Mathematics at CEPS

 in 2022

This year, we have begun to re-envisage the way we approach mathematics at CEPS. Following a number of years of interrupted learning and challenge, a focus on deep, rich, engaging learning in maths is essential to developing our students’ positive disposition. 

All students have the opportunity and ability to be strong mathematicians. This is a learned behaviour and, contrary to popular belief, not a genetic trait! 

Problem solving remains a priority and is being underpinned with contemporary research into ‘Thinking Classrooms’, where students are supported to develop their autonomous thinking, reasoning, and communication skills, through challenging tasks and activities. 

It has been wonderful to see the students already engaging so keenly in Maths, having completed a number of awesome activities during the first month of school. These tasks have required teachers to spend time considering how to support and stretch the students with varying prompts and to ultimately take them deeper into the mathematical concepts contained in the task. Teachers have also been considering how to better engage the students in their learning more meaningfully, which has included working in small groups on vertical spaces, sharing their learning with the class, and explaining and justifying their thinking.

Maths @ CEPS in 2022 is: 

          ● Engaging and challenging 

          ● Making students think deeply 

          ● Collaborative and not “ability grouped” 

          ● Accessible to all students 

          ● Linking concepts between different Mathematical concepts 

          ● Fostering a love of learning

Thinking Challenge for home: 

I have a 100s charts and a jigsaw piece that is shaped like this: 

This piece covers the number 47. 

● What other numbers could be covered? 

● Considering all the values covered by one piece…

                    ○ What is the largest possible total? 

                    ○ What is the smallest possible total? 

Have a chat with your children about Maths at CEPS and the wonderful tasks they’re completing at school, even ask them to teach you something that they have learnt.

Mr. Crebbin - CEPS Mathematics Learning Specialist 

Mr. Bourke - CEPS Leading Teacher