Numeracy News - Williams Maths Review
Tuesday 20 June 2008
Highlights from the Williams Final Report
Please see the link below for the Final Report. We’ve had a look through and are really encouraged!
Particular highlights from the Numicon perspective include:
• Sir Peter’s recommendation that from an early age learning about numbers should be “rooted in play” and that children should do more “mental maths”
• Recommendation 8 (vi) “A wide range of multi-sensory resources should be available to enable the child and the intervention specialist to select those appropriate to the specific circumstances”
• Recommendation 10: “This review recommends a renewed focus on “oral and mental mathematics”....”
• P54 Paragraph 196 “...a large number of...multi-sensory resources were observed in use in primary classrooms, including “Cuisenaire Rods” and their associated number tracks, Numicon and tools from other providers, many of which can be used in conjunction with the interactive whiteboard. Indeed, in a single mixed-ability class, small groups of children were observed using all the above resources selectively and simultaneously, with the brightest in the class already moving on to abstract representation alone. Many of these resources are also applicable in early years settings as well as in primary schools”
• From Ch 4, p54 “the panel....does not endorse any specific product. Nevertheless, it would be regrettable if such clear enhancements to the learning process for those struggling with mathematics were not readily available in all schools.” And from p47 regarding intervention: "training and support in the use of the equipment and approaches concerned needs to involve a whole-school approach to build these into quality first teaching for all children".
• Describing Numicon - described correctly as a Wave 1 material also used in intervention “...It is also very adaptable in moving towards early arithmetic calculation. Moreover, it has a unique feature in that odd and even numbers are clearly and fundamentally different, something noticed immediately by young children and very helpful in coming to terms with the concept of parity.” “....the use of Numicon as a resource extends beyond Key Stage 1, and the data below suggest its effectiveness quite generally throughout both primary and early years settings. Training materials are well developed and are available in both electronic and hard copy formats.”
To read the full report click here
