We Love Maths
The importance of learning maths was headline news this week following some educational announcements by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. More locally, maths was in the air at The Ryleys School as last Friday, a team of four Year 6 pupils represented The Ryleys School at the Wrekin Maths Challenge. Our two teams were proud to achieve 8th and 11th place from a total of 55 participating schools.
The avid reporters at our Newsletter Club were inspired by this and took the opportunity to learn little bit more about maths at The Ryleys School by interviewing Year 2 teacher Mr Rowe. Here is what he had to say on the topic.
Newsletter Club: Good afternoon Mr Rowe. Could we interview you for our Newsletter article this week please?
Mr Rowe: Yes, of course. I am happy to help.
Newsletter Club: Why do you think maths is an important subject to study?
Mr Rowe: Maths is a universal skill which can and will be used in lots of areas of your life.
Newsletter Club: What do you suggest we do to get better at maths?
Mr Rowe: It is important to find fun ways to practise a little bit every day. There are some songs that can help you learn, and some fun maths games to play either as board games, card games, on a computer or via an app. These games can encourage you to spend longer than you might realise practising number work.
Newsletter Club: What is your favourite number?
Mr Rowe: My favourite number is 73. There are lots of reasons for this. 73 is the 21st prime number. Its mirror, 37, is the 12th, and its mirror, 21, is the product of multiplying seven and three ... and in binary, 73 is a palindrome, 1001001, which backwards is 1001001.
Newsletter Club: Can you tell us some other fun number facts?
Mr Rowe: Yes! Did you know that the person who designed numbers as we know them, designed them according to the number of interior angles in each digit?
Newsletter Club: That is really interesting. Thank you, Mr Rowe.
Mr Rowe: You are very welcome!