What’s new
in Yr 6
Maths?
Main content of Yr 6
Maths?
Common challenges for students in Yr 6
Maths?
Main outcomes for Yr 6
Maths?
Most important concepts to ensure your child understands
in Yr 6 Maths?
If you chose to get a tutor, study habits and content
to focus on in Yr 6 Maths?
Main challenges involved in tutoring a Yr 6 Maths
student?
Some good ideas on how to help your child in Yr 6
Maths?
What’s new in Year 6 Maths?
Negative numbers. Multiplications up to 2-digit operators and divisions with 1-digit operators. Working with
decimals to 3 decimal places and multiplications of fractions with whole numbers. Reading graphs with varying
scales and determination of averages of sets of numbers. Conversions between different units of the same
measurements as well as taking measurements up to 3 decimal places. Comparison of different Australian time zones
while taking daylight savings into consideration. Construction of 3-dimensional shapes, classifying and measuring
angles.
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Main content of Year 6 Maths
Reading, writing, recording and using numbers of all sizes are central skills in the year 6 maths syllabus. The
concept of negative numbers and their relation to zero will also be taught. Addition, subtraction, multiplication
and division involving whole numbers, special numbers, fractions, decimals and percentages are also core maths
skills. These skills will be learnt and focussed on applications involving everyday money calculations.
These four operations will also need to be used in the construction and solution of number sentences.
Other core topics include calculating the means (averages) of number sets; working with squares, triangles and
rectangles as well as calculating perimeters, areas and volumes in 3-decimal places. Other topics in measurement
include construction of timelines and recording masses.
In geometry, 3-dimensional models will be constructed; shapes and maps will be reduced and enlarged; symmetry in
objects will be taught; and angles will be measured in degrees using the protractor.
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Common challenges for students in Year 6 Maths
The commonest challenge for students in this year is in taking
maths at this level as a whole, interwoven subject. More than ever, year 6 maths topics overlap and knowledge
from one area will help in others. In coming up with solutions to problems, students may find it hard to
apply what was learnt somewhere else to problems in different areas. For example, dealing with numbers up to
3 decimal places is a common thread for year 6 maths. It shows up in algebra as well as in geometry and
statistics.
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Main outcomes for Year 6 Maths
At the end of this year, students should not only be able to work with numbers of all types and sizes, but must
also be able to convert one form to another while adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing combinations of
these numbers. These abilities should also apply to number sentences as well as geometric and numeric patterns.
In data usage, students should be capable of interpreting and presenting their data in tables and graphs of varying
scales.
In measurement, they must be able to select the appropriate measuring device and measurement unit for specific
measurements as well as show that they can convert between different units of measurement.
In geometry, students must be able to draw and classify common shapes and objects as well as measure angles
accurately.
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Most important concepts to ensure your child understands in Year 6
Maths
It is difficult to pinpoint the most important topics to ensure
your child understands in year 6 given that this is the final year of Primary School. At
this point assessments will test knowledge in every area. However, a good foundation with number
operations will go a long way in helping your child excel in other areas of this year’s maths.
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If hiring a tutor, what study habits and content to
focus on in Year 6 Maths?
Should you get a tutor, the best learning methods to encourage are
ones where teaching and problem-solving involves an interdisciplinary approach. For year 6, get a tutor
who provides a holistic approach to give your child the important ability of dipping into different aspects
of maths to solve each problem.
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Main challenges involved in tutoring a Year 6 Maths
student
The sheer volume of the grounds that need be covered is the main
challenge in tutoring a year 6 maths student. It is easy for the student to lose focus and interest if he/she
encounters difficulties in key areas or is overwhelmed.
Students at this age are rarely comfortable with the process of sitting down and figuring out a maths problem
on their own if they feel overwhelmed or beaten by it. Yet, this is an important skill and attitude that needs to
be instilled. Once your child enters high school, the learning environment will change and demand a stronger
and more independent sense of commitment.
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Some good ideas on how to help your child in Year 6
Maths
Encourage active participation from your child this year and let
him/her have more than ample study time to prepare for final assessments. Helping your child with a tutor is
always a possible solution.
Take care to ask your child to explain what he/she has learnt and go over the steps taken to arrive at
solutions.
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