“Talking Maths: ways of engaging parents with their children's maths learning” Sue Skyrme and Sarah-Jane Gay Bristol University November 18 th 2013 Copyright.
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Transcript
“Talking Maths: ways of engaging parents with their children's maths learning”
What do we mean by numeracy?By numeracy we mean ‘everyday maths’. This is the maths that helps you to make decisions in day-to-day life; things like making the most of your money, journey planning, and understanding adverts and offers. Being numerate is an essential life skill.
Issue•17 million at Entry Levels (Skills for Life 2011)•This has huge impact on the individual’s life chances and UK as a whole•‘I can’t do maths’ and negative cultural views of maths•37% adults want to improve their maths skills (rose to 67% in unemployed people) (YouGov for NN, 2013)
Aims•Transform numeracy for all – everyone to reach a level of numeracy that allows them to fulfil their potential•Promote positive, ‘can-do’ attitudes towards maths
• If parents engage with their children's education, the attainment of the child will increase by 15% no matter what the social background of the family. - Professor Charles Deforges
• Children whose parents take an active interest in their child's education make greater progress at school.
• Parents give children their first experience of maths, and it is important for the child that this is positive. Children who hear 'I can't do maths' or 'I was never any good at maths and I'm OK' are likely to start believing maths is unimportant.
• Many parents feel unconfident in their own maths ability, and therefore unable to support their children.
1. Desk research2. Field research -- meetings- focus groups3. Expert group meetings4. Interim report5. Pilot resources/ support6. Recommendations for next steps7. Final report
• perception of the role in relation to child's schooling is influenced by their own past experiences and some parents try to 'save' their children from the same
Parental Engagement - Field research question themes
General opinions about maths and numeracy•Importance of maths•Own experience of maths•Impact of own opinions on children•Is maths something everyone can learn to do?
How parents engage with your child’s learning of numeracy•Everyday activities, conversations•Games, songs etc
What kind of support would parents like for both them and their child?•What prevents engagement?•Support wanted from school/National Numeracy•What would encourage other parents to get in to schools?
Many commonalities with desk research: some new responses included:
Experience of own learning maths at school~ many felt negative; many remembered maths used as a punishment; most did not want the same for their children
Terminology ~ most of the group felt 'numeracy' is a friendlier term than 'maths‘
Importance~ maths very important for employability
Attitude~ most try to be positive around their child; some felt parents are too hard on themselves and do 'maths' without realising it
Engagement ~ some parents put off by other parents
The carrot ~ promote the idea of your engagement (and improved maths skills) WILL improve your child’s life chances