Explain this
Improving Primary Maths: Linking Home and School
How the publisher describes it:
“Tried-and-tested practical suggestions for activities to support and encourage children’s learning of mathematics include: making videos to share teaching methods; children taking photos to show how they use mathematics at home; inviting parents into school to share in mathematics learning; and numeracy-based activities for children and their parents to do together at home.”
Review by Matthew Reames
In brief:
This book is an exploration into the differences between ‘school maths’ and ‘home maths’ as well as reasons and suggestions for linking the two. There is also an interesting discussion about some of the differences in the maths education of children today compared to that of their parents.
“A useful resource for guiding primary teachers in making stronger mathematical connections between home and school”
Improving Primary Maths: Linking Home and School stems from two main assumptions: that children learn in two separate worlds, home and school, and that children's learning will be enhanced by bringing those worlds closer together. By first identifying some of the main differences between the two mathematical worlds, the authors then give ways in which they have tried to help children link the two.
This book is the result of a larger Home-School Knowledge Exchange Project that took place between 2001 and 2005. The three strands of the project were developing Key Stage 1 literacy, developing Key Stage 1 numeracy, and facilitating transfer between Key Stages 2 and 3. Improving Primary Maths is an investigation into some of the key differences between maths learnt and used at school from that learnt and used at home. It also describes the efforts that the research group made in improving the involvement of parents in the maths education of their children. The chapters contain quite a number of quotes from children, parents and teachers regarding their thoughts and feelings about the activities. Of particular interest to me is the discussion of some of the ways that maths lessons today might be different from the maths lessons that many parents may remember. Several of the parents interviewed are from non-English-speaking backgrounds and their thoughts and experiences provide interesting things to consider. This chapter alone could be very useful for many teachers (not just those who teach in primary schools) to read before a Parents' Evening. It certainly gave me much to think about the next time a parent says to me, ‘Oh, I never did very well in maths...’Other sections include ideas about ways to help parents become more involved in their children's maths education by seeing how maths is taught in schools today, by tailoring parent education events to the needs of specific groups of parents, and by helping parents see how maths is used in their own daily lives.
This book goes far beyond the idea of just teaching parents how to help their child finish their maths worksheet for homework. The chapters titled, ‘Mathematics activities that take school to home’ and ‘Mathematics activities that bring home into school’ give examples of projects and activities that can help children link their own experiences to the mathematics they are learning in school. The projects are also designed to help draw parents and other family members into exploring and investigating the mathematics around them.
The final chapter of the book details a number of benefits and challenges involved in designing and implementing such a project between home and school. Several likely objections (including ‘it’s not in the curriculum' and ‘we’re too busy') are noted and addressed.Though this book is aimed mainly at teachers in primary schools, there is much for teachers of older children to consider as well. Indeed, anyone looking for insight into why parents so often say ‘I hated maths in school’ would find this book rather interesting reading.
Matthew Reames • Former Head of Mathematics, St Edmund's Junior School, Canterbury, now PhD student in mathematics education at the University of Virginia
Paperback: 96 pages
Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (27 Feb 2009)
Language English
ISBN-10: 0415363934
ISBN-13: 978-0415363938
Product Dimensions: 29.4 x 21 x 1.2 cm
