Australian Curriculum

Van De Walle, Karp, & Bay-Williams (2013) discuss the importance of Iterating and partitioning in building conceptual understanding of fractions and the way they assist students to understand the meaning of fractions, particularly numerators and denominators and the relationship between the part and the whole. Partitioning involves sectioning shapes into equal-sized parts. Area, length and set models are particularly useful in partitioning. Iterating involves counting fractional parts and assists students to understand the relationship between the parts and the whole or the numerator and the denominator (pg 355). Although Iterating applies to all of the models it is mostly connected with length models as

Curriculum is designed to develop successful learners. Confident and creative individuals and active and informed citizens (MCEECDYA, 2008, p.13). In 2008, the Australian Government promised to deliver a fair and equitable curriculum for the national’s educational system, taking the task away from the State and Local Governments. The purpose of this was to create an even level of education throughout the country whether in Hobart of Cape York, and to ensure our nations position into the 21st century. This essay will demonstrate the Nation’s curriculum, its structure and development ready for its initial implementation in 2011.

The objective of EDC141: The Numerate Educator was for students to obtain the chance to develop their mathematical skills, build mathematical competency, and positively chance their disposition (as a pre-service teacher) towards the importance and the functionality of maths. The key to success is to learn from one’s mistakes and work (by practicing mathematical questions) to further improve one’s results. This I managed to do by increasing my Mathspace results from 64% to 68% (as shown in Appendices 1A). The Australian Curriculum focuses on developing student’s capabilities in six areas: number, Algebra, Geometry, measurement, statistics and probability. Using evidence from the Mathspace test results, the NAPLAN results and activities of ‘What

The aims and importance of learning provision for numeracy development are to ensure all students understand that maths is a vital part of everyday life and will continue to be used throughout their life. Primary schools will teach students to learn various methods and techniques to be able to reach the correct answer. The end goal means more students will be able to solve a mathematical problem, independently, using a method that suits them. They can then develop their learning to improve their knowledge and apply it to real life situations; such as counting in groups of numbers such as 5’s or 10’s, which in turn can be applied when paying for

Through the Rational Number Interview I was able to gain insight into Adams mathematical understanding of fractions, decimals and percentages. As a student in year 5, Adam was able to make connections using various mathematical strategies. Adam has an understanding of infinite numbers, for example, when asked how many decimals are there between each rational number (0.1 and 0.11), he answered promptly with “many numbers”. Adam was able to acknowledge that a fraction can be shown as a division problem, “divide the pizza into fifths and each get 3 pieces”. He was able to calculate by partitioning the pizza, and by dividing each pizza into the amount of people (5). Adam shows residual thinking when building up to the whole

In exploring the Australian Curriculum, it becomes apparent that this curriculum was developed to encompass a wide range of skills and abilities that will be needed to enable young Australians to become productive and successful members of society of the future. The influence of a range of different curriculum models and education theories has bought together a comprehensive overview of what the Australian education system will deliver and how this can be accomplished.

Ollerton, M. (2010) ‘Using problem-solving approaches to learn mathematics’ in Thompson, I. (ed.) Issues in Teaching Numeracy in Primary Schools (2nd edn), Maidenhead, Open University Press

The development of a national curriculum for Australia is not a new endeavour (Marsh, 2010). The ideal is that national curriculum across Australia would mean that students are provided with a quality education that helps to shape the lives of the nations citizens and continue developing the productivity and quality of life within Australia. The Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA] have the task of developing and implementing a nationwide curriculum. ACARA (n.d.-c) claims have addressed needs of young Australians while considering that changing ways in learning and challenges will continue to shape students education in the future. A look at what the Australian Curriculum is, its purpose, structure and scope,

The Case of Randy Harris describes the lesson of a middle school mathematics teacher, and how he uses diagrams, questions, and other methods to guide his students to a better understanding. Throughout his case study, Harris’ methods could be easily compared to that of the Effective Mathematics Teaching Practices. There are eight mathematical teaching practices that support student learning, most of which are performed throughout Randy Harris’ lesson. Harris didn’t perform each teaching practice perfectly, despite doing the majority of them throughout his lessons. The following are examples of how Randy Harris implemented the eight mathematical teaching practices into his lesson, and how the ones that were neglected should have been

Chapter one in the book Number Talks introduces the rationale for number talks and gives an overview of the basis of what a number talk would look like in a classroom. Number talks can be conducted in a small group or whole group setting. It is used to help children develop strategies for solving math problems and to deepen their understanding of numerical relationships. The three main goals of teaching through number talk sessions are to help students compute with accuracy, efficiency, and flexibility (5). Chapter one gives examples of how to highlight different strategies.

Assignment two - Research essay demonstrating knowledge, understanding and critical commentary on key education priorities Numeracy as a key Priority in Australian Schools. Key Policies and Drivers that have led to numeracy being a key priority. There has been a recognition that Australian schools require improvement in their numeracy performance. Thus, numeracy has become a key national priority for all Australian schools (Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, 2009). Numeracy skills are an essential part of daily life and necessary for the workplace, therefore, there needs to be an emphasis on improving numeracy skills in order to prepare students for life outside of school.

The Australian National Curriculum was first approved by the council of Commonwealth and state and territory education ministers in 2009, and the current Mathematics Curriculum for high school have just been majorly modified and applied to all 2016 Year 12 students. Maja Williams, a teacher in the ASMS – Australian Science and Mathematics School (Teaching areas: Mathematics, Digital Technologies and Science) was interviewed, and this report was written based on her responses (full interview included in Appendix 1). In this report, the design of the Australian Curriculum for high school mathematics was discussed, as well as how it could be modified to ensure the best possible education for students.

The school worked on a year and a half form entry basis and so classes were generally small. During numeracy children were divided into three ability groups and each group was taught separately. My partner and I (Miss M) worked with the lower ability group. Ofsted (2009) noted that the ‘arrangements for teaching numeracy in smaller groups have had a dramatic effect on pupils' progress, improving mathematics from a relative weakness to one of the school's strengths.’ However, doing so may mean that children know that very little is expected from them. According to Cockburn (1999, p15) ‘if a child is labelled as not being able or lacking in confidence, it may not be very long before that child ceases to perform to the best of their abilities.’

Multiplicative thinking, fractions and decimals are important aspects of mathematics required for a deep conceptual understanding. The following portfolio will discuss the key ideas of each and the strategies to enable positive teaching. It will highlight certain difficulties and misconceptions that children face and discuss resources and activities to help alleviate these. It will also acknowledge the connections between the areas of mathematics and discuss the need for succinct teaching instead of an isolated approach.

Teaching students effectively in areas of multiplicative thinking, fractions and decimals requires teachers to have a true understanding of the concepts and best ways to develop students understanding. It is also vital that teachers understand the importance of conceptual understanding and the success this often provides for many students opposed to just being taught the procedures (Reys et al., ch. 12.1). It will be further looked at the important factors to remember when developing a solid conceptual understanding and connection to multiplicative thinking, fractions and decimals.