Last year I wrote a blog about Mental maths in action in response to a statement I often hear by both educators and parents: “If they just knew their times tables”. In my support to primary schools, I am regularly asked the question: What about times tables? or, How do I teach times tables? or,…
Recent research describes the importance and impact of teaching handwriting, particularly in the first four years of school.
“Children are always learning.” Rebecca Brooks, The myth of ‘catching up’ after Covid-19 As restrictions continue to ease in NSW, I have resumed some of my support and professional learning with primary schools via Zoom. One of the first things I have been reiterating to teachers is, don’t feel the pressure to ‘catch up’. My…
I love checking Twitter daily to read about what’s happening in classrooms both locally and internationally regarding mathematics education. I find great new articles about mathematics research, see amazing tasks and engaged students, observe innovation in action, and collect ideas that I can use with young students as well as with in-service teachers and pre-service…
As students start to return to school one day a week and then full-time, teachers will be spending much of this time re-assessing what students know and planning future teaching based on where to next. When it comes to mathematics, identifying students’ prior knowledge is essential as mathematics concepts build upon each other. Identifying key…
In these current changing times, learning online has rapidly become part of our students’ lives. One element of using technology is accessing games. In the physical classroom we utilise mathematical hands-on games to engage students, practice important number sense skills, and to provide opportunities to develop critical thinking skills that many games (within their strategic…
This week’s blog is to assist parents and carers who are WFH and helping children with learning from home. A friend of mine who is a primary school principal contacted me this week with a request for mathematics activities/games/sites that are easy for kids to complete independently but still educationally sound. I think this is…
In these uncertain times as teachers, parents and carers prepare for learning from home, I thought it would be good to share some strategies to keep young students engaged – particularly in mathematics. Keep it short I remember somewhere along the way in my teacher education degree being told that to work out young children’s…
Keeping up with current research is an essential part of any teacher’s pursuit for improving practice. Our learning isn’t over once we graduate from university, in fact it is only just beginning. Although much of teaching is about on-the-job learning, we must also continue to adapt our teaching to suit the differing needs, interests and…
As a new year begins, planning and programming are often the focus for classroom teachers. It’s a time to try new things, adapt what has worked before, and think about what makes a great lesson. For mathematics, as with any subject area, flexibility is the key. Catherine Attard (@attard_c) provided some good advice regarding lesson…