At Gaayip-Yagila Primary School we believe that mathematics is incorporated in most parts of daily life. The teaching of mathematical skills related to purposeful and ‘real life’ activities helps students understand its relevance in their lives.
The lessons include; a fluency task to engage students into their learning, explicit modelling of the mathematics strategies based on the learning intention and success criteria, time for independent tasks, collaborative learning tasks and teacher directed activities with small groups of students with a similar focus. Students independent tasks can include hands-on activities, book work, digital technology activities and maths games. At the conclusion of each session, students are encourage to verbalise their thinking and participate in self and peer reflections based on the success criteria linked to the explicit learning focus.
Once a week students participate in a designated ‘Problem solving’ session integrating their learning for the week. Tasks are meaningful and targeted at their age, interest levels and experience. The groups are mixed ability. These authentic tasks are open and accessible and can add value to a student's learning, no matter what their stage of learning. They also allow students to be collaborative, working with other students, having discussions and sharing their mathematical knowledge and thinking.
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