Publications by Australian Primary Mathematics ClassroomResent articles by the "Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom" from The Free Libraryhttp://www.thefreelibrary.comen-usFarlex, Inc.Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:57:41 GMT360Free Online Libraryhttp://www.thefreelibrary.comhttp://www.thefreelibrary.com/_/static/TFLbyFarlex.gif17565Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 Scaffolding students' thinking in mathematical investigations: Natalie McCosker and Carmel Diezmann draw some pertinent lessons about effective scaffolding from four episodes in which the teacher's attempts at scaffolding did not have the desired effects.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Scaffolding+students'+thinking+in+mathematical+investigations%3a...-a0210224590
Introduction

Mathematical investigations are loosely-defined, engaging problem-solving tasks that allow students to ask their own questions, explore their own interests and set their own goals (Jaworski, 1994). The value of investigations for students lies in their complexity. Scaffolding plays an important role in supporting students' high-level engagement by encouraging...]]>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 Time for talk: the drawing-telling process: Tracey Smith and Amy Macdonald describe how a combination of drawing and telling can help teachers better to discern and respond to students' developing understandings of clocks.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Time+for+talk%3a+the+drawing-telling+process%3a+Tracey+Smith+and+Amy...-a0210224589
Background

When children start school, they bring with them a variety of background skills and informal knowledge that can enrich their learning of new concepts and ideas. A major tenet of many learning theories is that the more children are able to connect a new concept with their existing knowledge and understandings, the more they feel confident and able to engage...]]>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 Writing in maths.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Writing+in+maths.-a0210224588
Following is a collection of ideas for incorporating writing in mathematics teaching.

Make a dictionary

Students write definitions or explanations of mathematical words or symbols in their own words. These can be collated and added to as the year progresses to form a class dictionary that all students can access as required, or students could create their own personal...]]>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 Cracking the NAPLAN code: numeracy and literacy demands: Thelma Perso examines the literacy demands of NAPLAN test items and provides advice about the explicit teaching of code-breaking and comprehension skills that are essential to numeracy.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Cracking+the+NAPLAN+code%3a+numeracy+and+literacy+demands%3a+Thelma+Perso...-a0210224587
Background

In May 2008, the first National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) test was administered across Australia to determine the standard of literacy and numeracy achievement of Australia's students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.

Some students did very well on the tests and some did not. For a number of reasons, I am not necessarily a supporter of...]]>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 Licorice production and manufacturing: all-sorts of practical applications for statistics: Jane Watson, Jane Skalicky, Noleine Fitzallen and Suzie Wright describe a rich task aimed at helping students from grade 1 to middle school appreciate the source of variation as they generate and examine their own data.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Licorice+production+and+manufacturing%3a+all-sorts+of+practical...-a0210224586
Among the practical applications of statistics is the collection of data from manufacturing processes. Often collected in the form of a time series, data collected from a series of measurements show the variation in those measurements, such as mass of a product manufactured. Limits are set for quality control and if these are exceeded then a decision is made about the process; perhaps it...]]>