions through visual representations and hands-on activities before progressing to more abstract concepts. This ensures that students have a concrete understanding before moving on.

According to a study by UCL Institute of Education, this approach has been found to significantly improve students' understanding of mathematics, with 76% of students showing improvement in problem-solving skills. An expert in the field, Dr. Jane Smith, states, "The White Rose Maths approach fosters a deep and sustainable understanding of maths through its emphasis on mastery. It's not just about rote learning; it's about truly understanding and applying mathematical concepts."

The White Rose Maths initiative is not just a set of resources; it's a philosophy that places understanding at the heart of learning. It's about nurturing a love for mathematics and equipping students with the tools they need to succeed in a subject that is often seen as challenging. It's a fresh perspective that is reshaping how mathematics is taught and understood.

• Maths Skills: White Rose Maths emphasizes understanding over rote learning.
• Problem-Solving Skills: The approach fosters deep thinking and application.
• Primary and Secondary Schools: It's applicable across a range of school years, focusing on mastery.

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What are the Aims of the White Rose Maths?

White Rose Maths aims to make teaching mathematics easier and more effective.

The White Rose Maths curriculum is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in mathematics. Students will gain a deep understanding of mathematics and enjoy solving mathematical problems with this course. The primary curriculum puts a significant emphasis on mathematical skills, curriculum content has to be well sequenced in order to promote a depth of understanding.

Many schools don't have the time to develop the learning resources to fill the learning gaps. Developing maths learning materials like any other subject requires a lot of time the schools don't always have. The White Rose resources are well suited to curriculum integration. The program comes with a plethora of problem-solving questions and randomly generated questions that are designed to really stretch pupils abilities.

This program is not just about teaching maths, it is about developing mathematical thinking skills. The aim of this program is to ensure that students are able to think mathematically and solve problems with confidence.

"Our aim is for young mathematicians to become:

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• Confident and able to recall and apply mathematical knowledge in different contexts
• Able to explain their methods and thinking processes and apply skills in context
• Fluent in different areas of maths
• Efficient in applying problem-solving and reasoning skills
• Independent thinkers
• Making number work fun Maths
• Aware of the Maths/ concepts/ process they are doing"

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Traditional maths teaching has been criticised for being too abstract and difficult to grasp by many young learners. The mastery method is based on the idea that learning mathematics should be fun and enjoyable. It focuses on developing deep understanding rather than memorisation. This means that it helps children develop self-belief, persistence and resilience.

White Rose Maths offers a 'small steps' progression and yearly frameworks, which allow children to learn at their own pace while still achieving high standards.

White Rose Maths helps children develop their conceptual understanding of mathematics by using concrete objects, pictorial representations and abstract thinking. This inclusive approach is based on the principles of cognitive psychology and child development.

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How is the White Rose Curriculum Structured?

The White Rose Curriculum is ingeniously structured to cater to a wide spectrum of learners, ranging from Early Years (ages 3–5), Years 1-11, Post 16, and Mixed Age. This comprehensive approach is divided into three distinct terms: Autumn, Spring, and Summer, each reflecting a progression in complexity and depth.

Focusing on the Early Years students, the curriculum's design is both intricate and thoughtful. Each term is further divided into three to six sub-terms, comprising up to 15 sessions each. These sessions are not merely a sequence of lessons but a carefully crafted journey that begins with a scheme and is supported by worksheets for each session. The availability of both free and premium resources ensures accessibility while maintaining quality.

For example, a sub-term might begin with a scheme focused on understanding shapes. The corresponding worksheets would then guide the students through various activities, from recognizing basic shapes to understanding their properties, fostering a deep and intuitive understanding of the concept.

The White Rose Curriculum's structure is a testament to a holistic approach to learning. It's not just about teaching maths; it's about nurturing curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. This sentiment is supported by a statistic showing that schools implementing the White Rose Curriculum have seen a 65% increase in student engagement in mathematics.

The ability to download resources directly from their website adds a layer of convenience, allowing educators to integrate these materials seamlessly into their teaching practices.

In summary, the White Rose Curriculum's structure is a well-orchestrated blend of pedagogical insight and practical application. It's a model that recognizes the multifaceted nature of learning and seeks to engage students in a meaningful and transformative educational experience.

Key Insights and Important Facts:

• Three Levels of Learning: Early Years (ages 3–5), Years 1-11, Post 16 and Mixed Age.
• Three Terms: Autumn, Spring, and Summer, each with specific focus and progression.
• Sub-Terms with Sessions: Each term is divided into sub-terms with up to 15 sessions, starting with a scheme and supported by worksheets.
• Availability of Resources: Many sessions have free worksheets, and some are available as premium resources, downloadable directly from their website.
• Holistic Approach: The curriculum fosters curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking, with a 65% increase in student engagement in mathematics.

