| “They
have designed and produced activity boxes for three age groups
within primary school: age 4 to 6, age 6 to 8 and age 8 to
11. Every child in the seven schools has been given a box
of small equipment and activities suitable for his or her
age group.
“Within this project, parents will work with their child
or children once a week using the ‘Talk to Me’
activity box. Many parents are unsure of the ways to help
their child with mathematics. The activities in the boxes
are designed to help parents play purposefully with their
children and at the same time create a sound basis for learning.
“The phrase ‘Talk to Me’ describes the approach
required to help children develop their thinking. Not only
are parents and children talking about the mathematics, which
the child is learning in school, there are also short topics
for discussion each night, such as: “Tell me about the
pictures on the wall of your classroom”; or “What
is your favourite game? Why?”. It is intended that this
will stimulate discussion about school and how much the child
is enjoying what he or she is doing.
“The project has resulted from close collaboration between
the schools, the SELB Advisory Teams for Mathematics, Learning
Support and the DELTA Parenting Programme, and the members
of Bannvale Social Education Centre, Gilford, who were contracted
to prepare and pack all the equipment into the boxes.
“It only remains for 1200 children to go home and say
‘Talk to Me’,” added Mrs Ross.
The seven schools taking part in the ‘Talk to Me’
project are: Abercorn Primary School, Banbridge; Coagh Primary
School, Cookstown; St Peter's Primary School, Moortown, Cookstown;
Dickson Primary School, Lurgan; St Mary's Primary School,
Granemore, Tassagh, Keady; St Mary's Primary School, Glassdrumman,
Annalong; St Patrick's Primary School, Annaghmore, Coalisland.
· Gladys Black (seated), principal of Coagh Primary
School, is pictured with pupils of the school with Esther
Ross, SELB Mathematics Adviser.
· Pupils of St Peter's Primary School, Moortown, pictured
with Hazel Mullan, SELB Assistant Senior Education Officer;
Geraldine Quayle, maths coordinator in the school; Ciaran
Loane, school principal.
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