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…

According to the author, the "Australian Curriculum: Mathematics (AC:M) requires primary school students to measure the attributes of angle, time, temperature, length, area, capacity and mass. This article outlines some misconceptions held by primary school students which appear to stem from them not understanding terminology concerning the…

This article provides an example of the implementation of school-wide professional learning as part of an Australian Research Council grant and the Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) called Exploring Mathematical Sequences of Connected, Cumulative and Challenging Tasks (EMC[superscript 3] ) (Sullivan et al., 2021). By using sequences of…

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.

In this brief article, Peter, Larissa and Doug present a single-page scaffold that challenges us to think of the mathematical proficiencies in a whole new way. By thinking of the proficiencies as verbs, they can be seen as purposeful learner actions and offer clues as to what it might mean to be a mathematician.

This is the first of two articles on the use of a written multiplication algorithm and the mathematics that underpins it. In this first article, the authors present a brief overview of research by mathematics educators and then provide a small selection of some of the many student work samples they have collected during their research into…

Self-explanation prompts are questions that encourage students to explain their reasoning. In this article Kelly, Laura and Julie explain the benefits of using self-explanation prompts for teachers, describe how they align with the Australian Curriculum, and provide instructions for creating them.

Using a game-based context and concentrating explicitly on language, students in the early years are able to make sense about place value amid the vagaries of the English language in naming numbers. This conceptual approach to understanding place value allows students to further develop number strategies beyond counting by ones.

Very recently, in the "Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers (AAMT)/Australian Industry Group quantitative report" (2014), concerns were raised that school mathematics is lacking real world application. This report highlighted the gaps between school mathematics and the requirements of the workplace. After interviewing industry…

Mathematical games are widely used in the primary classroom; however, not all games are equally valuable. How might teachers decide which specific games to introduce? The authors present five principles of educationally-rich games to help teachers address this issue. In so doing, they provide teachers with a usable framework to stimulate…

The Smarties-Box Challenge encourages students to apply several different mathematical capabilities and concepts--such as, estimation, multiplication, and the notion of being systematic--to solve a complex, multistep problem. To effectively engage in the Smarties-Box Challenge, students are required to demonstrate aspects of all four proficiency…

Helping students generalise mathematical ideas is an essential component of teaching and learning of mathematics (Lannin, Ellis, Elliott & Zbiek, 2011). However, it can be challenging for primary teachers to assess and promote generalisation. Because generalisation is an essential part of mathematics instruction, the authors highlight the…

In this article, Kym Fry uses the "Programme for International Student Assessment" (PISA) assessment framework to break down what her Year 6 students learned as they explored the inquiry question, "How much is a cubic metre?" First, an overview of the lessons in the unit is provided. Quality assessment opportunities are…

Stephen Tucker presents a fractions game that addresses a range of fraction concepts including equivalence and computation. The REFractions game also improves students' fluency with representing, comparing and adding fractions.

Digital cameras are now commonplace in many classrooms and in the lives of many children in early childhood centres and primary schools. They are regularly used by adults and teachers for "saving special moments and documenting experiences." The use of previously expensive photographic and recording equipment has often remained in the…