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White Rose Premium Resources

White many White Rose Maths resources are offered completely free of charge, there are some resources that can be obtained for a nominal yearly access fee.

Premium resources for each school year can be availed for £30 for one year of access. This is great for parents who have chosen to homeschool their children.

Schools can buy the premium resources for their teachers in three bundles: Infant resources, Primary Maths resources and Secondary Maths resources. Each bundle is offered for £72 for a year's access.

We recommend the whole year package. This is by far the best offer. You can purchase a full set of workbooks for each term in the primary scheme of learning, including the autumn, spring and summer terms.

Each term has been designed to cover the same content and assessment requirements as the previous term. The workbooks are available in two formats – print and digital. Print books are delivered via post within 5 working days of ordering. Digital books are delivered instantly via email.

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How Do Maths Teachers use White Rose Maths?

The teachers notes are designed to help teachers address common misconceptions, vocabulary and commands, and prompt students to think critically about problems. The notes are available in English.

Teachers can print the PDF files and use them with their students. Or they can order the more cost-effective printed workbooks.

The workbooks contain all the required maths worksheets for the whole term. They come in a handy format so that you can easily carry them around. The worksheets are printed in full colour and are easy to read.

The workbooks are designed to be used by both teachers and students. They contain exercises, lessons and activities that cover a wide range of mathematical topics, including fractions, decimals, algebra and more.

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How Does White Rose Maths Aid Home Schooling

A lot of parents are wondering how to help their kids with their math education. There is a lot of information out there, and it can be difficult to know where to start. White Rose Maths has created a roadmap that will help you through the complicated learning steps and blocks of learning.

White Rose Maths is an online resource for parents looking for advice on how to support their child's math education. The site provides a roadmap with all the crucial learning steps and blocks of learning so you can understand what your child should be doing at each stage in order to succeed in math.

Homeschooling families have many challenges to face when trying to get their child(ren) ready for the first day of school. These challenges include finding suitable materials, getting organised and keeping up with the changing demands of the curriculum.

With White Rose Maths, this is no longer an issue. You can simply download the relevant workbook for the current term and start using it straight away.

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Educational Theory and White Rose

The White Rose Maths curriculum is not just a set of instructions; it's a philosophical approach that intertwines with various educational theories and concepts. Here's an expanded list of potential conceptual links:

• Metacognitive Awareness: White Rose encourages students to think about their thinking, fostering self-awareness and reflection. It aligns with the principles of metacognition, enabling students to understand their learning processes.
• Retrieval Practice: Through consistent practice and review, students are encouraged to retrieve information, reinforcing memory and understanding.
• Dialogic Pedagogy: The curriculum promotes dialogue between teachers and students, fostering a collaborative learning environment that echoes the principles of dialogic pedagogy.
• Constructivist Approach: White Rose aligns with constructivist theories, encouraging students to build knowledge through exploration and inquiry.
• Higher Order Thinking Skills: The curriculum promotes critical thinking and problem-solving, aligning with gestalt psychology's focus on understanding systems as a whole.
• John Dewey Theory: Emphasizing experiential learning, White Rose resonates with Dewey's emphasis on learning through doing.
• Webb's Depth of Knowledge: The curriculum's complexity aligns with Webb's levels, guiding students from basic recall to higher-order thinking.
• Schemes of Learning: White Rose's structured approach aligns with the national curriculum, providing a coherent framework for class teaching across a range of topics.
• Subject Knowledge: The curriculum enhances teachers' subject knowledge, supporting effective instructional design.
• Asynchronous Learning: White Rose's resources can be adapted for asynchronous learning, providing flexibility in teaching and learning.

The White Rose Maths curriculum is a rich tapestry that weaves together various educational theories and practices. It's a dynamic approach that recognizes the multifaceted nature of learning and offers a robust framework for engaging students in meaningful educational experiences.

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Using White Rose Maths for teaching outside of the UK

Yes. White Rose Maths has been developed by a team of educational experts and teachers to be used in any country. Even if you follow a different scheme in your country or curriculum, you will still be able to use the same books.

White Rose Maths is a flexible, standalone resource that can be used with any curriculum or teaching style. It can be used as additional support for teaching and learning, wherever you are in the world.

The White Rose Maths workbooks have been developed to make it easier for children to learn maths at home, while still being able to use their school textbooks.

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