Beyond Basic Skills: Embedding Numeracy across the Curriculum

Merrilyn Goos, The University of Queensland and Loughborough University

This seminar is about a research study that aimed to help teachers in ten Australian schools plan and implement numeracy strategies across the whole upper primary and lower secondary school curriculum. Teachers were introduced to a rich model of numeracy that gives attention to real-life contexts, application of mathematical knowledge in mathematics and other school subjects, use of representational, physical, and digital tools, and positive dispositions towards mathematics. These elements are grounded in a critical orientation to the use of mathematics. Over one school year, the teachers worked through two action research cycles of numeracy curriculum implementation. The professional development approach included three whole-day workshops that supported teachers’ planning and evaluation and two rounds of school visits for lesson observations, teacher and student interviews, and collection of student work samples. During workshops teachers also completed written tasks that sought information about their confidence for numeracy teaching and how they were using the numeracy model for planning. The seminar draws on data collected during workshops and school visits to demonstrate how teachers’ instructional practices changed over time as they progressively engaged with the numeracy model.

Refreshments will be available.