Curriculum Update

Numeracy

Teacher Professional Learning in Mathematics at WNPS.

Big Ideas in Numeracy: Professor Margarita Breed

The Big Ideas are… “mathematically big, conceptually big, and pedagogically big” Askew (2015). 

They have a basis in mathematics but also in how it is taught and learnt.

Victorian Curriculum 2.0 in Mathematics states, in its rationale and aims.

Participating staff members who are currently attending the, Big Ideas in Numeracy, professional learning presented by Professor Margarita Breed shared the following reflections…

• The Big Ideas in Numeracy (BIN) professional learning builds and strengthens teacher capacity and confidence in relation to mathematics knowledge for effective teaching practice. 
• Understanding that the greater the number of connections or relationships between concepts, representations and processes are fundamental to learning mathematics with understanding. Bruner (1960) noted that knowledge “acquired without sufficient structure is knowledge that is likely to be forgotten”.
• Investigate, as a school, what are the ‘big ideas’ in mathematics and why they are important.
• Interrogate and question the implication the Big Ideas have for the teaching and learning of mathematics.
• Investigate, understand and utilise existing curriculum resources associated with the ‘big ideas’ in Numeracy. 
• Identify how the ‘big ideas’ are specifically concerned with targeted teaching in Number, without which student’s progress in school mathematics would be seriously impacted (students still counting on their fingers upper primary, early secondary).
• Engage in explicit modelling of the key ideas and teaching strategies, as when teachers are aware of these ideas and their role in the ‘mathematical landscape’ they can connect this with their practice.
• The focus is on learning with understanding, and hence developing an awareness of effective instruction and actively providing opportunities for students to make connections. 
• Provide teaching and assessment resources associated with the ‘big ideas’ for teachers to access.

The six ‘big ideas’ in Number (Siemen 2006).

Trusting the Count: Access to flexible mental objects for the numbers to ten based on part-part-whole knowledge derived from subitising and counting.

Place-value: Capacity to recognise and work with place-value units and view larger numbers as counts of these units rather than collections of ones. Appreciates structure in terms of ’10 of these is 1 of those’.

Multiplicative Thinking Initial Ideas: Works with multiple representations of multiplication and division (e.g., the ‘for each’, ‘times as many’ and ‘area’ ideas). Moving to factor-factor-product idea, efficient strategies for multiplication facts.

Equi-partitioning: Uses partitioning strategies to construct line and areas models for fractions and decimals, uses representations to compare, order and locate fractions and decimals on number lines, recognise that numbers can be divided to create new numbers, solves simple problems involving fractions.

Proportional Reasoning: Ability to recognise and work with an extended range of concepts for multiplication and division including rate, ratio, percent, solves problems involving intensive quantities and proportional relationships. 

Generalising Capacity: To recognise and represent patterns and relationships in multiple ways including symbolic expressions, devise and apply general rules and properties

By engaging Margarita Breed to present on the Big Ideas in Numeracy, through the Hobson’s Bay Numeracy Community of Practice network, it offers a valuable opportunity to build the capacity of our teachers and further develop their learning about the teaching of mathematics and adopt these approaches in their planning to enhance student learning in maths.

Year One & Two News

It sure has been a busy first half of the term in Year One and Two! Read on to hear more about the many highlights and wonderful learning that has been taking place in this space.

We started off the term with a focus on procedural texts with our unit on ‘How to Babysit your Grandma’. Students thoroughly enjoyed learning to find their ‘voice’ and how to incorporate it into their writing to create more interesting procedures for others to follow. Over the course of the unit, students learnt about the purpose of procedural texts and their text structures and features. This included learning about command sentences, bossy verbs and how we can use adverbs to describe a verb. We have had a lot of fun with this unit and created a variety of procedures in the process, some of which included cooking ANZAC cookies, washing Woolly Mammoths, putting a mythical creature to bed, and one even focused on teaching the reader how to be just like them! Last week, students created a final piece to showcase all they had learnt based on a topic of their own choosing. Feel free to check out the display of their published pieces in the corridor. 

Sitting alongside this learning has been our Shared Inquiry into ‘A Bug's Life’, which will now interface with our literacy program and genre study of Information reports. The prior knowledge students have brought to the table, along with the developing plethora of facts students are gaining daily, would even impress David Attenbourgher himself! They have been immersed in a range of scientific vocabulary ranging from exoskeletons, microscopic organisms, social and solitary insects and metamorphosis. This week, we look forward to welcoming our very own chrysalis kits into our classrooms. Students will closely observe the changes that take place before the stunning release of the butterflies into the wild. 

