CUSTOMER FEEDBACK
Over the years, we have received numerous letters, phone calls and e-mails about the positive way our various programmes have influenced both children and teachers.
In any business or line of work, it is always reassuring to get positive feedback from customers and it's no different in the world of education.
You know you're doing a reasonable job when a school invites you back for a return visit, but it's equally rewarding to receive comments such as the ones shown on this page.
The first selection of correspondence comes from a couple of secondary schools recently visited, both situated in the North East of England:
To Paul
Just to say a massive thank you for your contribution to our first Maths Week at Redcar, everyone really enjoyed your games workshop and we look forward to having you back next year.
Thanks
Anna Mitchinson, Maths Dept., Redcar Community College, Teesside
To Paul
Just to say a huge thank you for your excellent hard work at Durham Community Business College earlier this month. The students and staff really enjoyed it and gained a great deal from it.
With thanks
Sam Jackson, Head of College, Durham Community Business College, Durham
During the Summer of 2009, I worked with several Secondary Schools in Teesside and North Yorkshire as part of a Key Stage 3 project organised by Teesside University. Here is a letter I received from one of the schools, followed by an e-mail sent by another school to Lucy Sanderson, part of the pre-16 team at the University, who organised the visits:
To Paul
Thank you very much for coming in to work with my Year 9 group. The pupils found the activities engaging and fun They were talking about how much they enjoyed the activities the following lesson. I really enjoyed watching the pupils work together in such a positive way.
Kind regards
Katie Notman, Maths Teacher, Laurence Jackson School, Guisborough, North Yorkshire
Hi Lucy
Thanks for organising the Maths Puzzle Day with Paul Godding. It was excellent - he was very good, we were impressed - if you could pass on how pleased we were. We would definitely be interested in using him again in the future.
Thanks
Tim Gillbanks, Head of Maths, Woldgate College, Pocklington, East Riding of Yorkshire
At the start of 2009, I visited a school in West Yorkshire and worked with the lower Juniors. Together with Miss Vize, they kindly sent a batch of letters, containing some creative pictures, to thank me for my visit. Some of their drawings can be seen below:
Dear Paul
Many thanks for coming to Ashlands Primary School during our Maths Week, back in February. I have enclosed some letters from the children in Years 3 and 4; you will see just how much they enjoyed your visit. The children truly believed I could read their minds and several commented on the fact that they hadn't realised maths could be so much fun!
So thank-you again, from all the children here at Ashlands, for making our Maths Week so enjoyable.
Best Wishes
Claire Vize, KS2 Teacher, Ashalnds Primary School, Illkley, West Yorkshire
Another letter received recently was a wonderful, thorough description of a visit to a Special School in Surrey during the extreme weather of February 2009. Since then, they have been continuing with the activities introduced to them after purchasing the games for use throughout the school:
Dear Paul
Thank you for making the long journey from Wales to lead our Mathematics Day, especially when the road conditions had been so poor due to the snow. We have tried for the last two years to bring you to St Philip's and this visit was worth the wait.
You readily established a rapport with our students. You soon picked up on the St Philip's vibe and were quickly into your stride. Cajoling and teasing the students, you had their minds awakened and their creative juices flowing. They were surprised and excited to recognise their own mathematical ability and were primed for the activities they were going to enjoy later.
Beginning in Oak Department (in our ASD base), you introduced the students to a range of interesting and challenging games. We are always looking for new ways to practice and develop basic mathematical skills. The games fit the bill perfectly, using bright and colourful equipment and spiced with the element of fun. At St Philip's, we aim to take a whole person view of education. Playing these games will help in the development of social skills like turn-taking, communication and working together as well as improving mathematical skills.
After break, it was delightful to see Year 7 and Year 8 respond enthusiastically to a second selection of games. As well as number games that called upon their knowledge of addition and multiplication facts, there were also some logic and strategy games. There is a general theory that, because of differences in the male and female brains, boys are better at spatial awareness than girls. However, it was our girls who seemed to arrive at solutions most quickly. These activities were excellent at engaging all of the students regardless of gender or ability.
After a break for lunch, it was the turn of Year 9 and Year 10. As well as introducing some new games, it was useful to see you demonstrate how the games you used earlier could be easily adapted for students of different abilities. Youngsters who usually find it a challenge to maintain concentration through the afternoon stayed on task, tackling the puzzles with enthusiasm and striving to improve their performance.
Our teachers and pupils were inspired by the games we played during the day. They can be used effectively in lessons to support the learning of discrete mathematical skills. Furthermore, we may also have found another answer to the problem of what to do during wet playtimes.
It was reassuring to hear you say that you enjoyed your day. We certainly did, and it would be good to do some more work like this in the future. An event of this kind will be a valuable addition to our yearly cycle. It is wonderful for the students to get a fresh experience of mathematics and to concentrate simply on enjoying mathematical activities. As a teacher, you know you've got it right when the young people you are teaching go home thinking "I'm good at maths".
Thank you for providing an enjoyable and inspiring day of Mathematics for us all at St Philip's. Our Headteacher has also asked me to pass on her thanks to you.
