Guest Posted July 31, 2008 Posted July 31, 2008 (edited) Hi, Ive looked through lots of earlier topics and replies, but have not been able to find what I'm looking for, doesn't mean it isn't there, just I'm not finding anything! I teach in a Foundation unit of 3 to 5 year olds. It seems there are lots of plans, ideas, etc for sounds and phonics, and it seems we all pretty much follow the same route with the letters and sounds and jolly phonics. But numeracy seems to be a completely different thing. There doesn't seem to be any kind of set plans for numeracy at all. I realize we all do it dirrerently, but mine is often a little erm, how can I put it, not as planned as phonics! I have a variety of numeracy books, but again, they're all different. Wouldn't it be much easier if there was a folder like the letters and sounds that we could follow........or is there?? Would be interested to hear if others follow a set maths programme or teach it in their weekly plans/topics. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Seem to be spending the holiday planning for next term, nothing new there then! Many thanks, Jackie. Edited July 31, 2008 by JMB
Guest Posted July 31, 2008 Posted July 31, 2008 Have you seen http://www.heinemann.co.uk/Series/Primary/...eResources.aspx http://numeracy.cumbriagridforlearning.org...category_id=128 I dip into these when needed. Have also just got the new Abacus Evolve but haven't had a chance to look at it yet.
Guest Posted July 31, 2008 Posted July 31, 2008 Welcome to a brill site! What a good idea to have a letters and sounds for maths - bet someone comes up with one now. I have always found stuff from BEAM maths to be very useful as guidance for a non-specialist, they do a 'scheme' which isn't over prescriptive but gives lots of guidance in terms of stages of maths development and where to go next if children are stuck or making good progress. Check it out under the publications tab, good luck adn let me know if you write your own scheme!
Guest Posted July 31, 2008 Posted July 31, 2008 Thanks Phil, the heinemann plans are just what I'm looking for, Jackie
Guest Posted July 31, 2008 Posted July 31, 2008 thanks jennim, not sure about writing a scheme thou, sounds way complicated for my little brain! Jackie
Guest Posted July 31, 2008 Posted July 31, 2008 Thanks for those links Phil. They look really useful.
emmajess Posted August 1, 2008 Posted August 1, 2008 Thanks Phil, the heinemann plans are just what I'm looking for, Me too! I find the framework website information really tricky and vague and my maths coordinator wants me to give her something much more specific, so having learning objectives organised progressively across the year will really help me to put my own planning around it. The only thing I'm worried about is that the framework doesn't give as much structure for FS as for KS1 and KS2 and I wonder if this is intentional because teaching and learning happens differently in FS (rather than the usual thing of forgetting about FS and just making it a bit of an add-on!). But the framework doesn't offer any real guidance about exactly how it might work differently in FS, how we might structure it - unless, quite probably, I've totally missed it! I don't want to use the Heinemman plans to offer a broad structure of objectives if this is really against good early years practice in some way! Does anyone have any comments about why this might not be good or suggestions about how to structure the new framework objectives?
Guest Posted August 1, 2008 Posted August 1, 2008 I think you are right emmajess, they have intentionally (and quite rightly IMO) not given the same structure and blocking in FS as KS1 and KS2. I would think that this is to stop people following it rigidly.Personally I think it impossible to use any scheme in FS as given as children are still at such different stages at their learning, the objectives in the heinemann plans I have always found as tricky for my kids for the point they are at in the year. It isn't bad early years practice to make sure you have covered all the necessary objectives, but you are unlikely to follow them at the level or order as given in a scheme. I tend to use the framework/Suffolk plans to make sure I cover all the objectives and then pick lessons and activities from other resources to make them appropriate for my children or linked to their learning. For example when my children were playing shops we covered counting/money etc. When we were growing potatoes we did measuring and weighing. I used the week of heinemann lessons on these areas. You've just got to be aware what you haven't covered or what needs more work in order to fill in the gaps. Not sure if that makes any sense - I have always found maths the worst area to plan for....
Guest Posted August 1, 2008 Posted August 1, 2008 Thanks for that Phil, I feel much better after reading your post. I also find maths the hardest area to plan for, and almost plan daily, especially when all the children seem to be at different levels. I have been looking for the Suffolk plans, but no luck yet. I'll keep looking. Jackie.
emmajess Posted August 1, 2008 Posted August 1, 2008 Could the Suffolk plans be the holy grail of early years teaching....? Any chance of a link, Phil? It's good to know that lots of other people find maths planning tricky. I feel like my maths teaching is fine, and I cover the framework objectives, but its just planning in more of a weekly overview I find really hard! And this is what my maths coordinator wants... (She teaches Year 6!)
Susan Posted August 1, 2008 Posted August 1, 2008 Dont forget the framework is not statutory. You may need to educate your maths coordinator as to how things work in FS.
Guest Posted August 1, 2008 Posted August 1, 2008 Sorry I didn't mean Suffolk I meant the Cumbria ones I gave the link to earlier. Sorry
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