Research Question: How do we encourage independent maths problem solving?
Researcher(s): Kayleigh Mayes and Lucy Trutch
Setting(s): Air Balloon Primary School
Status: Ongoing
Why we decided to look at this question: We feel that the children in Reception are not developing their problem solving skills as much as they could be and we want to promote their greater independence. We think the adult led activities tend to be rather closed and there doesn’t seem to be enough time to observe, scaffold and discuss with the children their learning. By looking at this question we hope to address some of these issues.
A note about Practitioner led Mathematical Research 2017
The Bristol Early Years Consortium Maths SLEs have received funding from the Boolean Maths Hub to:
- Develop specialist subject knowledge of mathematics teaching.
- Develop pedagogical knowledge of mathematics teaching.
- Improve the quality of mathematics teaching.
- Develop confidence and resilience in learning mathematics.
The SLEs as research mentors are using research as a form of CPD to achieve the above aims.
The research participants have sculpted their own questions for their research and the SLEs will meet with the research participants 6 times a year and have whole research group meetings three times a year. There are 15 teacher/practitioner researchers who work with children from two years old to seven years old.
