Our May numeracy webinar will look at two tools developed by Save the Children: the ‘Emergent Literacy and Math – Toolkit’ and the ‘Numeracy Boost Program'.

The foundations of reading and math proficiency are set long before a child enters first grade. Before children learn to add, subtract, multiply or divide, they learn many concepts about numbers and mathematics and develop critical math skills that pave the way to more complex math competencies in early primary grades and beyond. Emergent (or early) math skills include math concepts like sorting and categorizing, basic number knowledge and counting, simple geometry (i.e shapes) and problem solving, among others.

Over the past three years Save the Children has worked to develop and field test an Emergent Literacy and Math (ELM) toolkit to support the development of these skills among preschoolers both at home and at early childhood development centers, where they exist.

The ELM toolkit is filling an important niche in improving the quality of existing early childhood and early grades initiatives, and bridging the learning gap that often exists at grade one entry.

The toolkit was first piloted in Bangladesh in the context of a large-scale early childhood program. Since then the materials have been incorporated into programs in six more countries.

In this webinar, Ivelina Borisova, Early Childhood Advisor at Save the Children US, will present some of the key components of the ELM toolkit as well as results to date. She will also discuss the possibilities of using the toolkit in other settings and programs. 

Boosting Young Children’s Math Skills

The webinar will also present the Numeracy Boost Program piloted in Bangladesh in early 2013 to improve math learning outcomes in early grades.

Numeracy Boost is a research-based toolkit for teachers, students and the entire community that focuses on giving children the basic math skills they need to thrive in daily life. Through games, activities, small group work, and discussion, children learn about foundational math topics like counting, addition and subtraction, geometry and measurement.

Teachers participate in math training sessions that help think differently and more flexibly about how to teach math. Community action activities engage parents and other members of the community in math activities that reinforce the idea that math is all around and not just a subject taught in school.

As part of Numeracy Boost grade 2 students were assessed in a variety of skills including in numbers and operations, measurement, and geometry.

In this webinar, Moazzem Hossain, Senior Education Manager,  Sponsorship Program, Save the Children Bangladesh, will present key results of the Numeracy Boost. He will explain the  the dynamics of children’s math learning and how it relates to literacy, and what the results mean for teachers involved in Numeracy Boost. 

Please access the webinar by following the instructions below:

In advance to the webinar

Please make sure that webex runs on your computer and you can get audio access!

For that you can do a ‘test meeting’ on the webex website: http://www.webex.com/test-meeting.html

You might need to install ‘JavaScript’.  To check whether you have the appropriate players installed for UCF (Universal Communications Format) rich media files, go to https://nethope.webex.com/nethope/systemdiagnosis.php

If you want to call in by Skype please see instructions below in advance to the webinar.

Webinar access

Please access the webinar by following the instructions below:

Login Information

Topic: Numeracy Community of Practice Monthly Webinar
Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Time: 10 am, Eastern Daylight Time (New York, GMT-04:00)
Meeting Number: 827 438 686
Meeting Password: (This meeting does not require a password.) 

To start or join the online meeting, go to

https://nethope.webex.com/nethope/j.php?ED=207761402&UID=496725172&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D 

Audio access:

To hear the audio you have to connect separately via phone or Skype:

Please call one of the following options:
Call-in toll-free number: 1-866-3864210  (US)
Call-in number: 1-443-8636601  (US)
Show global numbers: https://www.tcconline.com/offSite/OffSiteController.jpf?cc=7848944537
When ask to do so, please enter the Conference Code: 784 894 4537 #

You can also call in via Skype:

1. Please add nethopeandaffiliates to your skype contacts (in advance to the webinar, so your contact can be added on time)
2. Call this contact when you login to the webinar and enter the Conference Code: 784 894 4537 #

Please mute your audio during the webinar presentation to avoid background noise. You will receive instructions on how to mute your microphone by accessing the webinar.

To participate in the discussion, we encourage you to unmute your audio or share your questions and comments in the chatbox. 

For assistance or if you have any problems with the login please send an e-mail to: numeracy@giz.de

To add this meeting to your calendar program (for example Microsoft Outlook), click this link:
https://nethope.webex.com/nethope/j.php?MTID=mbae68289c0b3318f2b2e4108f24973e1  

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This WebEx service includes a feature that allows audio and any documents and other materials exchanged or viewed during the session to be recorded. You should inform all meeting attendees prior to recording if you intend to record the meeting. Please note that any such recordings may be subject to discovery in the event of litigation.