Why didn't the Numeracy Project people just wait a little bit longer before handing out the (well-researched and structured) planning books until they, or book publishers, were able to put together full and structured supporting practice workbooks.
Yeah yeah, I know, we want to move away from just using text books because the teaching model of links back and forth between materials, imaging, and number properties requires us to support students in gaining a sense of number. This indeed happens in our small group teaching, however, to follow up with some decent practice tasks that use number problems and word problems are required for every lesson set out in the numeracy booklets. This would ensure that students get practice at something directly related to what they have been discussing in previous teaching sessions.
There are plenty of resources yes, but they are so all over the place that to find a good progressive link requires the need for a full-time personal assistant. Figure-it-out books, online Numeracy planners, digital objects all seem like useful resources, but none of them match neatly/sequentially to what is set out in the Numeracy Teaching Books.
It's not good enough to be adding new resources in an ad-hoc manner. The Ministry and Numeracy Project overseers need to release a supporting student practice/activity text to work alongside the teacher books.
I am now returning to working out of the teacher books (rather than online planners), which is helping me see how to progress with my students - but the lack of matching material without going on a time-consuming treasure hunt leaves a lot to be desired.
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