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  

MathsTalk by AMSI Schools

Changes to the Australian Curriculum - Maths

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/ MAI: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/discipline/maths/assessment/Pages/mathsgrowthpoints.aspx

Interventions in Maths

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:  Download Transcript Multiplication Part 1 Multiplication Part 2 Multiplication Part 3 Multiplication and Division Multiplication of Whole Numbers Multiples, Factors and Powers 

ReRelease Multiplication Matters Part 1

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/ 

Rerelease - Fluency in Mathematics (Nov. 2020)

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: www.calculate.org.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/  

Conceptual Understanding Part 2

As a response to feedback on our recent Podcast, Conceptual Understanding, we have rereleased the podcast we referred to, "The Equals sign" Host Claire Embregts grabs a cuppa with AMSI Schools Outreach Officer Leanne McMahon to talk about the importance of the equals sign in Mathematics. We chat about the common misconceptions behind the equals sign and what teachers can do to avoid or rectify these misconceptions. Much of our discussion centres around a presentation from Max Stephens at the MERGA conference in 2006, a paper from which can be found here. https://merga.net.au/Public/Publications/Annual_Conference_Proceedings/2006_MERGA_CP.aspx Find more at www.Calculate.org.au

Rerelease: The Equals sign

In our first 'live' podcast for 2021, host, Leanne McMahon talks to Mathematics Consultant Nadia Abdelal. They discuss 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 is the first in a 2-part series on conceptual understanding in Mathematics and next week we will continue our discussion with a dive into teaching algebra for conceptual understanding. Contact us at www.calculate.org.au  Nadia's website: https://emmaths.com.au/index.html 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/ 

Conceptual Understanding: Primary to Secondary

Due to popular demand we are re-releasing the episodes from 2020 that look at starting the year in Mathematics. We'll be back very soon with fresh, exciting episodes for the new year.In the first Mathstalk series of the year, the team looks at starting the year in Mathematics. From setting up your classroom with resources, planning and delivering the best Maths lessons you can, to our favourite games, warmups and fun routines. In today's episode, host Marcus Garrett talks to Cass Lowry (primary) and Leanne McMahon (secondary) about what Maths Classrooms need. They discuss must-have manipulatives in both primary and secondary classrooms and also look at On-line resources and Text books.Related Links:Classroom ResourcesCounting ChartsBead StringsCuisenaire RodsPattern BlocksDecimatsLinear Arithmetic Blocks (LAB) [External link]Decimats: Helping students make sense of decimal place value (Anne Roche) [Article]Deciwire: An inexpensive alternative for constructing linear representations of decimals (Jenny Young-Loveridge & Judith Mills) [Article]

2021 Re-Release. Starting the Year. What Classrooms need.

In this Tea Break episode, host Claire Embregts is joined by AMSI Outreach Officer Anna Bock who shares some ideas and strategies that teachers can implement in the classroom to support their students with understanding the concept of Addition. We chat about some of the ideas that underpin Addition and the importance of providing practical situations with adding single digit numbers before moving to larger numbers. A range of links to resources are provided for teachers and parents.Links and resources can be found below and at www.Calculate.org.auFor Teachers:https://calculate.org.au/2018/09/14/building-number-sense-through-number-talks/

Addition

Leanne McMahon enlists the journalistic/Maths educator talents of Vicky Kennard and Cassandra Lowry to review some highlights of the 2020 Mathematics Association of Victoria Virtual Conference held on the 3rd and 4th of December. If you didn't manage to attend, our reviewers give some great insights into their learnings and provide links to resources that the speakers provided.Related Links:MAVCON 2020 Virtual Platform: https://mav.delegateconnect.co/Dr Paul Swan’s MAVCON resources: https://drpaulswan.com.au/mavcon/Dr Paul Swan’s website: https://drpaulswan.com.au/AMSI Calculate Subitising Cards: https://calculate.org.au/2020/07/21/subitising-cards/James Tanton’s website G’Day Math!: Pencil Pushing Task https://gdaymath.com/lessons/gmp/1-7-pencil-pushing-inspires-truth-nonetheless/James Tanton and Numberphile presenter James Grime demonstrating the International Mathematics Salute: https://youtu.be/gSMeawFz0SwJames Tanton's site: http://www.jamestanton.com/ Maths Teacher Circles Virtual Sessions 2021: https://mathsteachercircles.org.au/maths-teacher-circles-virtual-sessions-2021/Number Strings website: https://numberstrings.com/what-is-a-number-string/Craig Barton (Mr Barton’s Maths Podcast with Anne Watson and John Mason): http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/anne-watson-and-john-mason-variation-questioning-visualising-and-developing-mathematical-thinkers/CraigBarton’s Variation Theory: https://variationtheory.com/Supporting your child in Maths: https://calculate.org.au/supporting-your-child/Sherry Parrish: Number Talks. Whole Number Computation. Math Solutions Susalito CA. USA (2014)Ollie Lovell https://www.ollielovell.com/AMSI BCSGM Course: https://amsi-schools.appspot.com/building_capacity_for_sustaining_growth_in_mathematics/course Nadia Abdelal: https://emmaths.com.au/index.html Contact us via www.calculate.org.au 

