20 November 2007

Thirty outstanding numeracy programs across Sydney's Catholic school system will be on display in the second annual Archdiocesan Numeracy Showcase next week. 

The symposium will give schools an opportunity to highlight and share their innovative ideas, commitment and enthusiasm with teaching colleagues and the wider community at a one-day expo at the Waterview Convention Centre, Olympic Park on Monday 26 November. 

These innovative and diverse strategies are making a real difference each day to engage young students across all levels of schooling, making counting and adding an enjoyable learning experience.

Among those presenting their innovative numeracy strategies will be St Raphael's Primary school at South Hurstville, which embarked on a ten-week initiative to engage years 5 and 6 students in real life tasks and help them take ownership over their learning and become better problem solvers. 

Numeracy project Officer Rosemary Vellar says over 50 Mathematics teachers across Sydney's Catholic schools have been developing best practice models by thinking creatively about numeracy learning for Years 5 to 8 students as part of the 'Celebrating Achievements, Thinking Solutions' mathematics program launched two years ago.

"They have improved their teaching and have raised expectations of what students can achieve," she said.

Mandi Brooker, Mathematics teacher at the Bethany College, Kogarah says her classroom is now more industrious with the "lower performing students being challenged more and not left behind".
 "I've moved away from lecture mode and onto peer-to-peer teaching. This has given each student more individual attention as they work through a topic at their own pace and ability level," she said.

Earlier this year, Holy Family Primary, Menai was recognised among the nation's top 15 award-winning schools for its numeracy strategy, embarking on a program to improve results and target areas requiring intervention for years 3 and 5 students.

The school appointed a part-time numeracy co-ordinator, established a project team, increased resources and completed a review of its teaching programs so that it could approach numeracy education as a whole school endevour.

The school was the first primary school in Sydney's Catholic school system - and the only school in NSW - to win the top numeracy excellence award and $10,000 in the 2007 National Literacy and Numeracy Week Excellence Awards for Schools.

Principal Mrs Cathy Forrester says since the program began in 2003, the number of students engaged in numeracy learning has increased significantly, with numeracy results in the school's Basic Skills Tests showing a learning gain of 20.7 per cent from years 3 to 5.

Recent results for students in year 3 were 5.2 percent higher than the state average and 8.0 per cent higher for students in year 5.

To see numeracy in action, or for more information, contact Education Officer Rosemary Vellar
on (02) 9568 8466.