Research Question: What is the adult's role in supporting children's independent mathematical thinking?
Researcher(s): Elaine Davies
Setting(s): Westbury-on-Trym C of E Academy
Status: Findings published
What is the adult’s role in supporting children’s independent mathematical thinking?
Elaine started with the idea that maths in class was too adult directed and wanted it to be more inclusive for all children. She started with ‘show me your maths’ and a maths floor book. The maths floor book is owned by the children and they can access it and stick into it. So far Elaine has noticed a transformation in the classroom. She now feels that she has a much better understanding of where the children are and there is now a rich mathematical environment but not in a direct way. This freed her to collect data and Elaine is now seeing less prolific children suprise her with their understanding of maths.
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.
