At the commencement of 2022 there was an opportunity to be engaged in a curriculum development project focused on reimagining mathematics learning in primary schools. Schools were seeking new experiences to support engaging students and teachers in mathematics learning. Laburnum Primary School participated in the project with Monash University,…

The authors describe a lesson--"You Decide"--which challenges students but also provides opportunities for success for those who may struggle. They show how this lesson has been helpful for teachers in revealing some misconceptions that often exist in primary students' thinking. In this article, they share data on the apparent relative…

This article is based upon Peter Sullivan's (2021) structured inquiry approach to teaching mathematics, in which the authors take a deep dive into the technique of "Spotlighting" in the "Explore" phase of this model to assist in optimal learning experiences for students. Working from the premise that students are best placed to…

Time estimations, patterns and measurement sense are important skills to develop within the mathematics classroom (Mildenhall, 2016; Thomas et al., 2017). To develop a true understanding of time, students need to holistically understand: the language of time, the notion of duration and succession, how time is measured, and the concept of time…

Nicolas Senior shows how EMC3 's Launch-Explore-Summarise/Review model for mathematics lesson structuring sets the conditions to get the most out of both dialogic and direct instruction. He argues that this model will help teachers walk the balance between order and chaos.

The authors share the results of a research project involving the use of mathematics to develop students' Numeracy General Capabilities. The current article delves into an example of a teacher supporting 'good habits of mind' through focussing on the Critical Learning Disposition of accuracy.

This paper focuses on the importance of identifying students' Prior Knowledge (PK) for the teaching and learning of mathematics. Specifically, we present a framework that exemplifies the core elements teachers need to consider in relation to the purpose, design and implementation of learning experiences that enable PK to be activated and assessed.…

This article illustrates a learning sequence from the Interdisciplinary Mathematics and Science (IMS) Learning project, connecting science and mathematics learning in the primary school. Exploring light and its properties involved a series of investigations conducted in Grades 4 and 5 across three classes in two schools in regional Victoria. The…

This article presents the journey taken by staff at St. Patrick's Primary School in Kilmore to implement a consistent approach to the teaching of mathematics, using an instructional model to support student learning through structured inquiry pedagogies.

The authors define two mathematical cognitive verbs which are fundamental to the development of mathematical thinking and reasoning. They distinguish between 'describing' and 'explaining' in relation to doing mathematics, rather than using them interchangeably.

The learning of multiplication facts has long been an important focus of the primary grades, but lasting mastery of facts requires a meaningful approach that develops all four components of mathematical proficiency (understanding, fluency, problem-solving, and reasoning). This article shares how visual imagery in the form of Quick Looks with dot…

Creative thinking in mathematics is an essential 21st Century skill that can be developed and encouraged through an exploration of mathematical concepts. In the context of the new "Australian Curriculum: Mathematics," this article explores the possibilities that are unlocked when students engage with tasks creatively in mathematics. By…

This paper explores Year 3 Irish students' problem-solving strategies when responding to a skyscraper growing pattern problem. Students' strategies reveal their understandings of multiplicative thinking, pattern, and algebraic reasoning. The version of the growing pattern lesson was that a 'teaching through problem solving' approach was taken,…

Peter Sullivan and colleagues present a report on an initiative at a Victorian primary school which embraced opportunities offered by purposeful collaborative professional learning communities. They utilised a form of Japanese Lesson Study as part of their approach. There are three parts to the story of this initiative: (1) a description of the…

The teaching of measurement concepts typically follows a learning sequence of: (1) identifying the attribute, (2) comparing and ordering, (3) measuring using non-standard units, (4) measuring using standard units, and (5) applications. This sequence is entrenched in many curricular documents and textbooks (Australian Curriculum Assessment and…