FSL 11+ Course - Week 6

Week 6 – What We Cover

This week, we cover the following:

Maths: Larger Decimal Sums (FSL Red Book, page 18)

We start with a little further work on Decimals (adding, taking away, dividing, and the hardest of all, multiplying). As a guide, with multiplying, I suggest the following method for my students (though of course it’s ok if they’ve got another process they prefer), as follows: 

e.g. for a question such as 4.2 x 5.9

1) Estimate the answer first by rounding up the numbers to whole numbers, so we know roughly what the answer should be, so 4 x 6 = 24. Note this down nearby, so it’s not forgotten!

2) Get rid of the decimals, and treat it like a normal long multiplication sum (using the column method, or grid method if preferred), so 42 x 59 = 2478

3) Then, based on the estimate, pop the decimal back in – we estimated it would be around 24, so the decimal point should go after the 4, making the answer 24.78

Non Verbal Reasoning: Introducing Rotation (FSL Red Book, pages 19-20)

Rotation is relatively simple to explain in that students need to be able to recognise 45, 90 and 180 degree rotations both clockwise and anticlockwise.

However, it isn’t easy for everyone to physically see, so if a student struggles, it is worth cutting out a simple shape and getting them to turn it around (clock wise and anticlockwise) so they get used to imagining it at different rotation points.

Verbal Reasoning: Code Words and Homonyms (FSL Green Book, pages 16-20)

Code Words – click here for an explainer video of this tricky type.

Homonyms – these are words that have multiple meanings. For example, ‘season’ could mean a ‘period of time’ or ‘to add flavour to’. Students just need to be wary of ones that could be pronounced differently – e.g. ‘wound’ as in ‘war wound’ but also ‘she wound the string around her finger’.

For a list of the homework this week, please see below:

Week 6 – Homework

  • FSL Yellow Course Homework Book (pages 34-38)

  • Any incomplete classwork, as listed above (optional)