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Talking about mathematics: summary
The most dominant aspect of discussion was mathematics and here the main changes were:
from discussion of coverage of topics, and tasks to 'deliver' learning, to thinking more deeply about how to teach maths better
from physical materials: worksheets, powerpoint slides, etc. to what the focus of presentation and discussion might be
from meetings being directed by HoD to being collegial (in one school collegiality was a feature from the start)
The following were typical issues for discussion:
- What 'understanding' means in different topics
- How to focus on understanding in specific topics
- What language to use
- What metaphors and models to use
- In what order to present ideas
- How students might connect ideas to prior and future knowledge
- How to provide tasks and structures so that facts to be learnt were embedded in activity
- Whether teachers could and should always provide spatial representations as well as symbolic ones
- Whether tasks can serve the joint purposes of indicating connection between mathematical ideas and development of fluency
