Wirral primary school using football and X Factor-style competition to make learning maths fun

Feb 3 2010 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

Teacher Ryan Neal

He said: “Jack obviously has no idea what the numbers on the cards are but I bought them as something to keep him busy because they’re bright and colourful.

“That was when I saw the numerical value of them.

“When it was snowing the school was open on the Friday but we didn’t have any lessons based on the curriculum.

“The kids who came in had the choice to do anything they wanted but they chose to do maths!”

On his last placement at a school in Liverpool, Ryan, a student at Edge Hill University, held extra Maths lessons at lunchtime to teach date interpretation using Xbox and Wii games.

Class teacher Michelle Flanagan told the News his ideas have proved a big hit at Egremont.

She said: “He’s got them excited about the times tables which is very hard to do.

“They’re wanting to get involved independently and they’re the ones who are deciding to take on the deadlock question, which is really good.

“The Match Attack cards have encouraged the boys in particular to do adding and taking away.”

Pupil Kieran Kearney, 9, said: “The music Mr Neal uses is really good and it makes you want to do your times tables before time runs out.”

Charlie McRory, 9, from Seacombe, added: “It’s not like sitting and writing in a book and it’s much more fun.”