BRIGHT SPARKS – CARIBBEAN PRIMARY
MATHEMATICS, REVISED ED
2011 Sales Conference, Jamaica
Is Bright Sparks a serious contender against the
entrenched, long-term competition?
Yes. Absolutely!
The revised edition is content strong, design streamlined
and easy to use, has a wider syllabus to meet recent
changes and regional needs, updated technological
content, new engaging materials and each component is
closely cross referenced to make it easy for teachers.
COMPONENTS OF BRIGHT SPARKS REVISED ED
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SB
WB
CD
TB
Website
Student Books
Workbooks (all levels)
Inserted in SB1-6
all levels
Free, downloadable resources
for teachers
Children need a chance to learn in ways that fit their
abilities and learning styles.
Bright Sparks is well-liked by teachers and
students. It encourages students who
might not otherwise succeed, by offering a
variety of exercises, activities, puzzles and
learning styles.
The new edition builds on what works best
for all students.
 the emphasis on problem
solving and reasoning
 explanations and steps that
are easy to understand
 Caribbean real life examples
 the many examples, which
 activities and variety to help
parents particularly like
students fully engage, and
learn to love and become
successful in Mathematics
 colourful, appealing student
friendly texts
 artwork and interesting
student scenarios
 the features like Challenge,
and Hint, that push thinking
 The exam preparation in the
upper levels
RESEARCH BEHIND CHANGES:
 Extensive analysis of the syllabuses of Trinidad, OECS,
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Barbados, Jamaica, Belize, Bahamas and Guyana
The creation of a blended syllabus that fits the needs of each
territory, and offers some additional extensions
The work that meets the common part of the syllabus is first, and
the work that only some countries use is in a further section (e.g.
1-10 might apply to all countries, while 11-15 might be extensions
only used in one or two countries)
The most current university research on how children learn
mathematics has been included in the lessons
The challenges and needs told us by teachers in the workshops
in Grenada, St Vincent, Barbados, St Lucia, Dominica, Antigua, St
Kitts, and Belize, as well as in school visits in Trinidad, Jamaica
and Guyana, were heard and answered, resulting in some of the
changes built into the revised edition
Now 2 Kindergarten books – KA and KB
6 levels of SBs and WBs – Books 1 – 6
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and a ‘Transition’ level book, which bridges the end
of Primary and the first year of Secondary.
It is called Standard 6, meeting the needs of the additional year
of Primary School in Belize, but we think it has a lot of
potential to be used in Lower First or in Extended Primary
Schools across the region.
 the books are more teacher
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friendly, with syllabus
concepts easily found in the
Contents, Index and Scope and
Sequence in each book
Developmental steps
(spiralling curriculum) is now
made more obvious
Additional review at each level
More variations of money
examples to suit more regional
currencies
New features, such as
Mathematical language
 Simplified reading level in
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the word problems
Reorganization of the order
of the material
Updated – current
technologies, sports heroes,
scientific breakthroughs,
digital tools and games
Tighter and consistent use of
terms
More photographs, artwork,
more variety of names and
settings to reflect the wider
region
Changes to the design and layout
The explanation and the example that begin the
lesson is set out in a tinted box
At the end of each unit is a Check Up, and a Summary
box with key points
The expected outcomes for each unit are set out in the
TB
Partner, and project work sections are clearly set out
The paper quality in Books 1 and 2 is less shiny and
easier to write on
More changes to the design and layout
SB and WB Units, sub-units and exercises are
numbered and easy to follow, and are cross-referenced
in the TBs
Consistent use of colour – each feature (Hint, Short
Cut), has one colour throughout all levels, as do the
Assessments, Enrichment, etc.
Discussion, calculator work, links to CD practice, etc
all have assigned icons that become familiar to
students through all levels
Exam preparation and assessments –
More types of assessments have been added:
Self tests and self progress charts, for students
Informal review, Unit Checks, Partner work, and Tests are
both diagnostics and informal assessments
Full tests for midterm and end of term, and end of year
full examinations
The final exams in Books 4-6 and BZ Std 6 all have a
multiple choice section, as well as open response
A better quality CD
72 or more different activities
on each CD
Each CD has 6 major topic
areas, then each of these has
subtopicsand these too have additional
practice.
Wide variety of interactive activities
A better quality Teacher book
 Supports teachers to use new
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teaching approaches, with
suggestions and examples
Encourages teachers to have
students talk about their
reasoning
Shows different strategies
students might try for problem
solving, and common
misconceptions
Gives ideas for helping slow
learners and extensions for
quick students
Supports untrained teachers
while giving experienced
teachers new ideas to try.
 Makes clear the connection
to other subjects, within
Maths, and to real life
 Has ideas for adding games,
and active learning
 Offers suggestions re: formal,
informal and self assessment
 Shows exactly what WB and
CD practice matches the SB
lessons
 Includes some theory, e.g.
the benefits of task or project
based learning
 Includes sample lesson plans
for each unit
SB AND WB OVERVIEW
SB
In addition to the changes
noted earlier:
 Additional practice with
review before problematic
areas (e.g. fractions)
 Calculator icons to show
where they may be useful
 Clear, easy and familiar
design themes through all
levels
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WB
Each exercise refers to the
exact lesson in the SB for
which it provides practice
Self checks and informal
assessments for student to do
on their own
Can be used for homework,
for review or make up
Gives students a chance to
draw, fill in tables, show
their working and explain
their thinking.
Teacher Resource Website
Lesson plans
Games, puzzles and activities
Practice worksheets
Templates for geometry or measurement
Free, online downloadable resources for teachers
Bright Sparks matches and surpasses the competitors
in content, variety and interest, syllabus coverage and
extensions, and with teacher support materials that are
clearly-linked, useful, and help promote student
success.
The new Bright Sparks Revised Editions take what
teachers and students already prefer, and make it even
better, to meet the Ministries’ description of an
excellent course.
Thank you!
For all you have done to promote Bright Sparks
For those of you who set up the excellent Teacher Workshops
or helped organize school visits
And thank you as well,
for all that you will do in the future