Page 2 - Numeracy

NUMERACY PROGRAMME - TEACHER NOTES

To complete the Numeracy Profile Assessment, students will need:

1. Pen and pencil;
2. Ruler;
3. Clock (analogue not digital);
4. Paper for workings out;
5. Objects to measure;
6. Calculator;
7. Protractor.

Instructions
Ideally a member of staff should work with a small group or with individuals on a 'one to one' basis.
The students should work on the programme at least once a week for a period of 15-20 minutes. The
i
symbol on the Numeracy Profile Assessment indicates that one or more information sheets are
available for that particular target. The information sheets are located with the worksheets.

1. Diagnostic Use of the Programme
The student does the whole test starting at Target 1(a) and completes as many sections as
possible up to 1(e) before moving on to Target 2 through to Target 18.
A member of staff marks the test and records the results by shading in and dating
(if appropriate) the corresponding boxes on the Student Profile. This results in an easy to read
profile showing the student’s strengths and weaknesses in numeracy. Areas of weakness can then
be addressed by working on the topics identified on the profile.
N.B. Some questions are to be done without a calculator and some require oral input - this is why
the test needs to be done with direct supervision.

2. Improving Basic Numeracy Skills with Less Able Students
One way to use the programme is to work through the topics one at a time. Begin by testing the
student on Target 1. If the student cannot complete the topic through to 1(e), work on this until
the student has progressed as far as they are able. If initial correct answers are recorded on the
Student Profile in one colour and any further achievements in a different colour individual
progress can easily be monitored. The Supporting Worksheets can be used either as
homework/practice or as a second test. Once completed the student can move on to Target 2.
Unfinished sections can be recorded as future targets and hence the Student Profile can be used
as an Individual Educational Plan for students with weaknesses in numeracy.
N.B. Problem solving has been integrated into the whole programme, through most level (e)
targets and worksheets.

3. S.I. Units
S.I. units are those adopted under the Système International d'Unités and which are used across
the world for all scientific and most technical purposes.
In the production of this programme care has been taken to use SI units as much as possible
together with their correct names and symbols. However, due to the common misunderstanding
of the gram as a unit of weight we have kept to this and have not referred to the gram as the unit
of mass. N.B. the true unit of weight is the Newton (N).
Although the Litre and ml are not SI units they are still in common use and so have been referred to.

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