Teachers need to figure out maths
Helping early childhood educators overcome their difficulties with maths could be the key to improving students’ performance, an Edith Cowan University researcher says.
The key to improving Australian school students’ maths performance could be through helping early childhood educators overcome their own difficulties with maths, according to an Edith Cowan University researcher.
Marianne Knaus from ECU’s school of education said a recent study of three early childhood education centres in Perth found 17 out of 21 educators had a negative view of maths and were not confident teaching it. After professional development sessions 13 of the 21 were able to teach some mathematical concepts.
Australia rates poorly compared with other OECD countries in its level of maths skills for children aged three to five.
She said children of those ages needed “intentional teaching to expose them to concepts they may not learn through spontaneous play”.
For example a child playing in a sandpit could be asked which bucket of sand was heavier.
Dr Knaus said play-based learning was effective and it was disturbing that the NAPLAN test was moving Australian schools towards rote learning in maths, while children in China were shifting to more play-based and hands-on learning.
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