Gareth Metcalfe
@gareth-metcalfe.bsky.social
Helping all children to have intellectually and emotionally rich mathematical experiences. Director of I See Maths. More interests than time. Dad.
The Deconstructing Word Questions eBooks are Y2-Y6 because I wouldn't spend the same degree of time teaching word questions in Y1. However, there are a number of prompts to help children to understand context questions in the new I See Reasoning - Y1 (out on Sunday).
November 17, 2025 at 7:25 PM
The Deconstructing Word Questions eBooks are Y2-Y6 because I wouldn't spend the same degree of time teaching word questions in Y1. However, there are a number of prompts to help children to understand context questions in the new I See Reasoning - Y1 (out on Sunday).
I See Reasoning for Y1 (365 prompts) and Y2 (392 prompts) is out SUNDAY 23rd NOVEMBER! Lots of techniques, including a huge emphasis on visuals as the basis for reasoning. More details to come this week!
November 16, 2025 at 7:13 PM
I See Reasoning for Y1 (365 prompts) and Y2 (392 prompts) is out SUNDAY 23rd NOVEMBER! Lots of techniques, including a huge emphasis on visuals as the basis for reasoning. More details to come this week!
Only 11 days to go!
The aim: build understanding, start conversations, generate curiosity and make KS1 maths more playful 🙌
Full details next week, this blog gives a taster: garethmetcalfe.com/2025/06/09/i...
The aim: build understanding, start conversations, generate curiosity and make KS1 maths more playful 🙌
Full details next week, this blog gives a taster: garethmetcalfe.com/2025/06/09/i...
November 12, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Only 11 days to go!
The aim: build understanding, start conversations, generate curiosity and make KS1 maths more playful 🙌
Full details next week, this blog gives a taster: garethmetcalfe.com/2025/06/09/i...
The aim: build understanding, start conversations, generate curiosity and make KS1 maths more playful 🙌
Full details next week, this blog gives a taster: garethmetcalfe.com/2025/06/09/i...
Loved my day today, working with a school to develop children as problem-solvers. I’m thinking a lot about how these values (especially the last 2) can be developed in maths lessons. How care is not just pastoral but is also evident in lesson design. My next big thing…
October 15, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Loved my day today, working with a school to develop children as problem-solvers. I’m thinking a lot about how these values (especially the last 2) can be developed in maths lessons. How care is not just pastoral but is also evident in lesson design. My next big thing…
Here are all the calculations needed to answer the final 5 questions of the 2025 SATS papers 2&3. For me, it says that the challenge lies in understanding the questions (rather than calculation fluency). I’m designing more resources to help with this!
October 1, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Here are all the calculations needed to answer the final 5 questions of the 2025 SATS papers 2&3. For me, it says that the challenge lies in understanding the questions (rather than calculation fluency). I’m designing more resources to help with this!
I've finished I See Reasoning - Y1 and am most way with I See Reasoning - Y2! A range of techniques for getting children thinking, talking and being challenged. Lots of scope for creativity. I'm aiming for an October launch. Will share lots of examples soon😃
September 25, 2025 at 6:41 PM
I've finished I See Reasoning - Y1 and am most way with I See Reasoning - Y2! A range of techniques for getting children thinking, talking and being challenged. Lots of scope for creativity. I'm aiming for an October launch. Will share lots of examples soon😃
Really enjoyed this today, the extension used with a brilliant Y5 class:
September 23, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Really enjoyed this today, the extension used with a brilliant Y5 class:
Today, from Deconstructing Word Questions - Y6, looking at how questions that look very different can have similar/the same structure. Helping children to make connections:
September 22, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Today, from Deconstructing Word Questions - Y6, looking at how questions that look very different can have similar/the same structure. Helping children to make connections:
Enjoyed trialling a problem-solving task around flexible partitioning. Finished with this image, to show how being able to partition 342 in different ways is useful when subtracting:
September 17, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Enjoyed trialling a problem-solving task around flexible partitioning. Finished with this image, to show how being able to partition 342 in different ways is useful when subtracting:
When you have a pair of word questions that are subtly different, a spotlight is shone on those 'key words', the key differences:
July 14, 2025 at 6:40 PM
When you have a pair of word questions that are subtly different, a spotlight is shone on those 'key words', the key differences:
Final call: 90 minutes, how to teach children to break down multi-step word questions. Join live or use the recording any time:
July 10, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Final call: 90 minutes, how to teach children to break down multi-step word questions. Join live or use the recording any time:
A big part of the Deconstructing Word Questions resources are the 'Which Picture' discussion prompts. Examples below from the Y2 and Y6 resources:
July 8, 2025 at 6:35 PM
A big part of the Deconstructing Word Questions resources are the 'Which Picture' discussion prompts. Examples below from the Y2 and Y6 resources:
To finish this year, a series of 7 posts from me looking at the Deconstructing Word Questions techniques. Firstly, 'Which Bar Model'. The discussion is better for having a number removed so children don't simply say what the answer is.
