Numeracy for QTLS
By Liz Keeley-Browne & Anne Price
December 2011
Pearson Education
Distributed by the Trans-Atlantic Publications
ISBN: 9781405873543 
160 Pages
$49.50 Paper original
By 2010 the Government requires all teaching staff in the Lifelong Learning Sector to gain the QTLS (Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills) teaching qualification. In addition to the new qualification, all those training to teach in the post compulsory/FE sector must also have reached an acceptable skill level in literacy, numeracy and ICT before they qualify, this is referred to as 'the minimum core' and states that literacy skills must be equivalent to a level 3 qualification (A Level standard) and numeracy skills must be equivalent to level 2 (GSCE).
This aims to be the first core textbook in the market to support those undertaking initial teacher training in the post-compulsory/learning and skills sector (formerly FE). The text is structured in line with the requirements and specifications of the minimum core and therefore guides students to achieve the minimum core and pass the new national tests in order to achieve their QTLS qualification. This is achieved by developing the student's personal knowledge, skills, and strategies in order to ensure that they support their own students when they start teaching/training themselves. In addition a self-audit of numeracy skills is available online in order to identify areas of personal strengths and weakness.
Preface
Acknowldegements
Part 1 Barriers to learning
1 Confronting the issues
Starting points
The Individual Learning Plan
Poor basic skills
The role of adults
Maths phobia
A solution?
Difficulties in dealing with number
Help with number
Advice for the number averse
Number workout
Summary
Reflections on Chapter 1
2 The political context
Introduction
Technology changes
Globalisation
The financial costs of poor number skills
The minimum core and teacher-training requirements
Policy implementation
Number workout
Summary
Reflections on Chapter 2
3 Motivational and social factors
Introduction
The impact on communities and society
The NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training)
Factors affecting the acquisition and development of numeracy skills
Barriers to participation
Breaking down the barriers
The language of number
Teaching immigrant learners
The impact of poor skill levels
Number workout
Summary
Reflections on Chapter 3
Part 2 Tools of the trade
4 Numeracy in the curriculum
Entry-level qualifications
14–19 curriculum reform
Numeracy in the curriculum
Number workout
Summary
Reflections on Chapter 4
5 You and your learners
The context
Requirements for staff
Working with your learners
Using ILPs to develop your skills and those of your learners
Learner assessment
The practical use of Individual Learning Plans
Working with a group of learners
Planning to meet individual needs
Schemes of work and course aims
Summary
Number workout
6 Some ideas and preparation for the tests
Situated learning
Key principles of situated learning
Learner assessment
Assessment task
Summary
Part 3 Number competence
7 Mental and written calculations
Number systems: an introduction
Number systems: some background
Number patterns
Prime numbers and factors
Operations
Estimation
Fractions
Negative numbers
Test yourself
Going further
Action plan
Summary
Reflections on Chapter 7
8 Calculators
Calculators in everyday use
Order of operations
Other uses
Test yourself
Going further
Action plan
Reflections on Chapter 8
9 Common measures
Time
Temperature
Length
Velocity/speed
Capacity/volume
Mass
Density
Rotation
Test yourself
Going further
Action plan
Reflections on Chapter 9
10 Shape and space
Background information
2D and 3D shapes and their properties
Perimeter, area and volume and units of measurement
Dimensions and proportions
Mathematical ‘facts’
Transformation of shapes
Scale drawing
Test yourself
Going further
Action plan
Reflections on Chapter 10
11 Handling data
Background information
Data collection
Analysing data
Interpretation of data
Probability
Test yourself
Going further
Action plan
Reflections on Chapter 11
12 ICT and numeracy
How technology could be used in support
Going further
Action plan
And finally …
Appendix Cooperative group work
Answers
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
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