32.1K
Downloads
46
Episodes
MathsTalk by AMSI Schools – where conversations in maths become part of your professional learning practice.
Episodes
Wednesday Jul 13, 2022
Wednesday Jul 13, 2022
Popular demand sees us re-releasing part 2 of our conceptual understanding podcast, one of the most downloaded of all of our episodes. In it, Nadia and Leanne continue their discussion about teaching mathematics for conceptual understanding. Today they delve into how Patterns and Algebra can be taught conceptually and then they get practical; discussing the thought process that goes into planning units.
For suggestions comments and ideas, please contact us at @AMSISchools on Twitter or Choosemaths@amsi.org.au
Resources from the podcast:
Nadia's website (EM Maths): https://www.emmaths.com.au/
Patterns Lesson: https://calculate.org.au/year7/
Supporting Australian Mathematics Project: http://www.amsi.org.au/ESA_middle_years/Year7/Year7_md/Year7main.html
Geometry: https://calculate.org.au/measurement-and-geometry/
Algebra tiles: https://calculate.org.au/2019/03/27/algebratiles/
Tuesday Jun 28, 2022
Tuesday Jun 28, 2022
By popular demand, we bring you Maths consultant Nadia Abdelal, talking in 2021 about the importance of teaching for conceptual understanding, and why it needs to be extended into secondary classes. This is a must-listen for primary and secondary teachers alike and will hopefully stimulate some real discussion in staffrooms across Australia and the world. It was the first in a 2-part series on conceptual understanding in Mathematics and you can continue our discussion with a dive into teaching algebra for conceptual understanding by going to the episode from March 2021, clicking here https://open.spotify.com/episode/42tZlWUtCozw6wTyHbDNza?si=7c9da64eb9a44914 or waiting until next week, when we will rerelease it.
Contact us at www.calculate.org.au
Nadia’s website: https://emmaths.com.au
An NCTM article about teaching Maths for conceptual understanding: https://www.nctm.org/Publications/Mathematics-Teaching-in-Middle-School/2018/Vol24/Issue1/Promoting-a-Conceptual-Understanding-of-Mathematics/
Marcus discusses the importance of Context in Mathematics: https://calculate.org.au/2016/02/19/2498/
Jo Boaler highlights that learning number facts is not all about procedure, and in fact a conceptual approach is more effective: https://www.youcubed.org/evidence/fluency-without-fear/
Thursday Jun 02, 2022
Thursday Jun 02, 2022
Host Leanne McMahon sits down to talk with Kerryn Sandford, a mathematics educator and principal of a secondary school in Melbourne, about her thoughts on how we can ensure our students achieve success in mathematics.
This episode sponsored by AMSI's own ICE-EM textbook range: https://schools.amsi.org.au/ice-em-mathematics-textbooks/
We cover all manner of topics that she mentions in her article in the latest edition of MAV's "Common Denominator" which can be accessed here:
https://www.mav.vic.edu.au/Services-and-News/Common-Denominator-Magazine
Other topics covered are:
Out of Field Maths teachers: https://tinyurl.com/AMSIOoF Also keep an eye out for the Report from the National Summit on Teaching Out-of-field: Synthesis and Recommendations for Policy, Practice and Research. Due end of June 2022.
Year 12 mathematics participation report: https://tinyurl.com/AMSIMathsChoices
Explicit Instruction: https://tinyurl.com/ExplicitInstructionVicEd
Twitter: @AMSIschools
Contact us: https://calculate.org.au/mathstalk-podcast/
Friday Feb 04, 2022
Friday Feb 04, 2022
Happy New year and welcome to 2022!
In our first episode for the year, host Leanne McMahon talks to educator and digital guru Greg O'Connor from Texthelp. Greg poses some of the problems he sees in how our students are learning maths and suggests some solutions for overcoming these issues. Contact us at www.calculate.org.au or https://www.facebook.com/amsischools
Resources:
Contact Greg:
Email: g.oconnor@texthelp.com
Twitter @gregoconnor
Webpage: gregoryoconnor.com
Texthelp
EquatIO
https://www.texthelp.com/en-au/products/equatio/
EquatIO - Free for Teachers
http://text.help/freeforteachers
EquatIO For Schools/Universities - contact asiapac@texthelp.com
Other resources:
Early math skills predict later academic success
Australia’s Chief Scientist 2020 Australia's STEM Workforce Report
A couple of posts by Greg:
Literacy the real barrier to STEM uptake
Can educational technologies help to reverse Australia’s maths slump?
How should schools tackle the maths slump?
Research has shown that mathematics textbooks contain more concepts per sentence and paragraph than any other type of text.
Joan M. Kenney (2005) Literacy Strategies for Improving Mathematics Instruction, ASCD, 2005
STEM texts are often written above the grade level for which they are intended
Barton, M. L., Heidema, C., & Jordan, D. (2002). Teaching Reading in Mathematics and Science. Educational leadership, 60(3), 24-28. PDF
Does reading *really* matter in mathematics?
https://www.theconfidentteacher.com/2021/04/does-reading-really-matter-in-mathematics/
Readability with Rewordify
Monday Nov 08, 2021
Monday Nov 08, 2021
Host Leanne McMahon talks all things tutoring with a 'maths education novice.' We discuss the options available for tutoring from a parental perspective and then look at how teachers (and parents) can use the Tutor learning initiative in Victorian schools (and also available in other states) As a spoiler, we came to a conclusion that private tutoring should probably be sought out as an option only if the student is prepared to take an active part in their classes and seek help from their teacher or school-based programs. We discuss the difficulty that parents have in finding a good tutor and make some suggestions. (another spoiler: It's difficult and expensive in an unregulated industry.)
