Mathematics

The term 'numeracy' is commonly used in at least two distinct ways:

• Doing mathematics well, and
• Dealing with the mathematics needed to do some other job well (at home, work or in general community life).

These two ideas overlap but are not the same, but both are important for our students. In school education, numeracy is a fundamental component of learning, discourse and critique across all areas of the curriculum. It involves the disposition to use a combination of mathematical concepts and skills (numerical, spatial, graphical, statistical and algebraic) in context alongside general thinking skills.

Core Curriculum

The Australian Curriculum: Mathematics guides the teaching of Mathematics at St Benedict’s Primary School. The curriculum is organised around the interaction of three content strands and four proficiency strands.

The content strands are:

• Number and Algebra
• Measurement and Geometry
• Statistics and Probability

They describe what is to be taught and learnt.

The proficiency strands are:

• Understanding
• Fluency
• Problem Solving
• Reasoning

They describe how content is explored or developed, that is, the thinking and doing of mathematics. They provide the language to build in the developmental aspects of the learning of mathematics and have been incorporated into the content descriptions of the three content strands described above. This approach has been adopted to ensure students’ proficiency in mathematical skills develops throughout the curriculum and becomes increasingly sophisticated over the years of schooling.

Teaching & Learning Opportunities

When Mathematics is enjoyable it encourages curiosity, exploration, discovery and invention. Teachers use a variety of strategies to increase students' fluency and independence in using mathematical concepts and strategies. Students participate in a Numeracy Block on a daily basis that focuses on We Make, We Say, We Do and includes:

• Daily Review: to review previously taught concepts, mathematical thinking and skills
• Modelling: of particular concepts and strategies
• Guided Practice: where students practise the modelled concept/strategy
• Independent Practice: where students practise previously taught concepts/strategies