As part of a much larger study where spatial reasoning is the focus, this paper draws on the language aspects of this strand of the curriculum. The quarantined part of the project discussed in this presentation is based in remote Indigenous schools. We draw on the challenges of the concept of symmetry and where the language of instruction (and…

Drawing on the work of Bourdieu, this paper challenges orthodoxies permeating mathematics education that reify the marginalisation of the most vulnerable groups of learners--remote Indigenous learners. This cohort of students are most at risk of underperforming in mathematics. Using Bourdieu's theoretical constructs, data from a large national…

Remote indigenous students in the Australian context are often the most vulnerable learners in the nation. Many factors impact on the potential for success. For those living in remote areas and whose language and culture are very different from that represented in and through school, the chances for success in mathematics remain limited. Often the…

This paper is theoretical in orientation and explores the limitations of the current field of mathematics education which has been dominated by social theories of learning. It is proposed that the field is approaching its limits for these theories and there is a need for shift that moves from the idiosyncratic possibilities of subjective meaning…

Drawing on studies of successful remote schools in one region of Australia, it was found that two key strategies were common in the approaches at these schools. First, to make the strategies and expectations being adopted explicit to all those involved in the learning enterprise, and second, that consistency in approaches was crucial. Bourdieu's…

For many students, coming to learn mathematics is as much about the pedagogical relay through which concepts are conveyed as it is about the mathematics per se. This relay comprises social, cultural and linguistic norms as well as the mathematical discourse. In this study, I outline the practices of one remote school and how the teaching practices…

This article draws on the outcomes of a 4-year project where complex instruction was used as the basis for a reform in mathematics teaching in remote Aboriginal communities in Australia. The article describes the overall project in terms of the goals and aspirations for learning mathematics among remote Indigenous Australians. Knowing that the…

The importance of leadership in changing schools and building quality programs is the focus of this paper. While leadership is often seen as a management aspect of school life, the role of leadership in curriculum change may be quite different from that of school leadership visa-vis the principal. In small remote schools where there are many…

In remote Aboriginal communities, there are many challenges that confront educators, not the least of which is leadership that challenges the status quo and moves Aboriginal communities forward in their access to, and engagement with, the mathematics school curriculum. This paper draws on data from the "Maths in the Kimberley" (MiTK)…

The educational performance of Aboriginal Australians lags behind non-Indigenous Australians with the gap increasing the longer students remain at school. The Australian government has released its Closing the Gap policy with the specific intent to redress gaps in health, education and housing, as these are seen as key indicators to life success.…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to report on research into the challenges for leadership in implementation of a new curriculum in a remote region of Queensland, Australia. Design/methodology/approach: Data for the research were gathered through an online survey and semi-structured interviews with teachers and principals involved in the…

This article illustrates a teaching exploration at an Indigenous Community School in the Kimberley region of Western Australia that sought to use a specific way of thinking about particular content domain, subtraction, to develop focused, mathematically-rich learning experiences. First, the authors explain the importance of having clear…