Introduce the area you have chosen and what you hope to cover in the essay
Reflect on the key mathematical ideas that children will learn in this area in the Early Years or the primary curriculum. Refer briefly here to the EYFS framework or the National Curriculum, and in detail to your reading related to this area.
Reflect on how you want the children to understand these ideas. For example you might refer to the aims of the National Curriculum. When you discuss conceptual understanding you may refer to the theory of Skemp (which is on the primary maths blackboard under additional readings, readings for assignments). When you discuss fluency you may refer to the paper by Russell (which is on the primary maths blackboard under additional readings, readings on fluency.)
Identify the manipulatives and images which are used to represent these key ideas. If you wish, you can paste in pictures of these manipulatives and images. In this section refer to readings on manipulatives on the Primary Maths blackboard under additional readings.
Discuss the way in which you can use conceptual and procedural variation to draw the children’s attention to the key ideas in this area of mathematics. Refer to some of the readings on variation on the Primary Maths blackboard under the Mastery button. For example, you might want to paste in a picture of a series of examples to show how you might use procedural variation in your teaching.
Consider how to promote learning of this area of mathematics in another curriculum subject or area of learning.
Please conclude by reflecting on how the essay has helped to you develop your understanding and your progress against the Teachers’ Standards.