In Numeracy, our focus has been on addition and subtraction. Students have built their number fact fluency and used their ability to use different strategies when problem-solving. We revised doubles facts, and then students used MAB, number lines, and their place value knowledge to solve more difficult doubles problems. We also investigated probability with students identifying things that are likely to happen, unlikely, certain and impossible.

This term’s school value is Responsibility, and we have been learning how we can be responsible in school, at home and in the community. We have also done some work investigating the ‘size of the problem’ and how our actions impact others. Students have been able to identify different problems that they are experiencing during class time and play, and have rich discussions around whether these problems are considered ‘big’ or ‘small’.

Finally, one of the biggest successes this term has been students' commitment, effort and enthusiasm in response to our new homework program. Students have presented fortnightly, and the presentations have blown us out of this world. We thank our incredible parent community for their support with this and can’t stress enough how much students and teachers are both learning and enjoying these presentations. Students have come to each presentation completely prepared and eager to share their thoughts and ideas on each topic!

Take a look at some of the amazing photos below, where we have captured students’ thinking and understanding throughout the past few weeks!

Premiers Reading Challenge

Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge 2024

The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge has begun and this year it is going to be bigger and better than ever at Williamstown North PS! 

Individuals and grades will be recognised in assembly for their efforts. We hope that this year, a record number of students will complete the challenge!

Students finished the challenge: 15

Total books read across the school: 3537

Most Read Book: Where the Wild Things Are

Top Rated Book: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Last Fortnight's Biggest Readers:

Prep- Catherine

Year 1- Madelyn

Year 2- Zoe 

Year 3- Noah

Year 4- Elizabeth

Year 5- Zoe S

Year 6- Kye

Keep up the great reading!

Year One & Two Team

Prep

PA - Kate Richards: What is your role at WNPS? Prep Learning Leader  and Prep A Classroom Teacher.  My role involves overseeing the Prep cohort and teaching Prep A. 

I have been teaching for a decade, all of which have been at WNPS. I am passionate about early years education and contributing to the overall development of my students. I am a mother of two young daughters who keep me very busy. I love cheering on the Sydney Swans and the San Francisco 49ers. I love to travel and experience new things with my family.

PA - Neilma Collins: What is your role at WNPS? PA classroom teacher and part of the Prep Professional Learning Community.  My role is to work with the amazing Mrs Richards to oversee  the learning of all the students in Prep A. I regularly take the grade on a Friday, however I am always working within the Prep area, supporting teachers and ensuring that If the need arises there is a familiar face to cover a grade. 

I have been teaching all my life and am a passionate educator. I have had a strong connection to Williamstown North as I have coached many WNPS teachers here over the years in my role with the Education Department. 

Outside of school, I enjoy traveling and spending time with my beautiful family, especially my three wonderful grandchildren!

PB - Tania Brown: What is your role at WNPS? PB classroom teacher and part of the Prep Professional Learning Community.  My role involves overseeing the learning of all the students in Prep B. Prep B are called Prep B because they have beautiful hearts and  brilliant brains. We are one big family that loves the challenges of learning and helping each other to achieve our personal best!

Williamstown North has been my home since the year 2000, when I emigrated from the UK. It was the first school I worked in and I loved it so much I never left! I have taught in nearly every year level,, however Prep is where my heart is! I love the connection we build with families and working as a team to ensure that each child is happy, confident and successful. 

Outside of school I travel a lot. I love trekking and visiting new places. My husband is working in Finland, so I am enjoying being able to spend each holiday exploring Europe.

PC - Steven Gray: What is your role at WNPS?   Prep C classroom teacher and part of the Prep Professional Learning Community.  My role is the classroom teacher of the young and vibrant learners in Prep C.

 I have been teaching for over 12 years, though this is my first full year at WNPS, after arriving at the school in Term 3 in 2023. I love the community connection that surrounds the school community, and that everyone is engaged and supportive in ensuring we develop our students as whole learners. 

I have two energetic kelpie dogs who keep me active, and love cheering on the mighty Geelong Cats on the weekends. I love traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Year One

Year 12B - Bronwyn Murray: What is your role at WNPS? Year 1/2 Learning Leader and 1/2B Classroom Teacher.  My role involves overseeing the Year 1 and 2 cohort. My favourite part of my role is teaching the brilliant minds in 1/2B. Having the only multi-aged class in the junior school has been a wonderful adventure. It has been so nice to see the new friendships between students in Year 1 and Year 2! 

I have been teaching for 15 years, the last 8 of which have been at WNPS. I am passionate about early years education and high-quality numeracy instruction. I love the outdoors and spend my spare time hiking, playing netball and gardening. 

