Mathematics

Welcome to Mathematics at Rangeview! 

In this issue we bring to you the work of Jo Boaler at Stanford University and samples of her work around the importance of students developing a Growth Mindset in Mathematics. Her well-known website https://www.youcubed.org/ has some wonderful readings and videos to explore this concept in more depth. The seven concepts below are the core concepts we as teachers try to instil in students.  

GROWTH MINDSET IN MATHEMATICS 

The following text provides some additional information about the first of the 7 concepts. This link is a video which has students discussing applying Growth Mindset strategies:  

https://www.youcubed.org/resources/boosting-messages-learn-math-students/  

FAMILY GAME TIME 

MORRA- A GAME OF ODDS AND EVENS 

Morra is a two-player game that has been played since Ancient times. Both the Greeks and the Romans had versions of it! Students love it because it is a bit like Rock, Paper, Scissors.  

Rules 

Players decide which player will be ‘odd’ and which player will be ‘even’. 

Both players count down: “3, 2, 1, go!” and on ‘Go!’ each player puts 0-5 fingers out. 

If the sum of the fingers is odd, the odd player gets one point. If the sum is even, the even player gets one point.  

The winner is the first player to reach 5 or 10 points.   

To make the game more complex, play with two pairs of players as teams. One team is odd and one team is even. Find the sum of all 4 fingers. This encourages the use of more addition strategies. 

A further level of complexity can be achieved by players being permitted to use 0-10 fingers. Have heaps of fun playing Morra! 

If you would like to learn more about something specific in Mathematics, please email the office at rangeview.ps@education.vic.gov.au with ‘Attention: Vicki and Lee’ in the subject line and we will respond to you directly. 

Go Maths! 

Lee Giddings and Vicki Tzimos