Yours sincerely
John Battle, Subject Leader for Mathematics, St Philip's School, Chessington, Surrey
The remaining letters on this page are a selection received, in chronological order, from 2004 to 2008. Please feel free to contact any one of these schools if you want to get a flavour of the activities organised during a typical day.
The next correspondence is from a school in Northern Ireland:
Dear Paul
On behalf of the P6 and P7 pupils of The Armstrong Primary School, I would like to thank you for visiting the school in April 2004.
The interactive maths activities, which you shared with the pupils, enthused and inspired them to a level rarely witnessed in the field of primary school mathematics. Pupils and staff alike appreciated the degree of thought and preparation which you had invested in the day and look forward to the possibility of you visiting The Armstrong again in the future.
Many thanks once again.
D Dickson, Principal, The Armstrong Primary School, Armagh
We also received a short e-mail from a Secondary School after one of our MathMagic Competitions in West Wales in 2005, which involved the school’s Year 7 pupils as well as many Year 6 children from local feeder schools:
Many thanks for today, Paul.
We thought it was great and thoroughly enjoyed your visit. Thank you for being so good to work with. I hope you were satisfied with our side of things.
Heather Stretch, Ysgol Y Gwendraeth, Drefach, Carmarthenshire
In September 2005, I delivered some sessions to Year 5 & 6 pupils from Hitchin Girls’ School’s six main feeder schools over a 3-day period. This culminated in a MathMagic Competition between a small group of children from each of the feeder schools. It was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone involved and was hosted by the mathematics department of Hitchin Girls’ School. There were even some very impressed Korean visitors in attendance who took a keen interest in the proceedings! The aim of this exercise was to forge greater links between all schools involved. As a result, and soon after the event, we received a ‘thank you’ card:
Dear Paul
Thank you for coming and delivering your Roadshows. The feedback that I have had from our staff, and both staff and students from the Junior Schools, has been excellent.
Marie Mead, Hitchin Girls’ School (Maths Dept.), Hitchin, Hertfordshire
As part of some Mathcymru funding, a secondary school in Ceredigion invited us to work with their children as part of Maths Week in Wales during October 2005. This is their letter of thanks:
Dear Paul
Thank you very much for coming to the school and for providing an enjoyable day for our Year 9 pupils. Teachers and pupils had great pleasure participating in the various activities. MathMagic was a great success in the Numeracy lunchtime club with Year 7 pupils.
Iona Davies, Ysgol Gyfun Ddwyieithog Dyffryn Teifi, Llandysul, West Wales
During one of the many weeks spent working with Setpoint Gloucestershire, we visited many different Primary Schools. This is a letter we received as a result of our visit to one of these schools in November 2005. A return visit was also made in January 2007 as part of a European project with partner schools from across the continent. Teachers from Sweden, Italy and the Netherlands were also present and sportingly took part in the activities:
Paul
Many thanks for a fun and successful day at Stone with Woodford Primary School. The children certainly seemed to enjoy themselves.
My own two children came home with lots of riddles and examples to test me with. We play a lot of board/card games at home, but they still enjoyed being challenged by someone else at school.
Many thanks. We’ll keep your details on file for future use.
Regards
Sabine Martin, School Office Administrator (and parent!), Stone with Woodford Primary School, Gloucestershire
I was also invited to work with a Learning Network in the Cotswolds in December 2005. Here is an e-mail I received soon after visiting a wonderful little school from this beautiful part of the country:
Dear Paul
I just wanted to drop you a quick note to say thank you for such a stimulating morning yesterday. It was a real pleasure to see the children having so much fun and being so engaged in some really challenging Maths activities. It reminded me of the way we used to teach, as opposed to the more formal and highly structured methods we have been using in recent years.
I hope we can arrange to have your Maths Roadshow again in the future.
Regards
Kate Holmes, Headteacher, Southrop Primary School, Gloucestershire
Another Learning Network I closely worked with was based on the Kent coast. I liaised closely with one of the Headteachers, who then sent this letter to me (plus numerous letters from the children) following my visits in June 2006. The theme behind these particular visits was problem-solving activities for Year 4 girls (and boys). The network utilised activities involving the children’s character, Tracy Beaker:
Dear Paul
Thank you so very much for leading maths workshops in our network of schools this week. The feedback was very positive - they really enjoyed the fun that you brought to the subject, especially your jokes!
The challenge with the cube really got them thinking and the problem-solving which involved them working in teams was a highlight. They definitely were learning through play!
Thank you once again.
Yours sincerely
Liz Pettersen, Headteacher, Saltwood CE Primary School, Hythe, Kent
I paid a return visit, again as part of a Learning Network, to a school in Flitwick that I first visited in 2002. The Year 3 teacher I worked with at the time was still there during my July 2006 visit. On both occasions, she very kindly spent time with the children getting them to write ‘thank you’ letters, so I really appreciate the time and effort put in by everyone concerned. These are her words:
Dear Paul
I would like to thank you once again for returning to Kingsmoor and sharing the variety of games with the children in Year 3, which they thoroughly enjoyed.