Year 1A - Lucinda (Lucy) McSherry: 1A classroom teacher and part of the 1/2 Professional Learning Community.  What is your role at WNPS? My role involves overseeing the learning of the absolutely amazing students in 1A. The students in 1A are curious and always eager to hear about whatever new topic we are learning.

I have worked at WNPS for two years now, and I love not only my class, but the school community. I am passionate about all of my students feeling positive, safe and supported in their learning and in my classroom.

Outside of school, I enjoy traveling to new places, and spend a lot of my time reading. I am also a passionate Collingwood supporter, so you will often hear me talking about their most recent match!

Year 1B - Thomai (Tammy) Voukelatos: What is your role at WNPS?   1B classroom teacher and part of the 1/2 Professional Learning Community.  My role is classroom teacher of 1B from Monday to Thursday. I share this role with the wonderful Georgie Petty. 

I have worked in Year two, three and four on a part time basis over the past several years at Willy North. Stepping into Year one this year has been great and I’m really enjoying working with the passionate and dedicated Year one and two team. 

I’m also a busy mum with two children of my own. I love the outdoors and enjoy exploring new places with my family in our van. I also enjoy snorkelling, reading and trying different cuisines. 

Year 1B - Georgina (Georgie) Petty: What is your role at WNPS? 1B classroom teacher and part of the 1/2 Professional Learning Community.  My role is being a classroom teacher of the lovely 1B students on a Friday and I share this role with the wonderful Miss Tammy. 

I have had the privilege of teaching at WNPS for 8 years, as a Foundation, Year 2, Performing Arts and now a Year 1 teacher! I am passionate about establishing authentic relationships with my students and families and  creating a positive learning environment where learning comes from a place of joy. 

I have a beautiful little 8 month old daughter at home who I spend my other 4 days of the week with. I love going for walks with my family, which includes our Australian terrier called Reggie, going to the gym and doing anything creative! 

Year 1C - Irini Mavridis: 1C classroom teacher and part of the 1/2 Professional Learning Community.  What is your role at WNPS? My role involves overseeing the wonderful students of 1C and their learning. 1C is an inquisitive group that is always ready to learn and eager to tackle any challenges that come their way!

This is my second year at WNPS and I couldn’t love my role anymore than I already do. I am passionate about wanting all of the students to not only enjoy their learning as much as possible, but also feeling safe, and positive in the classroom.

Outside of school, I love exploring new places; I am often found on beaches reading whatever new mystery book I can get my hands on. 

Year Two

Year 2A - Kaitlyn Hayes: What is your role at WNPS? Literacy Learning Specialist and 2A Classroom Teacher.  My role involves overseeing Literacy at WNPS and teaching the incredible students in 2A on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings. I feel very lucky to spend my week teaching these hard-working and eager learners, and have loved getting the opportunity to teach Year 2 for the first time!

I have worked at WNPS for 13 years and feel very lucky to be part of such a wonderful school community.  I am passionate about education, inclusion, wellbeing and transition. I am an enthusiastic Carlton supporter and love reading, spending time at the beach and connecting with friends and family.

Year 2 A - Crissy Samaras: What is your role at WNPS? Numeracy Leading Teacher and 2A Classroom Teacher.  My role involves overseeing Numeracy at WNPS and teaching the amazing students in 2A on Thursday, Friday and Wednesday afternoons. I consider myself fortunate to dedicate part of my week to teaching these diligent and enthusiastic students.

I love reading, skiing and am a passionate Collingwood supporter. I have worked and been connected to WNPS for decades and taken on many roles in my tenure. 

Year 2B - Rachel Wilson: What is your role at WNPS? 2B classroom teacher and part of the 1/2 Professional Learning Community.  My role sees me overseeing the amazing students in 2B. We are an enthusiastic and dedicated group of learners and I get so much pleasure witnessing their growth and passion.

This is my second year at WNPS and absolutely love teaching grade 2. I am a very passionate literacy teacher and love teaching the students all about language and its origins. 

I am a lover of most sports but am a particularly devoted and one eyed Collingwood supporter. I love the beach, coffee and a good movie.

Year 2C - Ben Roosenboom: What is your role at WNPS? 2C classroom teacher and part of the 1/2 Professional Learning Community.  My role involves overseeing the fantastic learning in year 2C. We are an active group of learners who love tackling new challenges, working as a team and putting new learning into action!

I have been working at Willy North for two years and have relished being part of the Williamstown North community. I’m a local, having attended Willy High myself. I am passionate about cricket and the mighty Western Bulldogs.