ASSESSMENT IN NUMERACY

CHAPTER 1

The screening tests

An Overview Of The Early Number Interview

The early number interview is designed to be given to an individual child or small group of children to ascertain the understanding of number, along with addition and subtraction, that they bring with them when starting school. This provides a foundation on which initial numeracy teaching can be based, identifying where to begin and what gaps need to be filled. It will also allow a complete view of number to be established.

The early number interview requires:

■ 10 blocks, such as Unifix, in one colour

■ the interviewer form that details questions to be asked of the child with an appropriate response shown and a place to write observations of the manner in which a child answers each question

■ a child response sheet with spaces to write when requested.

When noting observations of the manner in which a child answers each question, record the response the child gives, whether correct or incorrect. Note any hesitation or self-correction before a number symbol or word is written. Observe the following:

■ How is the child counting blocks?

■ Is the digit 7 reversed or written in a non-standard way?

■ Is there any confusion with ‘before’, ‘after’ or ‘between’?

■ Is the child familiar with ordinal numbers such as ‘fifth’?

■ Is counting on and counting back done readily or are numbers omitted or repeated as the child works out a response?

■ When an addition or subtraction situation is posed, does the child count, use materials or simply give an answer?