Learning Specialist

Mathematics Learning Walks

Over the past few weeks, our curriculum team has been visiting classrooms across the school to see our approach to mathematics teaching in action. These learning walks provide an opportunity to celebrate the fantastic work of our teachers and reflect on how consistently the Instructional Hierarchy is being used across the school.

The Instructional Hierarchy is a teaching approach that supports students as they move through different stages of learning. When students are learning a new mathematical skill, teachers begin with clear explanations, demonstrations and guided support. Students then have many opportunities to practise so they can develop accuracy, confidence and fluency. Once the skill is secure, students apply their learning in different situations and adapt it to solve new or more challenging problems.

Put simply, students move through these stages:

Acquisition: Learn a new skill through clear teaching and modelling.

Fluency: Practise the skill once accurate to build speed.

Generalisation: Apply the skill in different situations.

Adaptation: Adapt their learning to solve unfamiliar problems.

During our learning walks, we have been pleased to see teachers providing clear explanations, carefully checking students’ understanding and creating regular opportunities for students to participate and practise. It has also been wonderful to see students confidently explaining their mathematical thinking and applying their learning in new ways.

This work forms an important part of the school’s Annual Implementation Plan. The plan identifies our key improvement priorities and guides the actions we take throughout the year. By regularly reflecting on what is happening in classrooms, celebrating effective practice and identifying our next steps, we can continue to strengthen teaching and improve learning outcomes for all our children.

These learning walks are not about evaluating individual teachers. Instead, they help us support consistency, share effective approaches and continue improving mathematics teaching across the school. We are proud of the thoughtful and engaging learning taking place in our classrooms each day. It has also been great to see our students learning in supportive and focused learning environments.

Learning Specialist 

Ben Sandison