1.4 Effective teaching of numeracy extended

Referring back to your weekly learning outcomes, by the end of this topic, you will be able to:

  • illustrate how their numeracy teaching is relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and/or early years settings.

In this next section, select one of the two activities to complete.

Activity 1: Effective teaching of numeracy in Indigenous and remote contexts

  1. Review Effective teaching of numeracy in Indigenous and remote contexts of the Numeracy Guide.
  2. Read about Professor Robyn Jorgensen’s inspiring project: Celebrating Success: Numeracy in remote Indigenous contexts.
  3. Watch Professor Robyn Jorgensen talking about her project: Celebrating success: Numeracy in remote Indigenous contexts.
Reflective prompt: What experiences do Indigenous children have that help them foster numeracy understandings? How can we capitalise on the numerate behaviours indigenous children have when they enter educational settings?

Activity 2: Numeracy in Early Years

"The learning which occurs in the early years is important, both in and of itself, as well in relation to future success” (Dockett, 1995, as cited in Perry, 2000, p. 4).

  1. Read Numeracy in the early years in the Birth to Level 10 Numeracy Guide to learn how to support young children’s learning of numeracy.
  2. Watch Dr Leicha Bragg discuss the importance of play to develop numerate behaviours in young children.
  3. Select and complete the following appropriate reflective prompt.
Reflective prompt: As a teacher, what can you do to discover the ‘funds of knowledge’ that your early learners bring to formal schooling? Why are everyday behaviours such as setting the table and playing in the sandpit provided as examples of numerate behaviour? What mathematics underpins such behaviours?