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
NUMERACY BACKPACK – 1
CONTENTS CHECKLIST HOW DO THEY WORK??
Item Checkl Every Friday numeracy backpacks are given out to 4
children in each class to take home. The children keep
ist these at home until the following Thursday where
1 Counters they are returned to school ready for the next child.
2 Dice
The packs are filled with a variety of exciting number
3 Deck of cards games. All of the equipment and materials needed for
4 Duelling Dice the games have been provided in the backpacks.
5 Sudoku cube
Each pack has a resource list itemising every game
6 Magic mixer
and activity in the pack.
7 Crocs and
HOME/SCHOOL BOOK
crunches
8 Croc snap flash
In order for the numeracy backpacks to be as
cards effective as possible it is important for parents to
9 Croc Fun with 9’s record any comments, questions or feedback they
have in the book. It is a chance for parents to
10 Round the
comment on the new games they create, games they
garden like and don’t like and general feedback for how useful
11 Connected 2 the backpack is in their home.
2000 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.
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SURVEY
Numeracy 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 FEEDBACK
Please 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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THE CHILDREN’S VIEW
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 Friends Siblings
parents
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
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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 Friends Siblings
parents
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 teeth
Maths quest (CD -ROM)
Games (x5)
Swat game
Getting to play with my family (x4)
Bingo (x3)
Snakes and ladders
Having maths games to play at home.
Croc flash cards
COMMENTS
We had fun, my family and I hope to get the backpack pack again.
I loved all of the games
I 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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FINDINGS
75% 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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BUILDING THE HOME-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP
OUR PARENT’S VIEWS
P M I
The games ranged from easy to hard. Our It was hard to explain to the children If we could get the backpack more
child liked the games that were easy to only one game at a time and to finish the regularly 2-3 times a term this would be
play. games before starting another. ideal.
The backpack got them interested in maths
games.
The willingness on all parts to partake in
The backpack was reunited us with some maths games with no stress or pressure.
games we had forgotten about at the back
of the cupboard.
Kept my child interested in maths.
The made me more inclined to find the
time.
Great to get together and have a laugh Maybe taking home the backpack for two
weeks instead of one week, just to have
Wonderful quality time together without
more time to use and enjoy the pack.
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.
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CONCLUSION
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.
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.
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