It was great to see their enthusiasm, interactive and co-operative skills during each of the activities and the children have been talking all week about their favourite Numeracy lesson!
Wishing you continued success with the Maths Roadshow.
Kind Regards
Paula Mitchell, Year 3 Teacher, Kingsmoor Lower School, Flitwick, Kent
In October 2006, I delivered a Teacher Workshop at Wylfa Power Station on Anglesey. A group of 18 teachers from all over the island attended and saw a wide range of games. My contact at Careers Wales, who organised the session, sent me this letter following the workshop:
Dear Paul
It gives me great pleasure, on behalf of Careers Wales and the Primary School staff who attended the placement, in sending a few words of appreciation to you for arranging the day and for leading the activities.
The response has been very favourable, and all the participants felt that the day had been worthwhile, as part of their Continuous Professional Development.
Once again, I hope that you also benefited from the experience, and that we can work together again in the future.
Yours faithfully
Eluned Jones, Professional Development Co-ordinator, Careers Wales North West, Holyhead, Anglesey
Just before Christmas 2006, I spent a morning with a small group of children from three Wrexham secondary schools, together with a few teachers from those schools. One of the teachers in particular bought some of the games for use at home and also some for her Maths Department at school. Soon after, I received the following letter:
Hi Paul
Thanks for your letter, please find your cheque enclosed. I’m giving my daughter her games for Christmas so I will certainly let you know how they’ve gone down after Christmas. In school, they are a hit. I’ve never seen some of my classes think so much! Thank you!!
I meant every word of what I said too. It was the most useful and interesting course - directly relevant to what goes on in the classroom - that I have been on in 12 years. I can’t wait to see what you’ve got next year.
Anyway, I’ll keep in touch and thank you once again.
Carole Williams, Ysgol Clywedog (Maths Dept.), Wrexham
In March 2007, Careers Wales booked me to work at Daniel James School as part of a unique activity day for Year 10 pupils. I was one of five presenters who visited the school. Others included a guy from the Army giving a talk and a chef teaching the children to make Smoothies:
Dear Mr Godding
I would like to thank you for taking the time to attend our Year 10 work experience week in March.
Your attendance has helped make the week a great success and was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.
Once again, thank you for giving up your valuable time.
Yours sincerely
E Barnes-Watson, Head of Year 10, Daniel James Community School, Swansea
Another Swansea school made big investments in the maths games following my visit. I feel it’s a great move, and completely agrees with my philosophy, that they also see it as a way to enthuse the children and thus enable them to enjoy maths in a different way:
Dear Paul
I would like to express my appreciation and admiration for your superb presentation to our teachers and pupils here at St Joseph’s Cathedral School.
It was a real pleasure to hear words of praise, excitement and great education experiences and, in my case, great value for our students.
In the future, we trust that you will return and work with our teaching assistants to be part of our on-going drive to improve Maths standards at St Joseph’s.
Yours sincerely
PJ Richards, Headteacher, St Joseph’s Cathedral School, Swansea
The next example is a letter I received from the Maths Co-ordinator of the same school, a short while after receiving the above letter from the Head:
Dear Paul
A few brief words to express my appreciation for visiting our school recently to introduce such a variety of maths games.
The feedback I have received from both pupils and staff has been extremely positive and I now fully intend that the maths games purchased by the school following your visit will form an integral part of our day-to-day maths experience. An aspect of feedback to date has been that our pupils had not realised maths could be so much fun!!
As we disseminate these maths games into our daily lessons, it may well be that I would be in a position to invite you to return to St Joseph’s to conduct a similar day, either with additional teachers or perhaps with our growing band of Teaching Assistants who work so diligently to support maths within the school.
Once again, many thanks for all your help and support.
Regards
Neil Courtney, Maths Co-ordinator, St Joseph’s Cathedral School, Swansea
After another 2-day visit to the Kent coast to work with Mrs Pettersen, and the schools in her cluster, she was kind enough to send another letter with these words:
Dear Paul
Thank you once again for visiting the schools in the Shepway Rural area.
All the children thoroughly enjoyed the games, challenges and activities and were buzzing with enthusiasm at the end of the sessions. Feedback from Headteachers at subsequent meetings has been equally positive.
I do hope that it will not be long before we see you in our area again. With many thanks and every best wish.
Yours sincerely
Liz Pettersen, Headteacher, Saltwood CE Primary School, Hythe, Kent
Another school I have visited on numerous occasions is Fleecefield in North London. The children even wrote some letters of thanks, together with pictures of some of the games used. Gestures like this are much appreciated:
Dear Paul
Thank you so much for coming to our school and running our Year 6 Maths Workshops. The children and the staff were very impressed and we have ordered extra resourses that we can use to promote further enjoyment of maths.
Please find enclosed a few letters of thanks from our current Year 6 - as you can see they really loved the sessions!
Yours sincerely
Saroj B Pal, Assistant Headteacher, Fleecefield Primary School, Edmonton, London
Many thanks to all those who have taken trouble to contact me. It is very flattering and much appreciated when I receive such positive feedback.
© Paul Godding 2010 paulgodding.com