I am an RTLB working across several schools. Our team has heard about Numicon and would like to trial it with some of our students - ages 5 to 10, all with learning needs. What kit should we trial? 

My suggestion is to buy a few Closing the Gap one-to-one kits and the same number of Numicon Homework CD’s bundled with Maths Bags.

Closing the Gap is written for teachers working with students experiencing difficulty with learning.  The pages have no photos of children so that they are not offended by them.

The Numicon Maths bags would allow the school/TA/family to follow up on the activities done at school following the instructions given on the CD printouts.

Closing the Gap begins pre Level 1 of the NZ curriculum covering patterning, sequencing, counting, concept of number, ordering and sequence of number and what numbers can do up to 10, i.e the FOUNDATION of learning maths.

The follow-up programme is Kit One.  A Conversion Pack to take the CTG kit up to that level can be purchased.  It includes the teaching guide as well as the resources needed, but not the Numicon shapes etc. that are in the GTG kits. All students would need to have completed the CTG activities with confidence before progressing to Kit One.

 There is also an Intervention Programme available similar in nature to Reading Recovery.  Training is required as well as a commitment from a school or service, to be qualified to run this programme. This programme uses the broad strokes of Closing the Gap initially.

We are a special school wanting to use Numicon.  We have 6 classes with six students in each.  We work one-to-one and are not able to leave equipment accessible in a learning centre type of presentation or shelving such as you would find in a regular school. Typically our students do not take any homework activities home with them, however one class of the more able students does. What would you recommend purchasing?

My recommendation is that you initially purchase 6 x Closing the Gap Group kits to give you plenty of equipment to use with your students one -to-one as well as follow-up activities for the others to use at the same time, in games or for homework or for wall displays. Add to this a Training DVD, Numicon Maths Bags for your more able class to take home and a Numicon Homework CD to print off the Homework activities, and Interactive Whiteboard/Computer Software for 4 users. If your budget does not allow for all of this, then purchase the One-to-one kits instead of the group kits.  There is less equipment in these kits. Lastly, consider PD training, preferrably onsite.

I am a parent of a child (8) with dyslexia.  My child really struggles with maths at school.  Her memory for number facts is very low.  How can I help her at home?

Numicon is designed for these students primarily! 

I know exactly what you mean.  My daughter also faced these same issues.  She struggled with maths at school because it is mainly mental maths with a lot of emphasis being placed on knowing facts and memory requirements. I recommend that you purchase the Homework Activities CD bundled with the Maths Bag.  Download the free activity pages from the website to know how to use the equipment. This equipment will provide her with a visual and hands-on support to her learning that can be used right through to Year 10- particularly helpful for Algebra!  If you need more equipment down the track, purchase a box of shapes from the website.  Her memory will improve as she gets older, but let her use a calculator in the meantime once she has mastered using the Numicon equipment. If she wants to use this equipment at school, then consider buying her another set and showing the teacher how it helps her and would help so many other students. It will change the way she teaches maths forever. Kit 3 has been designed for children at any level from year 3 and above. Your child will love these activities. Contact us for a parent discount.

My kids are preschoolers.  I want to get them ready for school.  I was not wonderful at maths myself so do not want them to go through that.  What should I buy?

Purchase the 1st Steps with Numicon at Home kit.  It is priced low to give families easy access to this effective and fun programme.  The guide gives you lots of fun activities and games to play together.  Follow the activities in the order found in the guide. You can also make the most of the free downloads to extend them once you have finished all the activities.  if you want to keep going- then purchase the Homework Activities CD to play more games such as board games, as a family.  Show your early childhood centre what you are doing and talk about the fun learning happening at home.  There is a kit for them too- 1st Steps with Numicon in the Nursery. A Nursery in the UK is equivalent to our early childhood centres for 3-4 year olds.