Children's Voices
Maryburgh
The following are selected verbatim evaluative comments from children at Maryburgh Primary School:
Games
I liked the Strategy games like Kono because you use your brain quite a lot.
I liked strategy games because it's good when you have time to think of what move goes where and you had to watch the other people and where they go. It's just enjoyable.
I liked the puzzles because they were really challenging.
I liked the strategy games because you had to put a lot of thought into it.
Instructions
Some games got confusing and you had to read the instructions two or three times to understand them. It was confusing if you just read them once.
Some of the instructions were quite hard to read so you had to read them quite a few times to understand them. Once you thought you understood them there was always another bit to the game.
If you couldn't understand them you would get quite bored. But the ones you did understand you wouldn't get bored.
Talking
I talked about the game with my mum at home while we were playing.
Me and mum sometimes took away some rules or we added some just to make it more interesting.
Relating
Well at first we didn't get on that well but now we get on quite well. We agree a lot more.
We're friends now because we never used to play with each other but now we do.
It helped us a lot and we made new friends.
Attitudes
I enjoy maths now. I used to hate maths but now I like it a lot.
I used to hate maths. Now it's OK - I still don't like it but it is better than it was.
I'm really enjoying maths now.
It makes maths more fun.
I didn't get bored at all - not even one second.
It was really great and interesting.
At first I found maths quite boring but now I see what fun it is it's quite good.
Make you think?
When you're playing the games - well, I think it helped me a lot because for homework I had to read over what it says.
Before, if I had problems I would just put down any answer, but now thinking it over with the games, it has just made it that bit easier.
Oh yes it did make us think, especially the strategy games.
Two brains are better than one.
Learn maths?
The project definitely helped me learn maths and I would recommend it to another school or class.
The project helped me learn maths because my dad keeps on putting things on the computer and I keep on getting them right.
At first my partner always used to beat me but last time we played I beat her.
Other comments
I would like to work with someone from another class. We don't know the P3 and I think it would build up a friendship. We are in the classes during wet break but we don't get a chance to bond with other classes. It would also be better for them when they get to this stage. Some people don't like maths, but with the games it makes it easier. I would like to see the games go on longer, instead of six weeks maybe 10 weeks. I think is easier to play two sessions 30 minutes long. Or else the sessions are too short by the time you get the game out and read the instructions. It makes following instructions easier because at the start you felt oh these instructions are hard but now I feel that I can read them a lot better.
I would like to see the games going on for an hour. Working in pairs means you can think of an answer and your partner thinks of an answer - that way you are getting a right answer from your partner and a right answer from yourself.
Dunrossness
The following are some verbatim evaluative comments from children at Dunrossness Primary School:
I thought that Paired Problem Solving was great fun. It was also good to find out more about your partner. It was nice to learn how to do maths quicker for my partner and I did not understand maths as much as I do now and I will soon get better. My partner and I are really good friends and we play together at breaktimes and in Paired Problem Solving. I have really enjoyed it.
I thought it was good to have three different rooms because there were games in one, problems in one and puzzles in the other. I liked them all and I got to know my partner more.
I thought Mrs Hay's room was the best because my partner and I both liked exactly the same things and she liked me helping her.
I thought it was good to move around because if you get a bit bored then you can always look forward to moving to another class the next week.
I thought that my partner gave up on the problems too quickly sometimes but others he worked really well on.
I thought Paired Problem Solving helped you to get to know the Primary 4 pupils. It was good and as well as them it helped me with my maths. It was a very good idea and you should do it next year as well.
I thought it was very interesting and I think it should be done next year as well. It was good fun. Overall I enjoyed it.
I enjoyed Paired Problem Solving. The bit I liked was when we got to move to different rooms. I enjoyed the foam puzzles and the cubes.
I enjoyed Paired Problem Solving because you had lots of different problems to solve. I also enjoyed the different things to do and I liked meeting the Primary four pupils. My partner and I got along fine. I really enjoyed it.
I enjoyed Paired Problem Solving because you did not just stay in one room. I got on well with my partner. Sometimes I needed her to help me understand the game as well.
I enjoyed Paired Problem Solving because I got on well with Lynda. Some of the games were quite fun but some of them I did not like. Overall I thought it was quite good.
I really enjoyed Paired Problem Solving. I liked working with Lucy. It was a good idea to change rooms because you would get bored if you stayed in one room.
