Australia’s Best Teachers: Maths teacher figuring out best way to engage students

Mitcham Primary School maths co-ordinator Laura Scriven is on a mission to inspire students and create valuable life skills.

When Mitcham Primary School students say they don’t like maths or they are not good at maths, it is likely their view will not last long.

For maths co-ordinator and Year 6 teacher Laura Scriven understands a student’s interest and ability in maths often comes down to their mindset towards the subject.

By encouraging a growth mindset and resilience, she not only inspires students to enjoy the

much-maligned subject but is also opening doors to their futures.

She said maths taught life skills and habits that young people would need to keep moving forward in an ever-changing world.

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“I really love working with children and instilling the idea that everyone can be a mathematician,” she said.

“By having positive language and positive mindsets towards maths, the students know that no matter who they are and what their past experience with maths has been, they all have the ability to be successful learners with the right strategies and the right support around them.

“Instead of a child saying, ‘Oh, I don’t enjoy maths, it’s not been something that I’m great at’, we could change that to ‘I haven’t had success in maths yet but I look forward to seeing what I could do this year’.

Mitcham Primary School maths co-ordinator Laura Scriven. Picture: Russell Millard

“There is no greater joy than when you have a child who walks in at the start of the year and they say, ‘Oh, maths isn’t my strong point’ and then a few weeks in they see maths on the schedule for the day and they go, ‘Oh, I can’t wait for that lesson, what are we going to do?’

“Seeing that change in them and their attitude towards maths just gives me such a great sense of pride.”

Ms Scriven, 28, starts each lesson with related warm-up activities and games to help her

students relax and experience success in maths before tackling the core content. For example, playing a game with dice and a deck of cards can hone numeracy skills such

as addition as well as help students to see maths as fun.

“These activities encourage students to discuss their mathematical thinking and work

collaboratively, creating a lively and energetic atmosphere in the classroom,” she said.

“My students often ask to continue playing the games once the timer runs out because

they’re having so much fun and feeling confident in their mathematical learning, often without

even realising it.”

Mitcham Primary School maths co-ordinator Laura Scriven with students. Picture: Russell Millard

Ms Scriven said the mindset technique was at the forefront of her teaching but it was also something she aimed to embed within her students to use in any classroom as well as beyond school.

“You look at the jobs and the roles which people are moving into in society and that ability to problem solve, to have resilience, to have that mindset and a ‘go get it’ attitude are incredibly important qualities that our young people are going to need moving forward,” she said.

“So that’s where my passion comes for maths, it’s making sure that we are preparing our students for the world after school, too.”

Ms Scriven was drawn to the teaching profession because she enjoys working with young people and watching them achieve their goals.

Early on, she became particularly interested in literacy, numeracy and the curriculum, which ignited her passion for maths.

Now, Ms Scriven is also mentoring pre-service teachers and encourages them to build strong relationships with their students as well as their parents and community so that everyone can work together towards success.

Originally published as Australia’s Best Teachers: Maths teacher figuring out best way to engage students