Reflect on mathematics education, the Early Years Learning Framework, and the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics. Discuss the importance of mathematics teaching and learning, and positive dispositions towards mathematics.
Math provides children with an effective means of communication. They learn to use symbols, graphs, and spoken and written language to discuss and describe their ideas. Math promotes interest, encourages imagination, and provides children with the skills they would need in life after school (mathematics in the Primary Curriculum, n.d.).
Early Years Learning framework (EYLF) was developed by the Council of Australian Governments to assist teachers in providing children with an opportunity to maximise their potential and build an opportunity for sustainable learning success. EYLF provides a framework for ensuring that children in all early childhood education and care receive the highest education. It creates a strong focus on play-based learning and highlights the importance of social and emotional development as well as communication and language (including early literacy and numeracy) (Belonging, Being and Becoming. The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia, 2009).
The mathematics Syllabus provides students with the opportunity to enhance their mathematical knowledge, comprehension, and abilities, as well as their ability to work mathematically (“Mathematics | NSW Education Standards”, 2021). Number and Algebra, Measurements and Geometry, and Statistics and Probability are the three material strands that the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics interprets. They are accompanied by four skill strands that illustrate how mathematics can be taught and learned. Explain how content is examined or generated, using the proficiencies of comprehension, fluency, problem-solving, and reasoning. To provide a significant basis for the advancement of ideas in the learning of mathematics, the strands have been incorporated into the content definitions of the three content strands. This approach has been used to ensure that students’ mathematical skills develop and become more advanced as they progress through education (“Mathematics proficiencies”, 2021).
Numeracy refers to the intelligence, abilities, behaviours, and attitudes that students must possess to use mathematics effectively in a variety of circumstances. It entails recognising and comprehending mathematics’ place in the world, as well as possessing the dispositions and capacities to apply mathematical knowledge and skills purposefully (“Numeracy for all learners”, 2021).
Many Australian schools employ mathematics deceptive materials such as counters and Base Ten Blocks. The use of deceptive materials in the teaching of mathematics tends to be an unquestioned fact, which is backed up by the mathematics manipulatives industry. Teachers who are low of time and under pressure are either searching for a magic manipulative to fix all of their problems with teaching a specific subject, such as fractions, or have discarded manipulatives entirely in favour of textbooks (Marshall & Swan, 2008).
Haylock. mathematics in the Primary Curriculum [Ebook] (p. 1). Retrieved from https://uk.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/34247_Haylock_chapter_2.pdf
Department Document. (2009). Belonging, Being and Becoming. The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia [Ebook] (p. page 5). Australia. Retrieved from https://www.acecqa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-02/belonging_being_and_becoming_the_early_years_learning_framework_for_australia.pdf
Mathematics | NSW Education Standards. (2021). Retrieved 21 March 2021, from https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/k-10/learning-areas/mathematics
Mathematics proficiencies. (2021). Retrieved 21 March 2021, from https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/resources/mathematics-proficiencies/
Numeracy for all learners. (2021). Retrieved 23 March 2021, from https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/discipline/maths/Pages/numeracy-for-all-learners.aspx
Marshall, L., & Swan, P. (2008). Exploring the Use of Mathematics Manipulative Materials: Is it What we think it is? [Ebook] (p. 2). Edith Cowan University. Retrieved from https://ro.ecu.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://hayleyluke00.medium.com/edma241-first-reflection-entry-15dae150feaf&httpsredir=1&article=1032&context=ceducom
