Numeracy

Numeracy is the capacity, confidence and disposition to use mathematics to meet the demands of learning, school, home, work, community and civic life.

This perspective on numeracy emphasises the key role of applications and utility in learning the discipline of mathematics, and illustrates the way that mathematics contributes to the study of other disciplines.

Students need to have the necessary skills to engage with the mathematical demands of the curriculum. In contemporary society, mathematics has a fundamental role in enabling cultural, social and technological advances and empowering individuals as critical citizens.

Through the teaching of Mathematics, we endeavour to enhance all students’ natural curiosity about the world around them and develop and preserve an interest in, and enjoyment of, mathematics, as well as develop the fundamentals on which mathematical specialties and professional applications of mathematics are built.

The Catholic Education Office, in partnership with schools, leaders and teachers from primary and secondary schools, aims to improve the mathematical understandings and numeracy skills of all students in Catholic schools.

Through the collaborative efforts of The Catholic Education Office, schools, leaders, teachers, and the community we will:

• ensure teachers have the required content knowledge and pedagogical knowledge for effective professional practice to improve student learning outcomes in mathematics.
• promote the need for teachers to provide a comprehensive challenging mathematics curriculum for all students
• build on differentiated learning to enable identification of students’ learning needs through assessment for learning practices and then to build quality learning experiences that meet and extend the needs of each learner
• reinforce teachers are familiar with language as a key variable in learning, providing appropriate scaffolding in language (both home and Standard Australian English) to build bridges between the home and school
• provide a diverse and extensive range of learning resources to assist all staff with the implementation of the mathematics curriculum
• support schools to implement a variety of assessment tools to access students prior knowledge and growth in learning.
• deliver a wide array of comprehensive and ongoing professional learning for all staff in mathematics
• advance the capacity of school Principals, Assistant Principals, Curriculum Coordinators, Data Informed Practitioners, Mathematics Coordinators and leaders to effectively interpret and monitor school improvement data in mathematics
• assist all Catholic schools to make informed decisions for continual improvement in mathematics