Mathematics Blog - Summer 1 Number Sense Challenge

4th June 2018

 

Our 6 week focus on Improving Number Sense has come to an end. 

 

Over the last 6 weeks each class has identified and worked on a different area based on the individual class needs.  Take a look at the individual class pages for more details. 

 

For 6 weeks, the focus area for improving number sense became a daily focus in every classroom.  We had a launch assembly with the whole school and each class has set up weekly challenges on Sumdog that could be completed in school and/or at home.  Each class set up a page on their class website to keep parents informed of weekly progress and share with them useful resources and ideas. 

 

To measure the impact of the project we used both quantitative data, in the form of a baseline and exit test, as well as qualitative data, in the form of a child perception survey and a parental survey monkey.  Here is a summary of the impact.

 

Parents’ View:

At the end of the project, 100% of parents agreed that the number sense challenge had benefited their child.

   

Children’s Perception:

Across KS1 and KS2, 153 children participated in the exit survey.

109 children (71%) felt their confidence had increased since the start of the project.

On the 1-10 scale, children’s confidence increased (on average) by 2.0 points to 8.9 out of 10.

The following chart shows this breakdown by year group. 

 

 Year

 

Focus

 

Confidence Rate (Scale 1-10)

Impact

Baseline

Exit

Increase in Point Score

Confidence Increase (%)

1

 

4.8

8.8

3.0

88

2

 

6.8

8.7

1.9

69

3

1

7.2

9.3

2.1

63

 

2

5.4

8.3

2.9

78

4

 

7.0

8.9

1.9

75

5

1

8.2

9.1

0.9

67

 

2

7.2

8.1

0.9

63

6

1

8.4

9.4

1.0

64

 

2

8.0

9.3

1.3

86

 

Data: 

A baseline assessment was given at the beginning of week 1 and was repeated at the end of week 6.  Each class created a baseline/exit test focusing on the areas of improvement within their own class.

 

 Year

Focus

Baseline *

(Average Marks on Test)

Exit *

(Average Marks on Test)

Impact

(Increase in Average Marks on Test)

1

 

11.1 (25)

16.65

5.55

2

 

15.24 (42)

24.72  

9.48

3

1

10.70 (20)

15.33

4.63

 

2

5.93 (20)

13.19

7.26

5

1

6.77 (12)

9.37

2.6

 

2

5.57 (12)

6.60

1.03

6

1

15.71 (25)

16.46

0.75

* Brackets indicate total score available in each year group.

 

In Reception, over the 6 weeks, they learnt to recognise numbers, one more, one less and number bonds to 10. 

 

Focus

Baseline *

(Average Marks on Test)

Exit *

(Average Marks on Test)

Impact

(Increase in Average Marks on Test)

Number Recognition

17.45 (20)

18.12

0.67

One More

2.52 (3)

2.93

0.41

One Less

2.14 (3)

2.67

0.53

Number Bonds

3.52 (9)

8.56

5.04

 

 

21st May 2018
 
This is our final week of our project on improving number sense. 
 
This week all classes will be redoing their child perception survey and baseline assessments to measure the impact of the project.  At the end of the week, a survey monkey will be sent to all our parents to gain their views too. 
 
Watch this space to see the impact the project has had over the last 6 weeks...
 
 
11th May 2018
 
 Here is a summary from around the school of our continued focus on number sense:
 
Snow Leopards have been practising their number bonds in a rap.  Take a look a the video of them performing it on their class page.
 
Otters have been practising number bonds to 100 with multiples of 10 and 5.  Why not check out the games they have been using to support their learning on their class page.
 
Macaws have been solving word problems using subtraction.
 
Tamarins have continued to develop their fluency when recalling number bonds to 100.  They have also been using their knowledge of place value and known facts to develop links with other calculations.  
 
Falcons have been answering 8 questions in 5 minutes mentally and developing links with known number facts to support other calculations e.g. to multiply by 40, you can multiply by 10 and then by 4.
 
Next week is our penultimate week before we assess the impact of the project over this half term..  In the meantime, keep practising the challenges set on Sumdog.  
 
 
30th April 2018
 
This week each class has continued their daily focus on improving number sense.  Here is a summary from around the school:
 
Snow Leopards: Have been practising quickfire number recognition games and writing numbers from 10 to 20.
 
Otters: Have been halving numbers to 20 and practising number bonds to 20.
 
Zebras: Have a new Sumdog challenge focusing on numbers bonds to 20 and 100.
 
Tamarins: Have been practising the recall of number bonds to 100, revising and comparing the place value of numbers with up to three decimal places.
 
Falcons: Have been practising mental calculations including fractions and percentages.
 
Keep up to date with your child's learning by visiting their lass page on the website...
23rd April 2018
 
Last week all the children completed a perception survey which gave each class a baseline for how confident they were with the chosen number sense area.  Over the remaining five weeks of the project, we will be aiming to increase every child's confidence.  The survey will be repeated at the end of the project and the results published on this blog and the individual class pages.
 
This week in Snow Leopards, they have been counting forwards and backwards to 25, working out one more and one less and forming their numbers correctly.  In Otters, they have been doubling numbers to 20 and revising number bonds to 10.  In Macaws, they have been learning when to use an algorithm for subtraction.  In Tamarins, they have continued to practise their number bonds to 100 and using their knowledge of place value to identify associated facts.  In Falcons, they have been identifying games to help them improve their mental calculations.  Their suggestions have been put on their class page for your reference.
 
Keep up to date with the latest learning by visiting your child's class page on the website... 
16th April 2018
  
Number Sense Challenge: Summer 1
  
This week we have launched a whole school Number Sense Challenge.  Each class will have a different focus but the aim for all is to become more fluent with their number sense.   
 

Over the next six weeks we will using a variety of teaching and learning methods to improve our number sense.  Details for individual classes can be found on the individual class pages.  

 

On this blog, and on the individual class pages, we will be providing details of resources we have used, or have been recommended to us by the children, to support their learning. 

 

There are many elements to developing good number sense.  These include:

 

  •          Counting - learning number names, counting forwards and backwards and counting in multiples
  •          Comparing - having a feel for the relative size of numbers, putting them in order and estimating
  •          Composition - understanding that each number can be made in many different ways using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division 

 

Please help us to develop your child’s number sense by encouraging them to consolidate their learning through homework, Sumdog challenges, games etc.

 

If you have any questions, or would like any help with ideas to support your child, please contact either myself or the individual class teachers.  

 

Many thanks for your support.

 

Rachael Holmes

Mathematics Subject Lead