Through explicit instruction, guided practice and purposeful student engagement, we strive to develop confident, capable and curious mathematicians at Holy Spirit Primary School.
Our Mathematics program focuses on developing the skills and knowledge students need for everyday life and future learning, while fostering the Mathematics proficiencies of Understanding, Fluency, Reasoning and Problem Solving.
At Holy Spirit, we prioritise…
- Number and Place Value: Understanding how to read, write, count, compare, order, rename, represent and calculate with a range of numbers
- Automaticity: The ability to work accurately and efficiently with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts
- Concrete Pictorial Abstract (CPA) model: progression between use of Concrete materials (handling physical objects), Pictorial (using visual representations), and Abstract (solving with symbols/numbers)
- Teaching conceptual and procedural knowledge together to deepen conceptual understanding with procedural fluency.
- Problem Solving: Applying mathematical knowledge in a variety of contexts through explicit teaching of problem-solving strategies
Our classrooms reflect the MACS Vision for Engagement by creating learning environments where students are active participants in their learning, collaborate with others, explain their thinking and constantly practice their skills.
Intervention/Extension
We offer specialised programs to support the diverse needs of students in Mathematics, including:
Getting Ready in Numeracy (GRIN)
Getting Ready in Numeracy (GRIN) is an evidence-based intervention program supporting students at risk of falling behind in Mathematics. GRIN recognises the challenges students face when gaps in learning emerge and prepares children with the vocabulary and prior knowledge required to successfully access daily Mathematics lessons. The program is informed by cognitive load theory and provides targeted support to build confidence and understanding.
Additional Intervention programs
- Individual and small group support for students developing number fluency through focused and intensive “number dives”
- Responsive teaching and intervention informed by assessment data and student needs
We also provide extension opportunities for students working at a higher level in Mathematics, including:
Extension
- Extension tasks and flexible learning groups within regular Mathematics lessons
- Participation in the Australian Maths Trust Maths Challenge for students in Years 4–6 – a national problem-solving challenge completed over several weeks, encouraging critical thinking and perseverance in Mathematics