Numeracy is the knowledge, skills, behaviours and dispositions that students need in order to use mathematics in a wide range of situations.
It involves recognising and understanding the role of mathematics in the world and having the dispositions and capacities to use mathematical knowledge and skills purposefully.
We follow the Victorian Curriculum closely to guide our teaching of the three strands of mathematics:
- numbers and algebra;
- measurement and geometry; and
- statistics and probability.
We believe that all students need to experience high-quality teaching to ensure maximum learning; our teachers use the High Impact Teaching Strategies (HITS) to optimise learning.
Real World Contexts
We want our students to be able to apply their learning and their own daily lives and through rich, authentic learning experiences we help learners see how learning mathematics can help them better understand their world.
Essential Assessment
Rigorous and continuous assessment underpins all of the work we do. Our practice involves the provision of effective feedback to students and active involvement of students in their own learning.
Developing Proficiency
The inclusion of the proficiencies of understanding, fluency, problem-solving and reasoning in the curriculum is to ensure that student learning and student independence are at the centre of the curriculum.
The Numeracy Hour
At Guthrie Street Primary School, numeracy teaching and learning is scheduled every day, totalling five hours of numeracy for the week. Teachers plan and implement effective numeracy lessons which are based on the Learning Intention and Success Criteria.
Each lesson follows the Numeracy Hour model. This hour starts with fluency activities which are differentiated to allow each student to progress and achieve success. The lesson continues with a mini-lesson which involves explicit teaching that is teacher-directed. Students have independent work time in groups or as individuals where they engage in and explore the lesson focus at their individual stages of learning. At the conclusion of work time, there is a debrief session that allows students to reflect on and share their learning.