The teaching of Mathematics at St Joseph’s school follows a framework. The framework consists of 3 areas of teaching and learning. Research suggests that NAPLAN test questions make up 33.33% from each area. As teachers, we aim to provide learning opportunities that have aspects of each area.
Visual: concrete materials, manipulatives, visuals, diagrams, drawings, images and acting out the concept.
Symbolic: Numerals, numbers, symbols, expressions, equations and number sentences.
Language: words and phrases, vocabulary, terms and definitions.

 
Year 5/6 students investigated the changing nature of sharing with fractions. Three chairs placed in the classroom with images of chocolate cakes provided the setting. One chair had 3 cakes, the second chair had 2 cakes and the third chair had 1 cake. Ten students were asked to leave the room, come in one at a time, and choose a chair to stand behind, this continued until all students had chosen. The fraction of cake changes as each student selects where to stand, without prompting, students were thinking about where to stand so they would get the largest fraction of cake. They soon discovered that the amount of cakes is the numerator and the number of students is the denominator, 3 cakes over 4 students is 3/4 of the cake each.

 

Kindergarten and year 1 students began their investigation into volume and capacity. We began by exploring the language of capacity by choosing full, empty and half full. Students had a variety of containers and a selection of informal units to use. Each student used the containers and measuring units to show each concept.

Year 2/3/4 students have revisited 2 dimensional space. After choosing 2 pattern blocks each we investigated and sorted the shapes into their angle type, acute, right and obtuse. We then focussed on triangles and why each has internal angles which add up to 180⁰. To prove this idea each student cut out a triangle using coloured paper and cut each corner/angle. By lining up each vertex, students could see that they form a straight angle; a maths story was added to their work.

Proving a triangle has angles that add to 180⁰.