Maths Weeks have been undertaken at East Dene, Coleridge and Badsley Infants this year. The schools have used the week to engage children, target practical maths, raise the profile of the subject and engage parents
Schools have incorporated the Learning Skills Curriculum into the weeks with the use of the LSC characters and table trails.
In Key Stage 2 there was a football focus and in Key Stage 1 the focus was pirates
Aims
To engage children in Maths
To develop children’s practical maths skills
To raise the profile of the subject
To engage parents
To improve attainment
Positives
All children thoroughly engaged in active practical maths activities during the week
Football resources effective in engaging boys especially stadium challenge and fantasy football
See Tables Trails
Maths and Beyond and homework activities extremely successful at Coleridge
The use of classrooms and hall for designated Maths activities very successful at Badsley Infants
Peer Coaching at Coleridge in Maths another very effective initiative
The learning against layered curricular targets was accelerated across the schools.
Improvements
KS2 Maths trail planned and to be developed in new academic year
Maths resources to be developed to support themed weeks such as
The Future
All schools have planned Maths weeks for the forthcoming year
Presentations and support are available to schools undertaking a Maths week for the fist time.
Evaluation LSC Tables Trail Activities
Introduction
Tables trails were launched in 2007/8 as a means for children to utilise the Learning Skills Curriculum to support and improve their understanding of multiplication facts
This involved the use of large visual and tactile numbers displayed in every classroom with children walking a ‘trail’ to examine, record and remember each number
Trail records were available to children in three formats; list, story and mind map
Tables trails have been utilised at East Dene, Coleridge and Badsley Infants
Aims
Children to use techniques from creative thinking, thinking skills, reflection and visualisation to embed recall of number facts
Children to engage in and enjoy the process of learning number facts
Positives
Children thoroughly enjoyed and engaged with the tables trail process, both making their numbers, then learning and remembering them
Children typically learned the multiplication table in their room in a couple of days, were ordinarily this would take the whole half term
The visual and tactile approach also allowed children to remember the facts they had learned in longer term memory
The generic reflection skills used are both extremely useful and transferable to other areas of the curriculum
Improvements
The whole school approach to tables trails makes the process far more efficient, with a planned tables trail throughout the school, allowing for differentiation and extension
The new mind map recording sheet was the most popular with children
Using a digital camera to record the number images on children’s trail sheets was a beneficial enhancement
The future
Tables trails are embedded into school Maths Weeks, with all schools planning maths weeks for 2008/9
Training is available for tables trails through LSC staff meetings
Evaluation: Deputies Group Practical Training Events
