Moray primary pupils loving game-play that really counts

[responsivevoice_button voice=”UK English Female” buttontext=”Listen to Post”]

PUPILS FROM A MORAY primary school have demonstrated they are no slouches at the numbers game after winning the regional heat for a national maths contest.

A group of P3 to P7’s attending Dallas Primary School emerged as top of the class in the Moray regional ‘Sumdog Challenge’.

Sumdog is an online learning service that is being used by children throughout the world, designed to adapt to each individual child in an engaging game-based learning process that motivates and builds confidence in the children taking part.

Providing “engaging learning and practice in numeracy”, the system is specifically aimed at children between the ages of five and 11-years-old.

The Dallas youngsters came out top from fifty regional entries – and now they are urging head teacher Mairi Grant to enter them into the national version of the challenge.

Ms Grant said: “I was very proud of the support and encouragement the children gave each other throughout the competition, with some of our more reluctant mathematicians answering the 1000 questions set.”

The school entered Sumdog back in August. The scores achieved are based on accuracy, but questions are adapted according to the level of each entrant. When the contests are completed the children are able to keep using the games with no time limits applied.

A spokewoman for Sumdog said: “Sumdog provides engaging adaptive learning for maths and English language.

“Our powerful learning engine adapts questions for each individual. It’s aligned to the National Curriculum, CfE, Welsh LNF and Northern Irish curriculum. Meanwhile, our engaging activities are designed to motivate all students to learn.

“Our aim is to close the attainment gap – by helping every student reach their full potential. Sumdog’s free online maths contests are a fun way to motivate students as they compete against other classes and schools, locally or nationally.

“Scores are based on accuracy, and questions adapt to each student’s level – so everyone has a fair chance.”