Mathematics Education: Primary 1 (EDUC91080)

This subject provides an introduction to teaching mathematics in Victorian primary schools. Teacher Candidates will develop mathematical content knowledge and mathematical pedagogical content knowledge for the effective teaching and learning of Number and Algebra using the four proficiency strands from the Australian/Victorian Curricula. Teacher Candidates will analyse the development of key concepts in primary mathematics and identify critical progression points for children’s learning. They will consider children’s conceptual development of Number constructs. Teacher Candidates will be introduced to assessment tools for children’s understanding to improve school students’ learning in the content strand Number and Algebra.

Teacher Candidates will reference Victorian and Australian curriculum documents and resources when lesson planning, administering classroom assessment and implementing effective teaching strategies. Teacher Candidates will consider important pedagogical issues such as: use of resources (including ICT), models of mathematical concepts, as well as explicit teaching and questioning. Teacher Candidates will explore how to differentiate in the mathematics classroom and engage in the Clinical Teaching Model to target teaching to differing needs of individual students.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, Teacher Candidates should be able to:

• Display proficiency of the applicable Number and Algebra topics and their everyday applications which are relevant to primary teaching or are necessary to be personally numerate.
• Understand how children construct mathematical knowledge, skills and conceptual understanding in the area of Number and Algebra.
• Uses a range of classroom resources, including ICT, for teaching Number and Algebra, using teaching strategies that support managing classroom activities and promoting effective classroom communication.
• Plan, structure, sequence and evaluate Number and Algebra topics, developing teaching strategies and relating them to learning outcomes in response to all students' needs.
• Interpret assessment data and evidence to make sound clinical judgments about teaching interventions for individual students and reflect on the impact of teaching on learning outcomes.
• Identify learning goals that provide achievable challenges for individual students and select appropriate strategies to differentiate teaching to meet specific needs of those students.

Generic skills