Mathematics·Mathematical Thinking·meta
Choosing the right strategy
Select and use appropriate tools and representations strategically, including choosing between mental methods, jottings, formal algorithms, and calculators for arithmetic with multi-digit numbers, decimals, and fractions
Suggested ages 7–8
Learning journey
Your child is learning to think like a mathematician — solving multi-step problems, explaining their reasoning, recognising patterns in numbers, and choosing the best tools and strategies for different mathematical challenges.
Evidence of understanding
- Choose a mental method for 345 + 200 but a written method for 345 + 278
- Select a ruler vs a metre stick based on the object being measured
- Decide when a number line is more useful than base-ten blocks for a given problem
Assessment prompt
When Choosing the right strategy faces a maths problem, do they think about which method suits it best — like doing easy ones in their head, using a written method for bigger calculations, or sketching a diagram for geometry?
Standards alignment
No external standards are linked to this topic.