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ACTION RESEARCH

How does the use of the Numeracy Backpack Programme enhance home -

school partnerships?

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BACKGROUND At the beginning of 2008 a Numeracy Achievement Report was produced and presented to the school Board of Trustees to show the numeracy development in our school. This report highlighted areas of concern in numeracy as several children were achieving below their expected level. From this, the Staff and Board of Trustees developed a plan of action in addressing the students needs across the school. Our main focus was on ensuring a structured and effective home/school programme was put in place to encourage numeracy learning at home.

In June 2008 Musselburgh School hosted four numeracy sessions in which parents came to school and learned about how numeracy is taught now in schools, some games they could play at home with their children and the opportunity to ask any questions regarding their child’s numeracy development. These sessions were highly successful and highlighted the need for the school to ensure home/school programmes were active.

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THE NUMERACY BACKPACK SYSTEM

HOW DO THEY WORK??

Every Friday numeracy backpacks are given out to 4 children in each class to take home. The children keep these at home until the following Thursday where they are returned to school ready for the next child.

The packs are filled with a variety of exciting number games. All of the equipment and materials needed for the games have been provided in the backpacks.

Each pack has a resource list itemising every game and activity in the pack.

HOME/SCHOOL BOOK

In order for the numeracy backpacks to be as effective as possible it is important for parents to record any comments, questions or feedback they have in the book. It is a chance for parents to comment on the new games they create, games they like and don’t like and general feedback for how useful the backpack is in their home.

WHY NUMERACY BACKPACKS?

These backpacks have been designed to help children develop their number knowledge and encourage the push on maths at home. Number knowledge practice is crucial for childrens numeracy development.

We thank the St Kilda Sports Community Society and the Musselburgh School PTA for granting our school the funding to get this programme up and running.

NUMERACY BACKPACK – 1

CONTENTS CHECKLIST

Item Checklist

1 Counters

2 Dice

3 Deck of cards

4 Duelling Dice

5 Sudoku cube

6 Magic mixer

7 Crocs and crunches

8 Croc snap flash cards

9 Croc Fun with 9’s

10 Round the garden

11 Connected 2 2000

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SURVEYNumeracy Backpack Feedback

A copy of the following survey was given to all children who took a backpack home over an 8 week period.

The children filled the first half of the survey in before they took the backpack home to give an idea of the current numeracy activities that happen at home.

Following the use of the backpack the children then filled in the second half of the survey recording how often they used the backpacks, how they were used and their general comments.

The results show how much numeracy backpacks made an impact in the home and the enjoyment families experienced by bringing numeracy into their homes.

Children surveyed: Year 1 - 6 Boys and Girls.

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NUMERACY BACKPACK FEEDBACKPlease fill this in with your teacher or individually before you take the backpack home on how

you think you will use the backpacks.

Please circle your answer

1How many days do you think you will use the backpacks? 1-2 3-4 5+ 0

2 Who do you think you will play the games with? Alone With parents Friends Siblings

3 How do you think the games will relate to you?Easy OK Hard Unsure

4 Do you currently play maths games at home? Yes No

5 Do you like maths at school? Yes No

6 Do you find maths hard? Yes No

_____________________________________________________________________________How many days did you use the backpacks? 1-2 3-4 5+ 0

Who did you play the games with? Alone With parents Friends Siblings

How did the games relate to you? Easy OK Hard Unsure

What was your favourite thing about having the backpack?

Do you think you will continue to play maths games at home? Yes No

Any other comments

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1 How many days do you think you will use the backpacks?

1-2 3-4 5+ 0

16 53 29 2

2 Who do you think you will play the games with?

Alone With parents

Friends Siblings

12 50 17 21

3 How do you think the games will relate to you?

Easy OK Hard Unsure

35 47 1 17

4 Do you currently play maths games at home?

YES NO

55 45

5 Do you like maths at school?

YES NO

99 1

6 Do you find maths hard?

YES NO

33 67

THE CHILDREN’S VIEW

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1 How many days did you will use the backpacks?

1-2 3-4 5+ 0

20 48 30 2

2 Who did you play the games with?

Alone With parents

Friends Siblings

8 50 17 25

3 How did the games relate to you?

Easy OK Hard Unsure

46 38 4 12

Do you think you will continue to play maths games at home?

YES NO

75 25

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT THE BACKPACK?Croc teethMaths quest (CD -ROM)Games (x5)Swat gameGetting to play with my family (x4)Bingo (x3)Snakes and laddersHaving maths games to play at home.Croc flash cards

COMMENTSWe had fun, my family and I hope to get the backpack pack again.I loved all of the gamesI would play with my friends when they come around to my house.There is a good variety of games.Mum read me the stories in the backpack.I really enjoyed every game in the bag.

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FINDINGS75% of children played the games with their parents or siblings.

The children commented on the fact they enjoyed playing as a family.

The home-school books were filled in weekly which allowed parents to communicate with the school on how they found the backpacks and their general impression on the child’s learning.

Children are positive about maths at school with 99% enjoying maths. However almost 40% find maths hard.

98% of children used the backpacks when they went home on an average of 3-4 days a week.

Before the backpacks went home 55% of children did some form of maths activity at home. Since the backpack programme has been running this has increased to 75%. A big achievement!

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P M IThe games ranged from easy to hard. Our child liked the games that were easy to play.

The backpack got them interested in maths games.

The backpack was reunited us with some games we had forgotten about at the back of the cupboard.

The made me more inclined to find the time.

Great to get together and have a laugh

Wonderful quality time together without younger brother to destroy things.

Playing different games and having fun with the family and to teach my son how to add and play.

My children feel special when its their turn to take home the backpack.

We now play card games at home.

Every game in the bag was helpful to teach my child how to play maths games.

Cant wait to get the backpack again. Great pack for family fun.

The backpacks are a great initiative.

Something different to do and learning while we play.

Starship bingo was a hit.

It was great having lots of choices in one backpack.

It was hard to explain to the children only one game at a time and to finish the games before starting another.

If we could get the backpack more regularly 2-3 times a term this would be ideal.

The willingness on all parts to partake in maths games with no stress or pressure.

Kept my child interested in maths.

Maybe taking home the backpack for two weeks instead of one week, just to have more time to use and enjoy the pack.

BUILDING THE HOME-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPOUR PARENT’S VIEWS

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In conclusion the Numeracy Backpack Programme has enhanced home-school partnerships in learning, but not necessarily in communication. However this maybe where a blog or a wiki where we can record hits on activities and games could be useful. We have a current wikispace called Mussellinks that has a numeracy component within it. We believe this site is getting alot of use, and would now like to measure how often this.

In October Musselburgh is hosting four numeracy parent sessions to show parents more information on the numeracy project, the numeracy backpack programme, current programme’s up and running in the school and the plan for the future.

So far 25 families have registered for these sessions, which will be another great opportunity to continue developing the home-school relationships between Musselburgh School and our community.

CONCLUSION

WHERE TO NEXT...• Set up and monitor the use of a specific numeracy wikispace.• Continue to monitor the use of the Numeracy Backpacks home-school books.

• Update backpacks and continue rotation of games and activities.

• Host Numeracy Parent Sessions in October to help parents learn about the way numeracy is taught in schools, how they feel the numeracy backpacks and any questions they have regarding their child’s learning.

• Train more parent volunteers to be part of the Targeted Learning Groups programme which allows parents to work with a small group of children focusing on increasing children’s number knowledge.