School A

Teachers at this Calculating Changes school wrote the following evaluative comments after three months working with the initial stages of the project. This included 4 x 2 hour sessions with the staff, self-developed work in the classroom and some classroom discussion lessons led by the consultant. All text emphasis, such as underlining, is as recorded by the teachers.

...Teacher A

I now perceive the project as:

• ... very worthwhile. Takes patience with Preps, but allows the children to leap ahead at their own pace.

The response of my children has been:

• ... enthusiastic. They use them whenever they want to, to help them with all sorts of tasks.

The continuing steps for myself are:

• ... trying new things; refining them; writing them up; sharing them

The continuing steps for the school are:

• ... recording what we do; sharing what we do; keeping new staff informed; keeping the momentum going.

...Teacher B

I now perceive the project as:

• ...useful. It has changed the way I do maths in my classroom. It has altered my thinking about maths. I look for more open-ended tasks.

The response of my children has been:

• ... enjoy using calculators. Much more proficient with the use of the calculator. Not so sure about Poly Plug - hard to keep track of and haven't used them as much as calculators.

The continuing steps for myself are:

• ... documenting ideas. Practising ideas. Using calculators and Poly Plug in class as much as possible.

The continuing steps for the school are:

• ... sharing ideas, documenting ideas, on-going professional development.

...Teacher C

I now perceive the project as:

• ... on-going. Has moved us forward. Helped the number sense of my students.

The response of my children has been:

• ... to use calculators to work things out. Poly Plug is fun to use. Calculators are another way of doing things.

The continuing steps for myself are:

• ... add to the school Intranet site. Keep looking for opportunities to use calculators and Poly Plug to teach concepts.

The continuing steps for the school are:

• ... to bring ideas for calculator activities to the staff meeting. Keep involved with the project. Record good ideas. Keep new staff involved.

...Teacher D

I now perceive the project as:

• ... a most helpful 'hands-on' unit of learning leading to practical user-friendly activities that greatly enhance pupils understanding in relation to implementation of set course material!!!

The response of my children has been:

• ... an obvious confidence in using the calculator as a learning/understanding tool. Children use Poly Plug and calculators every day in maths (and other) sessions as a matter of course. No hint of a reliance on calculators simply to get 'correct' answers.

The continuing steps for myself are:

• ... to maintain use/availability of CCh materials at all times. Devise and share with colleagues additional challenging and fun activities.

The continuing steps for the school are:

• ... to maintain use of calculators and Poly Plug. Have regular sharing of activities, developments and initiatives.

...Teacher E

I now perceive the project as:

• ... an enrichment to the teaching/learning process of maths. Using these materials as an engaging way of learning many aspects of maths.

The response of my children has been:

• ... positive. They are engaged by both the Poly Plug and MathMate as tools. They have been motivated by the activities.

The continuing steps for myself are:

• ... to share with others; consider materials when planning.

The continuing steps for the school are:

• ... share ideas; reflect on successes. Put in place a system that will ensure that it's not just a 'one off wonder'.