Teaching & Learning Page

Spotlight on Teaching and Learning: Maths Community of Practice Partnership

Surfside Primary School has been fortunate to establish a Maths Community of Practice Partnership with five other schools in the Geelong area: Armstrong Creek School, Hamlyn Banks Primary, Newcomb Primary, and Anakie Primary School. The Responsive Teaching in Primary Mathematics initiative is being facilitated by Bronwyn Ryrie Jones and Brydon O'Neill-Guy, both leading experts in implementing evidence-based practices in schools. The aim is for schools to collaborate to improve explicit and responsive teaching of mathematics.

So far, we have focused on rigorous daily, weekly, and monthly review practices, enhancing fluency, aligning assessments, and developing a shared instructional language for teaching mathematics across classes and schools.

Last Friday, we were privileged to host leaders from the other schools at Surfside, where they observed classroom practices in action, from Foundation to Year Six, during the Maths Review (Retrieval Practice) and our Rocket Facts school routine. The visiting leaders were impressed with the consistency across year levels, the support provided to students, the high participation rates, and the structured routines.

We look forward to continuing this partnership in 2025, with visits to other schools and a curriculum day for staff across all five schools. This initiative is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the exceptional work of our teachers and students at Surfside, leading the way in innovating and improving maths instruction across the region.