I thought it was a very good idea and good fun. I think it was good that we had to move because some rooms were boring when you were in there for too long. I think the Primary 4 room was the best because the puzzles were fun.
I think it should be done next year. It was fun but some bits were boring but good overall.
I thought it was good because in all the problems my partner tried his hardest at all of them and all the games, some he thought were boring but I liked it and I thought it was a good idea.
Paired Problem Solving was quite fun because it was not just maths because there were puzzles like the cubes and foam puzzles which were really fun. There were also games in which you learn but you were not actually thinking that you were learning. Some of the stuff was boring but most of it wasn't.
I liked Paired Problem Solving but in Primary 7 it got a bit boring because Erin was doing it all by herself. The Primary 6 class should be with the Primary 3 class next year.
I liked Paired Problem Solving especially in Primary 4 room but I did get a bit bored in Primary 7 because it was too easy for Chloe.
I think next year they should do Paired Problem Solving. It helps the Primary 4 pupils and it would have been good if I had done it in Primary 4.
I think it was a good idea to help the Primary 4 pupils with their maths. I thought some of it was a bit boring but overall it was fun.
I enjoyed Paired Problem Solving as it was a good change from normal maths.
I liked the games and I feel free and confident about maths. It is better with a partner because when you need help they help you. Thank you.
I liked Paired Problem Solving because you got a choice of problems and games. I also liked it because the games were good and fun. I think it is better when you work with a partner because it is easier.
I liked Paired Problem Solving because it gives you courage to say your answer and get rid of your fear of getting answers wrong.
I liked Paired Problem Solving because I feel confident that I can get the question right. It is a lot easier with a partner.
I think Paired Problem Solving is fun because we get to choose what problem we want to do. Jacqui is a great help to me. My best part was in P4 because everyone was really kind especially Jacqui.
I think Problem Solving is great fun to do and the different variety of games and maths make it better and it was easier.
I like Paired Problem Solving because you get a choice of games to play like Bingo and Pentominoes and David Laignel was a great partner.
I really liked Problem Solving because I have learned a lot. I really like working with a partner. I enjoyed working with Alister and Bobby. I like working with Clixi in P4.
I liked Paired Problem Solving because it is good fun working with a partner and it is easier. I like all the games and problems. Some of them are funny. It is quicker with a partner. It is fun and I am looking forward to it when I help the little ones.
It was really good to have extra help. My partner is really friendly. I would recommend Paired Problem Solving to anyone because it makes maths easier. Connie was an excellent partner because she is quick at maths but doesn't say the answer right away.
It made me confident. It made me think I can do maths. It made me like maths more. Andy was very kind to me as he helped. I know more.
I enjoyed Paired Problem Solving because of the variety of problems. I think working with a partner makes me confident because I have some help. It makes maths easier.
It's fun because of all the things and games my partner helped me and the best bit is the games.
I feel so confident and I don't make so many mistakes. It makes maths easier with a partner and there are lots of short problems. I really enjoy the stuff we do in our classroom.
In P4 my best things were the cubes. In the TV room I liked most of the games. In P7 I liked the problem when you had to find the school. Mhairi helped me a lot. She was an excellent partner. Some of the problems were hard and some were easy. Problem Solving is very good.
I really enjoyed Paired Problem Solving because it was interesting working with a partner. It was more fun and you got to choose any problems. My partner was great.
I would like to say that Paired Problem Solving has been really fun, doing it with a partner and maths is fun now with a partner by your side.
I feel more confident with Paired Problem Solving. It makes maths easier and it is better to work with a partner and I really like the games room best.
I thought Paired Problem Solving was fun. I liked the games room best. Magnus is fun to work with and he helped me when I was stuck. Now I am more confident with my maths.
I really enjoyed Paired Problem Solving because there was a variety of problems and there was always someone to help. I especially liked doing 3D cubes. I think Paired Problem Solving is great fun. I think it is better to have a partner because it is easier and it is much better than being on your own.
I liked Paired Problem Solving because it makes maths funnier. Working with a partner is lots of fun and it is easier. I like it because you can learn maths in different ways.
I thought Paired Problem Solving was great fun. If I did not have a partner it would be hard. My partner is very nice because Lindsey helps me.
I liked Paired Problem Solving because if I did a sum or something quite slowly Elsa would tell me how to do it a quicker way. The thing I liked best was the games. It was better with a partner because they help you when you are stuck.