Students at Westgarth participate in mathematics classes for one session each day. Students at learn in a variety of settings including like-ability and mixed-ability groups, as well as whole-class and individualised tasks. These groupings are informed by regular formal and informal assessments which are completed against the Victorian Curriculum.

Teachers at Westgarth Primary School strive to ensure that the mathematics program meets the needs of individual students, is fun, positive and based in real-life contexts. Students have access to a variety of physical and electronic resources to support their learning, using hands-on materials, games and mental strategies.

Westgarth students set learning goals in collaboration with their teachers to achieve learning targets based on what they already know, and what they understand they need to achieve. We believe that students are motivated to learn when they know their own abilities and understand the next steps to success.

Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC)

The Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) was introduced in Australia in 1978 as the first Australia-wide mathematics competition for students. The AMC is for Year 3 – 6 students of all standards. Students are asked to solve 30 problems in 60 minutes. The registration and payment form must be returned no later than Friday, 14 June. Students will then participate in the competition, under examination conditions, on Thursday, 1 August.

DEtv (YouTube)

DEtv employs a step-by-step approach to show current methodology for teaching mathematics. The clips are used as part of a professional development program for teachers. Visit: https://www.youtube.com/DEtvDonaldEddington

• Addition and subtraction wheel template (PDF)
• Multiplication and division wheel template (PDF)
• How to make the number fact wheels (YouTube clips)

Also see: Parent and carer education programs at Westgarth.

Resources for promoting mathematics/numeracy at home

• A maths dictionary for kids
  
  
• IXL maths
  
  
• Numeracy: Families working it out together (Early primary, PDF)
    Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training (2004)
• Numeracy: Families working it out together (Middle primary, PDF) 
    Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training (2004)
• Numeracy: Families working it out together (Upper primary, PDF)
    Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training (2004)
• 201 Literacy and maths tips to help your child (PDF)
    Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (2011)
• Parents Count Too: Helping your child with counting (PDF)
    NSW Department of Education and Training (2007)
• Parents Count Too: Helping your child with arithmetic (PDF)
    NSW Department of Education and Training (2007)
• Parents Count Too: Helping your child with mental calculations (PDF)
    NSW Department of Education and Training (2007)

youcubed at Stanford University

• Speed and  mathematics (YouCubed clip, Standford University)
• Mistakes and mathematics (YouCubed clip, Standford University)

Online resources to support early maths skills

Sequencing and Connecting numbers names, symbols and objects

• Number trains 1 – 10
  http://fusecontent.education.vic.gov.au/b36fb898-bdc4-4c94-aac0-4e75731d9253/p/index.html
• Number trains 1 – 20
  http://fusecontent.education.vic.gov.au/ba79ba54-a137-41f1-8a96-9ed31d7b80bf/p/index.html
• Number trains 30 – 50
  http://fusecontent.education.vic.gov.au/758963cb-383d-4bdc-8b89-f543f1c5896f/p/index.html
• Number trains 90 – 120
  http://fusecontent.education.vic.gov.au/9216675e-d39b-44ab-8230-b6b0975b9f9c/p/index.html

Trusting the count (Subitising)

• http://illuminations.nctm.org/Activity.aspx?id=3565

Developing number sense

• http://www.dreambox.com/teachertools

Professional articles about teaching mathematics

• Learning strategies for addition and subtraction facts: The road to fluency and license to think
    NCTM, Teaching children Mathematics (March 2004)
• Why children have difficulties mastering the basic number combinations and How to help them
    NCTM, Teaching children Mathematics (August 2006)
• Strengthening discussions
    NCTM, Teaching children Mathematics (December 2013/January 2014)