Numeracy

MATHEMATICS POLICY

 

RATIONALE

At Kismet Park, we believe Mathematics is an essential part of everyday life. For students to be confident, successful learners and active participants in their world, they need to develop mathematical knowledge, skills and understandings to be able to think creatively, analyse and communicate information and ideas. It is important to improve student’s numeracy skills through a range of challenging and engaging learning experiences that extends their prior knowledge.

 

AIMS

  • To involve students in positive experiences, to instil an appreciation and confidence in Mathematics as well as developing a sense of achievement from what they learn. 
  • To have students make mathematical connections and able to communicate and investigate mathematical concepts, skills and processes to solving mathematical problems.
  • Students to demonstrate useful numeracy skills for successful employment and functioning in society.
  • To have students develop an understanding of the role of Mathematics in life, society and work and Mathematics as a discipline.

IMPLEMENTATION

  • The Mathematics curriculum will provide rich, engaging and authentic learning experiences that are differentiated for all ability levels. Programs will be based on achieving the learning outcomes from the relevant levels of the Australian Curriculum Standards.
  • For each Learning Stage of Prep-Year 4: Laying the Foundations and at Years 5 & 6: Building Breadth and Depth, the corresponding numeracy strategies will be implemented in all classrooms across the school.
  • Teachers and students interact in a creative and challenging learning environment where experiences and instruction are scaffolded to meet student needs. Consistent mathematical language is used to pose questions, justify reasoning and develop mathematical understandings and strategies.
  • There will be 6 hours of Numeracy instruction per week with a Whole - Part - Whole format. Each one Hour Numeracy Lesson consists of:
    • 5 minutes oral counting (as appropriate for Year level to reinforce, challenge & extend number facts)
    • 5 min number Games / Activities
    • 10 -15 min Whole Class Discussion / Focus/ Modelling
    • 30 min  Individual  / Group work
    • 5 min  Share Time / Reflection
  • A differentiated teaching approach will cater for the broad range of learning abilities and styles.
  • Mathematics will be integrated across the curriculum as applicable.
  • Students will be involved in problem solving and “hands on” activity-based learning and real-life experiences, in order to develop their own strategies to consolidate mathematical concepts.
  • A variety of teaching and learning strategies will be used including the use of digital technologies.
  • Students in Years 2-6 identified beyond the 80th percentile from results of Progressive Achievement Test (PAT) in Mathematics achievement will have the opportunity to participate in the annual Australasian Problem Solving Mathematical Olympiads and/or the International Competition for Australasian Schools (ICAS) in Mathematics.
  • Teacher assessment practices will be in accordance with the whole school assessment schedule.
  • Staff will participate in professional learning with provision made for new and returning staff to up skill in the teaching of Mathematics. 
  • Mathematics will be promoted in the wider school community. Parents and the wider community develop a shared understanding of mathematical concepts and language.
  • A range of assessment tools (for, as, of) are used to measure learning outcomes, to inform future teaching and learning and give quality feedback based on evidence.
  • Teachers will make full use of school resources including the integration of Information Communication Technology (ICT). Through program budgets the school will make provision for the maintenance and updating of Mathematical resources.
  • The Leadership Team will ensure that the mathematics policy is adhered to and implemented throughout the school.

 

EVALUATION

The effectiveness of the Mathematics Policy will be evaluated annually through the collection and analysis of the following data:

  • NAPLAN (Years 3&5)
  • Progressive Mathematics Tests (PAT)
  • Teacher Judgments
  • On Demand tests
  • International Competition for Australasian Schools (ICAS) in Mathematics

 


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