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Tutor Learning Initiative resources: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/tutor-learning-initiative/resources
Determining the impact of TLI : https://lens.monash.edu/@education/2021/11/05/1384024/the-tutor-learning-initiative-needs-be-open-to-learning-but-not-just-by-students
Assessment for common misunderstandings: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/discipline/maths/assessment/Pages/misunderstandings.aspx
English research into the use of teaching assistants in the classroom: https://www.evidenceforlearning.org.au/assets/Guidance-Reports/Teaching-Assistants/E4L-Guidance-Report-Teaching-Assistants-Sep-WEB.pdf *Note that this deals with teaching assistants - not trained teachers. In fact it highlights the need for trained teachers and reinforces the value of the TLI
Monday Aug 23, 2021
Monday Aug 23, 2021
MathsTalk returns with a two-part podcast featuring host, Leanne McMahon talking to maths leader and classroom teacher Cass Lowry about the proposed changes to the Australian Curriculum. In today's teabreak, we discuss the rationale behind the changes and the 'core concept organisers.' As usual, the discussions centre around our classroom and consultancy experience and we certainly welcome your input and insights.
The ACARA Maths Curriculum review documentation: https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/consultation/mathematics/
AMSI's response to the draft Curriculum: https://amsi.org.au/2021/07/08/amsi-responds-to-the-acara-australian-curriculum-review-consultation/
Open letter to ACARA organised by Greg Ashman (signatories included) https://mathematicalcrap.com/2021/06/02/open-letter-to-acara-and-the-acara-board/
Twitter: @AMSISchools
Facebook: @amsischools
CRA Model (discussed in Multiplication Matters podcast): https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-t28tv-1091dc2
Number Sense Podcast: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-fwt6r-dffa7f
Wednesday Jul 28, 2021
Wednesday Jul 28, 2021
Host Leanne McMahon and guest Cass Lowry talk about one of the most asked questions on Maths Education Social Media, "What intervention program is best?" We discuss the value of intervention in general and look at a couple of specific examples that we have used.
Resources:
English Research into the best use of Teaching assistants: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/tools/guidance-reports/making-best-use-of-teaching-assistants/
PISA and TIMMS Data: https://www.acer.org/au/timss https://www.acer.org/au/pisa
Parent Information: https://calculate.org.au/
18 x 5 video: https://www.youcubed.org/resources/stanford-onlines-learn-math-teachers-parents-number-talks/
Number Sense Podcast: https://mathstalk.podbean.com/e/developing-number-sense-in-young-children/
Monday Jul 19, 2021
Monday Jul 19, 2021
The release of the draft of the new Australian Curriculum in Mathematics has caused quite a stir. While this will be discussed in our next episode, we thought it timely to rerelease one of our most popular podcasts (edited for a quicker listen). It looks at why 'learning your tables' is not enough and how teachers can become more familiar with multiplicative thinking.
Host Marcus Garrett and AMSI Schools Outreach Officer Leanne McMahon discuss the difference between ‘knowing multiplication facts’ and ‘multiplicative thinking’. They chat about the developmental sequence of multiplication-related concepts from the early years through to the middle years in the Australian maths curriculum.
RELATED LINKS:
Friday May 07, 2021
Friday May 07, 2021
With all the talk about NAPLAN, it seems like a great time to revisit the idea of fluency.
Mathstalk will be back with new episodes in 2 weeks.
Host Leanne McMahon is joined by AMSI Outreach Officer and MathsTalk Twitter chat host, Cass Lowry to discuss the idea of Mathematical Fluency. This conversation stems from a #MathsTalk Twitter chat on the same topic held on November 12th 2020 that led to spirited debate and some great ideas. Links and resources can be found below and at www.Calculate.org.au
- Wakelet Collection #MathsTalk Fluencyhttps://wke.lt/w/s/x92941
- Jo Boaler (@joboaler) article: Fluency without Fear https://www.youcubed.org/evidence/fluency-without-fear/
- Katherin Cartwright (@kath_cartwright) research paper: Analyzing students’ communication and representation of mathematical fluency during group tasks https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0732312320300857?dgcid=author
- Primary Learning Website: https://primarylearning.com.au/
- Greg Fletcher (@gfletchy): Developing Fact Fluency Through Context https://summit.makemathmoments.com/talks/developing-fact-fluency-through-context/
- Dan Finkel (@MathforLove): Number Talks https://mathforlove.com/lesson/number-talks/
- Ollie Lovell (@ollie_lovell) book: Cognitive Load Theory in Action https://www.amazon.com.au/Oliver-Lovell/e/B08HRPFLDP/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1
- Calculate resources to help build mathematical fluency
- Bead Strings: https://calculate.org.au/2018/12/10/bead-strings/
- See & Say: https://calculate.org.au/2018/10/03/see-say/
- ROWCO: https://calculate.org.au/2018/09/26/rowco/
- Bunny Ears: https://calculate.org.au/2018/09/24/bunny-ears/
Monday Mar 29, 2021
Monday Mar 29, 2021
Nadia and Leanne continue their discussion about teaching mathematics for conceptual understanding. Today they delve into how Patterns and Algebra can be taught conceptually and then they get practical; discussing the thought process that goes into planning units.
For suggestions comments and ideas, please contact us at @AMSISchools on Twitter or Choosemaths@amsi.org.au
Resources from the podcast:
Patterns Lesson: https://calculate.org.au/year7/
Supporting Australian Mathematics Project: http://www.amsi.org.au/ESA_middle_years/Year7/Year7_md/Year7main.html
Geometry: https://calculate.org.au/measurement-and-geometry/
Algebra tiles: https://calculate.org.au/2019/03/27/algebratiles/