DreamBox Maths helps identify gaps in learning and tackle maths anxiety to build enjoyment at Darlington school
Reid Street Primary School in Darlington previously used DreamBox Maths with its Year 6 classes, but has since extended it to target specific children as an intervention.
Pupils are developing a love for maths while teachers are finding DreamBox Maths highly effective at reinforcing learning.
Read the full case study to find out what Natalie Perry, Maths Lead at Reid Street, had to say about the programme’s ability to uncover learning gaps and tackle maths anxiety to improve confidence and SATs performance.
“We were pleased with our SATs results - 73% for maths, which is brilliant! It is higher than the children’s predicted scores, which were around 63%."
Pinpointing gaps in foundational knowledge
The biggest thing for us is being able to look at the data telling us where those gaps in learning are. That comes up all the time, particularly for our SEN children. Where are the gaps? What is it that we're missing? What is it we're spending time going back over, but actually maybe not going back over the right thing? DreamBox Maths really does help identify those gaps.
Previously, we have just used the programme in Year 6, but now we're using it for those children who struggle with maths - SEN children and children who may be stilted in their progress a little bit. We track our children very carefully at Reid Street and have termly meetings, so we're able to identify target children. Every year group from Year 2 upwards has picked about ten children.
Intervention and filling learning gaps
A lot of schools are saying that a lack of money and not enough teaching assistants means trying to get interventions done can be really, really difficult. This programme is something that the children can access independently and that gives us that feedback, which is really what we need.
The maths curriculum is so intense and there's so much to cover. This programme will help not to have as many gaps, so it should make teachers' jobs a little bit easier.
Developing reasoning and re-enforcing learning
The programme is helping students retain knowledge because it revisits topics, but then also extends upon them.
With the programme, we can see where pupils are working. It's sometimes really hard to measure progress as children will sit a test each term which says they can do it, but actually that's only once in a test. With DreamBox Maths, they're having to prove it over and over, which is great - we want to keep revisiting and re-enforcing learning, not just getting it right once.
If you've got a programme re-enforcing things you're spending time on in class, it's going to help build that deeper understanding and meaning, not just the method. It’s important to get that reasoning and problem solving. The programme also shows lots of different manipulatives, which is brilliant for reasoning practice.
You need to be constantly revisiting concepts. DreamBox Maths helps to tailor those areas that need additional recaps.
Tackling maths anxiety and building confidence through exploration
Put simply, it's a really good programme to support children in their maths confidence and understanding. Children are often quite scared of maths - we've seen that across the school. It’s like trying to reverse a generational thing of thinking maths is scary.
DreamBox Maths shows that maths can be really fun and exploratory - it can be games and learning in different ways. You can look at different manipulatives, make mistakes and that's OK.
The biggest impact is with our nurture group with children from Years 3 to 6 who are working between a Year 1 and 2 curriculum. The impact with them is they feel they can do it - and because it's on a computer, there's so much positivity coming from it.
I can relate because my daughter is in that group. She is a child who really struggles academically, but loves DreamBox Maths. It's about finding a way for her to be able to understand maths and the progress she has made. I think the programme has given her that confidence because it's more exploratory.
Support for all learners – including lower attainers and SEN learners
The children ask if they can go on the programme more. That's what you want, particularly for SEN children, who can find it really hard - especially when they're behind their peers. This is a way that they know they're making progress, but they're not competing against anyone else except themselves.
I think it is amazing for children who are low attaining or for those children who lack confidence, just so that they can be allowed to play and explore, which is what it's all about.
Book a brief introductory meeting online with one of our Maths Development Consultants to explore the advantages of DreamBox Maths for your school.
Call:
0191 389 6078
