The Decimal Place 1

This resource from Teachers TV features John Rawlings, Primary Development Officer for Neath Port Talbot, who has been working with mathematics consultant Richard Dunne and Pamela Morgan, mathematics teacher at Baglan Primary School, to revolutionise the teaching of decimals.

This programme observes Pamela with a class of Year Four and Year Five students who are learning about decimals. This is the fifth lesson on the topic of decimals and the students are ready to explore beyond the first decimal place.

Pamela explains that the technique they are using is a very different way of teaching mathematics. It engages the students constantly throughout the lesson and, because of the physical actions being used, students gain a deep concrete understanding of the mathematics, before moving on to abstract concepts.

The mathematical language used during the lesson allows students to understand why 0.4 x 3 = 1.2 and is utilised to reinforce the idea that the same value can have a different appearance when the class is introduced to hundredths and thousandths.

Spectacular progress is made and students are placed into mixed ability groups to complete vertical addition of decimals, a challenging task for any Year Four student. Roles are allocated within each group; the mentor supervises the vocabulary being used, the scribe is given instructions to write and everyone is a thinker.

Rachel Harris, one of the students featured in this programme, sadly died some months after the programme was filmed. Teachers TV thanks Rachel's parents for permission to continue showing the programmes, and sends deep sympathy to her family, friends and teachers.