New horizons Part 1: Reflections on MANSW conference 2018
Missed hearing Dan Meyer speak at MANSW? Here is the first of three reflection blogs on the MANSW annual conference that took place on 14th to 16th September.
Details
Reading for inference – the beginnings
Reading for inference, inferential thinking, begins well before children are required to draw meaning from written and visual texts at school. This type of thinking, making inferences about our world, is used all the time by everyone. We learn to make considered – and often not quite so considered – judgements and assumptions about people,…
Let’s get into shape!
Does a cylinder have edges? This is a question I have been asked before, and many more questions like it regarding shapes and objects. Once again, it was up for debate last week in a Facebook group of which I’m a member. It was encouraging to see so many teachers talking about mathematics.
Literacy – definitions and understandings
The meaning of the term ‘literacy’ continues to be something of an enigma. It’s important to have an understanding of what constitutes literacy, and why we are so focused on it in our schools and the wider society.
Mathematics: It’s a matter of life or death!
As this week is History week in NSW, we thought we would flavour our blogs with a focus on history. The History Council of NSW’s theme is Life and Death. Possibly a slightly macabre theme for young children so I’ve highlighted these two ideas separately…
History week
It’s History Week in NSW: 1-9 September 2018. Formal activities include: NSW Premier’s History Awards, which start a little earlier on 31 August, and the Annual History Lecture and Awards on 4 September.
Making connections in mathematics
There has been some debate recently around the notion of an ‘over-crowded curriculum’ in NSW. The mathematics K-6 syllabus with its 250+ pages may be one of the first documents to come under fire for having too much content…
Becoming literate
Becoming literate is not simply about knowledge and skills. Certain behaviours and dispositions assist students to become effective learners who are confident and motivated to use their literacy skills broadly.
A little goes a long way…
Well once again one of the big-name supermarkets is ‘giving away’ fantastic toys that can be utilised for mathematics investigations.
Teachers and teaching – Part 1
As teachers, we enjoy the privilege and responsibility of the having what I have always referred to as the second-most important job in the world. We are educator, mentor, guide…