July 7, 2025 at 6:43 PM
To finish this year, a series of 7 posts from me looking at the Deconstructing Word Questions techniques. Firstly, 'Which Bar Model'. The discussion is better for having a number removed so children don't simply say what the answer is.
The four videos on this page, each about 3 mins, explain the key principles for helping children to break down word questions. So many great classroom moments for me!
July 1, 2025 at 6:27 PM
The four videos on this page, each about 3 mins, explain the key principles for helping children to break down word questions. So many great classroom moments for me!
The last thing I've drawn out are the suggested changes to the KS2 SATS tests. Crucially important.
June 29, 2025 at 6:40 PM
The last thing I've drawn out are the suggested changes to the KS2 SATS tests. Crucially important.
Then, the importance of teaching children to problem-solve:
June 29, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Then, the importance of teaching children to problem-solve:
The Maths Horizons report gives a clear, compelling vision for the future of maths education. I've draw out 3 points. Firstly, the broad recommendations:
June 29, 2025 at 6:40 PM
The Maths Horizons report gives a clear, compelling vision for the future of maths education. I've draw out 3 points. Firstly, the broad recommendations:
I See Reasoning - Y1 will have LOADS of examples of questions that can be answered in different ways, lead to discussion, lead to practical exploration. Making progress every day! garethmetcalfe.com/2025/06/09/i...
June 26, 2025 at 6:55 PM
I See Reasoning - Y1 will have LOADS of examples of questions that can be answered in different ways, lead to discussion, lead to practical exploration. Making progress every day! garethmetcalfe.com/2025/06/09/i...
The pie chart SATS question from this year - using my resources to understand the big idea behind the question:
June 23, 2025 at 5:50 PM
The pie chart SATS question from this year - using my resources to understand the big idea behind the question:
I've got to page 94 on I See Reasoning - Y1. Extremely visual and introducing children to a wide range of reasoning techniques. Lots to discuss, laying the crucial reasoning foundations: garethmetcalfe.com/2025/06/09/i...
June 22, 2025 at 7:27 PM
I've got to page 94 on I See Reasoning - Y1. Extremely visual and introducing children to a wide range of reasoning techniques. Lots to discuss, laying the crucial reasoning foundations: garethmetcalfe.com/2025/06/09/i...
How the I See Reasoning fractions examples help children understand a SATS reasoning question:
June 17, 2025 at 7:29 PM
How the I See Reasoning fractions examples help children understand a SATS reasoning question:
I like this one, an idea a Y6 teacher shared with me this week. Give other coordinates that could go on the red line. What would a common incorrect answer be?
June 16, 2025 at 6:53 PM
I like this one, an idea a Y6 teacher shared with me this week. Give other coordinates that could go on the red line. What would a common incorrect answer be?
I See Reasoning - Y1 will include prompts for helping children to understand word questions. Not enough to justify a full eBook (as for Y2-Y6) so they will all be in ISR - Y1: garethmetcalfe.com/2025/06/09/i...
June 15, 2025 at 6:44 PM
I See Reasoning - Y1 will include prompts for helping children to understand word questions. Not enough to justify a full eBook (as for Y2-Y6) so they will all be in ISR - Y1: garethmetcalfe.com/2025/06/09/i...
Share the big vision with your whole staff in September (90 minutes). Teaching children to understand word questions:
June 15, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Share the big vision with your whole staff in September (90 minutes). Teaching children to understand word questions:
The first video in a mini-series on how the I See Reasoning questions to can help children to answer some of the SATS questions.
Video 1: the cube question!
Video 1: the cube question!
June 12, 2025 at 7:21 PM
The first video in a mini-series on how the I See Reasoning questions to can help children to answer some of the SATS questions.
Video 1: the cube question!
Video 1: the cube question!