SiMERR Hub Progress Report
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Hub Name |
Tasmania |
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Report Period |
2006 |
ACTIVITY NAME: Home - school partnerships through mathematical games
PROJECT OUTCOMES
- To prepare games for children to take home to play with family.
- To have greater interaction between parents and children in mathematics.
“Using games in the classroom and at home will maximise students’ problem solving competence, ability to communicate and reason mathematically, perception of the value of mathematics and self confidence in their ability to apply mathematical knowledge to new situations”(Arithmetic Teacher, 1993, vol 40 no 9 pg 49)
- Games served as both an educational and a motivational source for mathematical learning.
“Parents attitudes toward mathematics and their interactions with their children which involve mathematics are particularly relevant …Parent’s involvement raises children’s scores on achievement tests and increases general reasoning and school related knowledge regardless of the children’s ages, the mothers education or the families income”(Henderson and Berla 1994 as cited in Mathematics in the Early years 2000 (p.206). Reston, VA:National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
- Mathematics Education has become a family value through family maths nights and take home games packs
Each class at the four schools had 3 packs of games prepared to send home. These were then sent home on a roster. Parents commented on the enthusiasm with which the children approached the activities at home and the discussion and family interaction which occurred.
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- The time of preparation of the games and checking of instructions so that they were easily understood by families slowed the preparation process. The Teacher Assistants preparing the games packs developed an organized production procedure which reduced the initial time taken.
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Family Maths nights were held in each school. At the workshops, parents participated in games and the mathematics was drawn out. Games were well received by parents.
PROJECT MATERIAL
- Prior to, and during the term reports of the SiMERR project were published in weekly parent newsletters.
PROJECT IP
Games were developed using the following resources:
- Developing Efficient Numeracy Strategies Stage I and stage 2. State of NSW. 2003, Department of Education and Training Professional Support and Curriculum Directorate.
- First Steps in Mathematics, Department of Education and Training. Western Australia 2004
- Maths 300 Curriculum Corporation
NEW ACTIVITIES
- Games project has been extended so that all classrooms have games which support the NSW Mathematics syllabus implementation
- Whole class and small group packs of games have been constructed for all classes K – 6 in the four schools using easily obtained materials (cost free or minimal cost)