The Power of 2 is a concept designed and developed through the personal vision of David Sharp. David has been involved in the teaching of maths and vocational charity work for nearly twenty years. It was during his time in teaching in Nottingham comprehensives that he identified a deficiency in the basic maths skills of many teenagers.
The Power of 2 initially started ten years ago as a way of helping David’s students. Due to the success the books enjoyed in helping his students attain improvements in their numeracy David “took the “plunge”, and now dedicates his time on a full time basis to the helping improvement standards of numeracy through the Power of 2.
His work in the charity sector with such organisations as VSO, The Princes Trust and Mentoring for Business, has allowed to him channel his expertise into developing a series of techniques that aimed at raising the standards of numeracy in a very practical manner.
The techniques and training aids developed by Power of 2 are found in a series of booklets that provide an integrative step by step system that produces a practical and meaningful process, focused at aiding the student’s numeracy. The essential aim is to raise the basic standards of numeracy that will provide benefits not only in schooling, but also provide a framework for real life time achievement. The latter point is particularly pertinent, with employers reporting decreases in numeracy as a hindrance towards recruitment, and work place performance.
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Orders and enquires can be placed by telephone, email, in writing, by fax or via this website.
We aim to show concern for the environment and look to get our paper products from sustainable sources and recycle as much packaging as possible. So, although your order will be securely packaged, it may be re-used packaging.
We send out orders usually within 24 hours. And you can get in touch if you've any queries or questions about our products... we enjoy chatting to you about them. And there's definately no hard sell.
We really appreciate all feedback given to us at Power of 2. Here are a few comments about our books.
The first few are taken from 'Senco-Forum', an internet discussion group.
"Even more gob-smacking to me is Power of 2 - one boy in my school has made approx 18 months gain in maths in about 4 months! Stunning for those who need lots of over-learning - great at boosting confidence.
Best wishes."
Dill Westerman-Childs
"I was working with an 8 year old pupil of mine yesterday on a page from Power of 2 and realised that she was getting to the answers faster than I could! I think we were adding and subtracting 30 - well she was!"
Trish
"We use it in Y5 and Y6 and staff and children love it! One Y6 boy could not, for example, add two single digits without his fingers in September - he can now add any two 2 digit numbers, very quickly. His mental calculations have speeded up, but better than this, he has gone from being someone who was glazed over like a rabbit in headlights, in maths, to being a confident, smiling, laughing member of the class. This is our first year of Power of 2 but I would recommend it wholeheartedly so far."
Senco, Leeds
"I picked up a couple of copies of the maths book Power of 2 at the Education Show, NEC, yesterday. It looks excellent for using with those students who need a lot of over learning to secure concepts in memory.
.....Great little book."
Anne Syme
"I ordered mine on the internet and it came within 2 days. The boy we are trialling it with seems to be making remarkable progress."
Senco, Bradford
"Using this with pupils from years 7 to year 10. They all seem to enjoy it and am now waiting for next years budget to buy another 30!! Our asylum seekers and EAL pupils also enjoy it for the vocabulary."
"I use it with pupils in year 7 upwards and they all seem to enjoy it, even the year 11 pupil. As a bit of fun I have also been using it with my two 6th form refugees who have only been in the country 2 years and are doing GCSE retakes in the hope of getting a C. They think it is fun and are remembering many of the technical expressions quicker."
Head of Learning Support, A Kent High School
"We use Power of 2 and are very pleased with it - small tasks, lots of repitition, building on what is known. I wouldn't consider it for pupils younger than Y5, though.
Best wishes.
Dill
"A book that has been a gem for my daughter, who is dyscalculic, is the Power of 2 (by David Sharp) works on the same precision as Kumon. It costs about £18 and takes only five - ten minutes per day so can be maintained even in the holidays without a struggle. I can see real improvements in my daughter who was making no connections at all at first. Several of her friends go to Kumon and it works for them, but my daughter wanted a completely home based intervention and this suits us both."
The above is part of a letter sent to an adoption newsletter
"I really enjoy Power of 2 because it makes me learn more and it is fun to do. It is nice to just work with one person and (know) that I can stop and have it explained.
Power of 2 has helped me with maths as it gives me the chance to try again and get it right. I have learned that I'm not scared of hundreds and I know my number bonds to 100 really well.
I can now just think of an answer and say it and get it right. I can work out change from pounds.
I used to be scared of tests and now I think I can do them. I feel happy working with Power of 2 and Plus 1."
Morgan Oak
We are called 'Power of 2' because of the proven success of 2 people working together. The books stem from the need of some people to have more reinforcement and practice than is often available. On each page of the book there is a "script" for the coach to read, or this could be read by the student. The coach is someone who works alongside the student and supports their learning.
