Mathematics

Celebration of learning

We love hearing stories about Mathematics at OLA! 

Our Grade 5/6 students have been exploring 3D shapes and other opportunities for hands-on Maths. At all ages, it is important to give students the opportunity to use concrete ‘hands on’ materials to solve problems. When introducing new topics and exploring concepts, students need to establish strong literal/concrete understandings before they can develop their abstract problem solving abilities. 

Essential Assessment

OLA invests in the Mathematics component of Essential Assessment. 

This week our Grade 1-6 teachers have been further exploring all aspects of this program. A few new areas we will explore include:

• My Numeracy: a differentiated formative assessment model with an interactive teaching and learning function aligned to the Victorian and Australian Curriculums. My Numeracy enables students to progress through each curriculum content description, automatically differentiating an online curriculum based on their pre assessments in different curriculum areas.
• Sunset Maths: a game to test students' automatic recall, their Maths fluency by racing against time to beat the setting sun and hit touchdown to complete an activity. 
• Jetpack Algebra: a vertical journey to help students understand algebra. 

Prep students will be introduced to this program later in the year. For now, Prep Maths involves a lot of hands-on activities and games to develop strong foundational understandings.

Maths Professional Learning for Teachers

We have finalised plans for our professional learning in Mathematics this year. 

In 2021 we participated in Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Direct School Support where we had two experts come and work with our staff twice a term. We moved towards a more collaborative approach to planning Mathematics and further developed our understanding of strategies and number ranges that were appropriate for each stage of learning. 

This year, teachers will participate in a number of opportunities with MACS staff to further develop our understanding of the curriculum and how to best help our students to show growth and achievement. Teachers will explore different assessment opportunities to gain insight into students prior knowledge before developing rich sequences of learning that cater to the needs of all. Many opportunities will be developed in consultation not only with MACS staff but by networking with teachers and Maths Leaders from other schools. We will also still have our two experts visit and work with us once a term.

Caitlan Taig

Mathematics Leader