TRICKY MATHS LESSON

Today in Year Two, we tackled a tricky but important part of our Maths curriculum: telling the time to the nearest five minutes.

Mr. Spracklen led the session and while the class gave it their all, there’s no getting around it… they all found this REALLY HARD!

We know from experience that telling the time isn’t something that just clicks in a single lesson. It needs repetition, real-life context and lots of practical experience – both in school and at home.

Does your child have a watch?

Having a watch (ideally an analogue one) can make a big difference in helping children gain confidence with telling the time. If your child doesn’t yet have one, here are a few affordable and child-friendly options:

• EasyRead Time Teacher watches – colourful and designed specifically to support learning.

• Timex Kids' analogue watches – classic, with clear faces and labelled hour/minute hands.

Alternatively, a simple cardboard clock or printable clock face at home can be just as helpful for practising.

How you can help at home:

Here are a few simple ways to build time-telling confidence daily:

• Ask your child to read the time aloud at various points of the day – breakfast, bedtime or when heading out.

• Play games like “What time will it be in 10 minutes?” or “Can you set this time on your clock?”

• Use routines to reinforce learning – “It’s quarter past eight – time to put your shoes on!”

Why does it matter?

Learning to tell the time helps develop a sense of routine, independence and sequencing – all key life skills. It also forms the foundation for future learning in Maths, such as duration, timetables and problem-solving.

Let’s work together to make time-telling something that ticks along nicely – your support at home really does make all the difference!

If you’d like any resources, clock templates or further ideas for games and activities, just let us know – we’re here to help.

Tick tock!