MAV Conference Roundup

Leanne McMahon interviews Mathematics Association of Victoria Events Manager, Jacqui Diamond about the upcoming Virtual Conference. We discuss how Covid-19 has thrown a spanner in the works of one of the biggest events in the Australian Maths Education community's year and how Jacqui has devised ingenious ways of making the conference bigger and better. If you would like to contribute to the "LIVE" (not quite live) MAV Virtual Conference podcast as described in this podcast, share your MP3 or wav file, recorded on your phone (or wherever) using https://wetransfer.com to Leanne@amsi.org.au(sharing this way because they're often too big to email)While the conference is completely sold out, it's worth listening to the 'headline acts' and looking them up using the links below.James Tanton: http://www.jamestanton.com/Peter Sullivan: https://research.monash.edu/en/persons/peter-sullivanPaul Swan: https://drpaulswan.com.au/ 

MAV Virtual Conference Preview

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 at www.Calculate.org.au

Fluency in Mathematics

Host Claire Embregts grabs a cuppa with AMSI Schools Outreach Officer Leanne McMahon to talk about the importance of the equals sign in Mathematics. We chat about the common misconceptions behind the equals sign and what teachers can do to avoid or rectify these misconceptions. Much of our discussion centres around a presentation from Max Stephens at the MERGA conference in 2006, a paper from which can be found here. https://merga.net.au/Public/Publications/Annual_Conference_Proceedings/2006_MERGA_CP.aspxFind more at www.Calculate.org.au

The Equals Sign

Hosts Leanne McMahon and Michael O’Connor are  joined by Mike Clapper, former Executive Director and Chief Mathematician at the Australian Mathematics Trust, to talk about geometry and its importance in the Australian Curriculum. We cover everything from why we teach geometry and how to develop geometric reasoning in our students to packing your car boot on camping holidays. Mike has kindly provided some accompanying episode notes which will be available to download through our www.calculate.org.au website along with some links to other related resources.

Talking Geometry with Mike Clapper

Have you ever felt the urge to dip your toe in the murky waters of Twitter? In this episode, host, Leanne McMahon talks to Outreach Officer Cass Lowry about how to get started on Twitter and how it can be used as a part of your professional learning. We look at setting up your account, lurking, liking and finally getting involved in Twitter Chats - Especially ours! #MathsTalk 8pm AEST every Thursday.If you'd like further information, drop us an email at choosemaths@amsi.org.au or get onto our website www.calculate.org.au.Check out the following resources:Teachers on Twitter – Why you should join and how to get started: https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2017/apr/20/teachers-on-twitter-why-join-get-started-social-mediaEduTwitter Chats#TLAPdownunder – Sunday 8pm AEST#aussieED – Sunday 8.30pm AEST#MathsTalk – Thursday 8pm AEST#PrimarySTEMChat – Thursday 8.30pm AEST#whatisschool – Friday 9am AESTTips for managing a fast-paced Twitter chat (Craig Kemp): http://mrkempnz.com/2015/02/5-tips-for-managing-a-fast-paced-twitter-chat.htmlWhy you should switch from Twitter to Tweetdeck: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q1dKe891pw

Twitter for Maths Education

MathsTalk by AMSI Schools – where conversations in maths become part of your professional learning practice!