A Busy and Exciting Term Ahead!

Term 4 is shaping up to be a busy one at Magill, filled with colour, music, celebration and opportunities to reflect on the year that has been. From our much-anticipated Colour Run this Friday and the Instrumental Music Concert, to Year 6 camp, kindy transition, excursions, swimming lessons for Years 3–6, our end-of-year concert and graduation, there is plenty happening across our school community.

Amongst all this activity, it’s also worth reflecting on just how much learning has taken place, particularly in mathematics. Across our approximately 750 students from Reception to Year 6, countless concepts have been learned, strategies practised and problems solved. In fact, we could estimate that well over a million maths questions have been answered this year so far. That’s a lot of mathematical thinking happening at Magill.

Which got me thinking: why do we spend so much time learning maths? Surely there’s more to it than working out times tables, remembering procedures and trying to figure out what a worded problem is actually asking!

As technology continues to advance, mathematical thinking is becoming increasingly important. At Magill, we want students to see that maths is more than learning facts and following procedures. It helps them recognise patterns, make sense of information, weigh up options and solve problems. These skills build the confidence and flexibility students need to apply their learning in new situations, both in and beyond the classroom.

So, what do the students at Magill think? Do they see maths as numbers, problems, patterns, money, or something else entirely? Students from Reception to Year 6 were asked what they think maths is and why they believe it’s important.

What Magill Students Think About Maths

Reception

Jessica, Cherith and Myles (N8) and Fred (N10)

Do you like maths? Yes! They enjoy learning more maths and getting better at it. One student explained that maths helps their brain become “more clever”.
What is maths? Learning about numbers, adding and subtracting, recognising patterns and learning how numbers work. One student described it as learning tricky things, such as knowing that 1 and 4 make 5.
Why is maths important? It helps us learn about numbers and how to add them. Students also recognised that learning maths helps their brains develop.

Year 1

Florence (N1), Elia and Felicity (N3)

Do you like maths? Their feelings were mixed. Some enjoy numbers, computers and working with friends, while others find subtraction difficult.
What is maths? Working with numbers, addition, subtraction, shapes and patterns. Students also connected maths with cracking codes, money and time.
Why is maths important? Maths helps us keep track of time, buy the right-sized shoes and work out the cost of things. It is also important for science, technology and jobs such as engineering and robotics. One student explained that building robots involves programming and “SO MUCH maths”.

Year 2

Megan and Isabelle (N2)

Do you like maths? Yes! They think maths is fun.
What is maths? Measuring, learning about shapes, writing number sentences and learning new things.
Why is maths important? It helps us answer questions and work out how to do important things in the future.

Year 3

William B (M5) and Isabel (M4)

Do you like maths? Yes! They enjoy learning, solving problems and stretching their brains.
What is maths? Addition, subtraction, multiplication, times tables, problem-solving, measuring length and width, and working with weight.
Why is maths important? It helps us manage money, calculate change, keep track of time and solve everyday problems. Students also recognised that maths is useful in most jobs, including science.

Year 4

Jai and Tisha (F9), Miller, Sierra and Audrey (F10)

Do you like maths? Many enjoy the challenge of solving problems and learning different strategies. Others prefer maths games or addition and find subtraction and working with numbers more difficult.
What is maths? Problem-solving, logical thinking, calculations, shapes, measurement and time. Students described maths as something that makes their brains work hard and teaches them strategies.
Why is maths important? Maths is useful in everyday life and across many careers. Students mentioned using money and giving change, measuring ingredients when cooking, managing time and measuring objects when making things. They also connected maths with getting a job and career opportunities.

Year 5

Maya and Bruno (F14)

Do you like maths? Yes! They enjoy the challenge and see maths as a way to test their limits, build resilience and stretch their thinking.
What is maths? Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and problem-solving. They also recognised that maths can become easier to use once you understand it well.
Why is maths important? Maths is part of everyday life, from shopping and managing spending money to paying bills, renting or buying a house, and measuring materials in construction. They also recognised that maths is important in almost every job.

Year 6

Ziggy and Junaynah (F1)

Do you like maths? Their views were mixed and it depended on the level of challenge. One student enjoys the feeling of accomplishment after solving a difficult problem, while another prefers challenging questions because easy maths can be boring.
What is maths? Numerical problem-solving involving numbers, words, calculations and working out answers.
Why is maths important? Maths is used almost everywhere, often without us realising it. Students connected it with video games, strategy, budgeting, science, technology, coding and construction. They also recognised that maths helps people communicate, make informed decisions and work together. One student noted that leaders use data and algorithms to help make decisions that affect all of us every day.

Across the year levels, students recognised that maths is part of everyday life, from shopping and cooking to technology and future careers. Many enjoy the challenge of stretching their brains and solving problems, although some skills can be tricky! Subtraction, it seems, is not everyone’s favourite.

It was great to hear students beginning to recognise the bigger role maths plays in our lives. When we were at primary school, back in the 20th century, I suspect few of us imagined just how much maths would shape our world in the 21st century.

Who knows what today’s students will be using maths for in the years ahead? After answering more than a million maths questions at Magill this year, hopefully they’re ready for whatever comes next!

Sonia Magon

Assistant Principal

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