Making Britain Numerate

About

The third editions of Making Britain Numerate and Making Britain Literate are now available.

Both editions contain additional worked examples and resources which help support achievement of functional skills and GCSE, and can be used as self-study guides and/or in-class support. In each of the books, the focus of some of the resources is on engagement with contemporary social issues. The books are designed both to support learners directly and to support tutors in supporting their learners.

“The books contain a detailed analysis of the main issues surrounding the development of learners’ literacy, language and numeracy skills as well as a wide range of ideas, methods and up-to-date contextualised materials. The resources offer worked examples and a step by step guide through all areas required for achievement of functional skills maths and English (including numerous reading, writing, discussion and presentation exercises).”

Campaign for Learning (Learning at Work Day E-Newsletter, ‘Functional Skills: essential resources’, May 17th 2012)

The books focus on the areas of difficulty that many learners face with numeracy, literacy and language, and offer solutions in the form of a range of ideas, methods and resources to resolve those difficulties.

Offers a range of clear, direct and contextualised methods and strategies together with detailed explanations as to how and why such methods and strategies should be used and reinforced.
Comes in the form of a workbook which offers a step by step guide for learners to progress from L1 numeracy to L3 numeracy.
Contains L1, L2 and L3 practice questions (along with answers at the back), with each question supported by one or more worked examples.
Offers a critique of, and an alternative to, current initial and diagnostic assessments (paper or computer-based) in the form of a learning assessment together with a rationale for its use.
Sets a minimum level and standard for tutors supporting learners with their numeracy.
Contains extension work in the form of a L3 numeracy learning guide (also with a step by step guide and worked examples).
Acts as a guide and support for tutors to help them develop their learners’ numeracy skills.
Was developed as a result of working with a wide range of learners from a wide range of backgrounds in a wide range of environments.
Is suitable for learners studying functional skills on work-based or college apprenticeship programmes.
Draws upon studies, from employers’ organisations and government bodies, detailing the effects of poor numeracy skills upon individuals and employers.
Considers the needs and concerns of employers with regards to developing their employees numeracy skills
Considers the language needs of ESOL learners (e.g. see rationale behind part A of the learning assessment.)
Took some inspiration from the numeracy subject specialist course at Bedford College.
Is rooted in a high level of expectations of students and tutors.
Gives learners the opportunity to demonstrate, and compare and contrast, methods (a useful skill for the functional skills mathematics papers) and tutors the opportunity to check them and engage in their learners’ learning, and in so doing serves as a motivational tool for learners.
Focuses on developing everyday numeracy skills and gives learners the opportunity to learn from the assessments and guides, and from their own mistakes.
Adopts an integrated approach to learning numeracy whereby conversions are illustrated and used to solve a range of problems.
Features a range of very favourable reviews.

How to Buy

Order Making Britain Numerate on Amazon.

Reviews

I found Making Britain Literate an excellent, comprehensive and thought-provoking book. Crucially, it should be an extremely effective tool and a remedy for all kinds of entrenched malaise within our educational system. And it manages to combine rigour with accessibility and fun. It deserves great praise.

Making Britain Literate and Making Britain Numerate by Kevin Norley cover key requirements for teaching basic literacy and numeracy. Suitable for professional teachers and homeschoolers, both books include helpful examples and exercises.

This is a superb book which can be used as a study guide for anyone wishing to improve their own numeracy skills, or help someone else with theirs. I have used the book with many of my staff, and all have commented at how easy it is to grasp the concepts within it. All have shown improvements in their numeracy skills.

I have recently finished a maths course at the Luton Learning Centre. There were 15 of us on the course, from all different parts of the world. Kevin showed us very clearly how to work with fractions and percentages, how to convert from one to the other, and how those conversions can be used to both better understand and solve problems including those involving scale and volume. His explanations were detailed, and he had high expectations of all of us. Needless to say, I achieved my L2 numeracy qualification.

I needed a level 2 numeracy qualification in order to be accepted onto a BSc Social Work and Mental Health Nursing degree course, so I attended a numeracy workshop at the Skillsbank. The resources used and methods taught from 'Making Britain Numerate' were very straightforward and ideal for ensuring that I obtained my qualification quickly!

I found the maths course at Rushden really motivating and enjoyable. I learnt some new approaches to solving problems, which otherwise I would have found quite difficult, and passed my level 2 maths.

I recently passed both my L2 literacy and numeracy at Bedford College. I found the ideas contained in both Mr Norley's books really useful. I developed a better understanding of English (which is my second language), particularly with the grammar, which even helped me with my maths.

Levels: Level 2

Free: No

Format:
Book