Alexa Stephens is a Year 6 teacher and Maths Lead at Lee Mount Primary School in Halifax, West Yorkshire in the North of England.
About the school
Lee Mount Primary School is a mixed, non-religious school with 360 pupils - 45% of which are Pupil Premium.
Improving fluency in maths
At Lee Mount Primary, the biggest issue we faced was needing to improve the mental maths ability of our pupils. We were looking for a tool that would both excite and motivate pupils to practice and build on their maths skills. We also needed something that would be quick to set-up and easy for the pupils to get to grips with.
Why did you choose Sumdog?
We chose Sumdog as a tool for maths practice as we found the platform to be colourful, engaging and very kid-friendly. We loved the rewards aspect of Sumdog as well as the 3D avatar, house and garden features.
How is Sumdog used at Lee Mount Primary?
In my Year 6 class, I use Sumdog every day during pupils' revision and as a focusing technique after being in the playground at lunchtime. As there are only a limited number of iPads per class, 5 pupils will use Sumdog each day and by the end of the week the whole class will have had the opportunity to use the platform.
I also use Sumdog to support my teaching of the White Rose Maths curriculum, mental arithematic practice and in preparation for the SATs. As well as making use of Sumdog in class, many of my pupils log on to the platform after school and on weekends to continue practising their maths skills at home. Alongside my Year 6 class, Years 4 and 5 also use Sumdog during maths lessons.
"The assessment feature of Sumdog is a great way to capture the working levels of my pupils without having to do a formal sit-down test."
What impact has Sumdog had?
My Year 6's love using Sumdog. They were first introduced to the platform two years ago in Year 4 and are now self-proclaimed Sumdog experts who are very familiar with the interface. My class really enjoy the interactive and multiplayer aspect of the games, our favourite game is Chef which we love to play all-together on Friday afternoons.
Another aspect of Sumdog that my pupils love is the individuality of the 3D avatar which motivates them to earn more coins to spend on clothes and accessories for the house and garden.
One of my favourite features of Sumdog is the maths contests. Whether it be a UK national contest or a local one, I'm sure to enter my class and encourage pupils to compete against other schools in the area and across the country to become Sumdog champions. In the most recent Calderdale regional Sumdog contest, Lee Mount Primary School were crowned winners and every child that took place received a 5000 coin reward! This recognition of achievement is what continues to motivate my pupils and help them build fluency in their maths learning.
