Mathematics
Mathematics at Al Amanah College is a positive experience, in which our students develop confidence and a sense of achievement from what they learn.
Mathematics influences everyday personal, study and work situations. Learning mathematics involves building upon previous mathematical skills and understandings, making connections between mathematical ideas and generalising to form new ideas. Mathematical learning experiences provide an opportunity for students to develop their skills and understandings and apply these to other strands as well as to everyday life situations.
At Al Amanah College, students are provided with opportunities to learn about Mathematics through various activities including skills development, solving real-life problems, open-ended questions and participating in maths games.
Numeracy Curriculum
In teaching the Numeracy curriculum, we aim to allow students to:
- Develop a positive attitude towards mathematics
- Enable children to see the relevance of maths in everyday life
- Use concrete materials to help them learn how to solve problems
- Provide skills in interpreting and solving real-life problems
- Develop confidence and independence in all aspects of mathematics
The curriculum is broken down into the following areas:
- Number & Algebra
- Measurement & Geometry
- Statistics & Probability
Mathematics is linked to other areas of the curriculum and to the students’ everyday lives. At Al Amanah College we make Maths practical, where students have an opportunity to learn using a range of learning styles.
Maths lessons follow the structure: whole class, small group and whole class. Explicit instruction is still used, alongside much more active engagement of children working on their own investigations. Students are also assigned activities through an online Mathematics resource called Mathletics. Mathletics is designed to provide students with an engaging and safe learning experience. Targeted and adaptive content with structured support, plus gaming and rewards – all aligned to the achievement standards of the Australian primary maths curriculum.
Mathematics equips students with essential knowledge, understanding, and skills in numeracy and mathematical thinking. Through this subject, students develop refined mathematical fluency, reasoning, communication, analytical skills, and problem-solving abilities. These competencies empower students to approach both familiar and unfamiliar scenarios by applying strategies to make informed decisions and address problems that are relevant to their current and future needs.
By studying mathematics, students develop essential numeracy knowledge and skills and develop an understanding of concepts in:
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- Number and Algebra
- Measurement and Space
- Statistics and Probability
Students will develop an understanding and apply a range Working Mathematically interconnected processes:
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- communicating
- understanding and fluency
- reasoning
- problem solving
A student develops understanding and fluency in mathematics through:
- exploring and connecting mathematical concepts
- choosing and applying mathematical techniques to solve problems
- communicating their thinking and reasoning coherently and clearly.
Explicitly Teaching Mathematics
At Al Amanah College, explicit teaching is the primary instructional approach used to enhance student understanding and engagement in mathematics. Teachers deliver clear and concise instruction by modelling mathematical strategies and problem-solving processes in a step-by-step manner. Lessons incorporate visual aids, demonstrations, and guided practice to establish foundational skills before progressing to more complex independent tasks. Students receive regular feedback, allowing them to reflect and adjust their learning. This approach fosters both confidence and a collaborative classroom environment where students feel supported in their learning.
Maths Mastery (3-6)
At Al Amanah College, the Maths Mastery Series is a Direct Instruction program where students in Grades 3-6 complete daily mathematical questions.Maths Mastery Series is data drivenand a powerful diagnostic tool that maps student progress. Student responses enable feedback to specific target misunderstandings.
Outline of Maths Mastery program:
- maps student progress
- identifies precisely where and when students experience difficulty
- contains inbuilt assessment and correction procedures
- instils fluency and automaticity in fundamental math skills