Improving Primary Mathematics provides primary teachers with practical ideas about how to bring these two worlds closer to improve children's mathematics learning. Using a number of fascinating case studies focusing on children's experiences of mathematics both inside and outside the classroom, the book asks: How do children use mathematics in their everyday lives? How can teachers use this knowledge to improve children's learning in school? What activities can teachers use with parents to help share the ways that schools teach mathematics? What can parents do to support their children's learning of mathematics? Tried-and-tested practical suggestions for activities to support and encourage children's learning of mathematics include: making videos to share teaching methods; children taking photos to show how they use mathematics at home; inviting parents into school to share in mathematics learning; and numeracy-based activities for children and their parents to do together at home. All those involved in planning, teaching and supporting primary mathematics will benefit from new insights into how learning at home and at school can be brought together to strengthen and improve children's learning of mathematics.

Parents can play an immensely important role in supporting their children's literacy learning at home, but how can primary teachers enlist the support of parents in helping children learn literacy?

With a focus on improving children's literacy skills, this book provides practical answers to key questions that are directly relevant to all primary teachers and to many parents. It presents new ways of linking learning in home and school through a range of activities that can be used to share knowledge between children, parents and teachers. Activities include:

• teachers and children making videos to show parents how children learn literacy in school
• parents and children taking photos of the 'everyday' literacy they use outside school
• parents and teachers exchanging information through Home-School folders and diaries.

Particular attention is given to ways of working with parents from a diverse range of family backgrounds reflecting the multi-ethnic nature of many schools today.

The practical activities can easily be fitted into the day-to-day activities of busy classrooms and can provide crucial new ways of improving children's learning of literacy skills.