Place value is one of the 'big ideas' in number and plays a critical role in helping students develop their number sense, problem solving and computation skills. Yet, the elegant simplicity of our place value system belies the abstract nature of the construct. This paper presents data from 606 Year 3-6 students (ages 8-12) from two metropolitan…

In this paper, we present a case study of a secondary mathematics teacher, Isaac (pseudonym), and his considerations for teaching with multiple methods for solving missing-value problems. While his students preferred methods that drew more closely on their intuitive understanding of proportionality, Isaac emphasised the algorithmic…

Worldwide interest in Lesson Study (LS) and the opportunities offered for student learning through the use of a Structured Problem-Solving Approach (SPSA), as typically adopted in Japanese LS research lessons in mathematics, have left largely unanswered questions about the extent to which these can be replicated elsewhere. This paper presents a…

Curriculum change affords middle leaders opportunities for pedagogical and planning renewal. This paper reports case studies of two schools engaged in preparing for implementation of Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics. Drawing on interview data from a middle leader from each school, Bacchi's question, "What's the problem…

The primary school mathematics syllabuses in Singapore as of the year 2020 reinforces that Big ideas are central to the learning of mathematics. In support of the push to teach for big ideas, a research study is presently underway. A part of it is on the professional development (PD) of primary school mathematics teachers. As part of the PD…

Research shows that when students engage with mathematical inquiry their problem-solving skills are strengthened. Demands in the revised Australian curriculum raised problem-solving of new senior secondary mathematics assessment, specifically in Queensland Problem-solving and Modelling Tasks (PSMTs). The challenge for Queensland was to scale…

Problems presented in mathematics classrooms often focus on routine tasks with students practicing mathematical techniques demonstrated by the teacher. However, this does not reflect the problem-solving process in the real world, and students often find it difficult to connect school mathematics with authentic contexts. This paper discusses…

This study enquires into the embodied processes of children in solving multiplication tasks, considering how such processes can expand access to spatial reasoning skills and simultaneously develop students' understanding of multiplication. The analysis focused on four Year 2 students as they completed two embodied tasks. The aim was to understand…

Technology can play a pivotal role in mathematics education. Qualitative methods were used to report on how a Year 1-2 teacher incorporated "Conveyance technology" (iPads), to support the teaching and learning of mathematics through student reasoning and problem-solving. The study was conducted in Australia. A single case was chosen,…

In this paper, we report on the pedagogical actions of one teacher in eliciting and developing students' mathematical reasoning during one mathematics lesson. The findings illustrate that through the careful design and planning of a contextually relevant task (the construction of a manu tukutuku), and the implementation of specific teacher…

In the context of a multiplicative problem, our study investigated young children's ability to visualise and draw equal groups. This paper reports the results obtained from 18 Australian children in their first year of school (age 5-6 years). The task "12 Little Ducks," taught by their classroom teacher, provoked children to visualise…

This paper reports on two teachers' perceptions as part of a project examining the learning that took place when 9 and 10-year-old children used "ScratchMaths" in their programme. The project used design-based methodology, which incorporated video-recorded classroom excerpts, teacher interviews, and teacher analysis and review of their…

Research shows primary teachers report negative dispositions towards teaching mathematics, impacting their confidence and student outcomes. One approach to improve teacher and student enthusiasm is using picturebooks. While research supports the use of picturebooks in mathematics learning, specific guidance for teachers to implement this practice…

The current study compared the rate at which problem-based practice increased the use of retrieval-based strategies for students identified as displaying accurate min-counting with students identified as displaying almost proficient performance. The findings supported the prediction that the rate at which problem-based practice promoted retrieval…

Literature on learning trajectories is reviewed, and challenges in developing designs to support responsive instruction are highlighted. A distinctive form of design called a "multi-dimensional instructional framework" is introduced. These frameworks span key dimensions of mathematisation, such as notating and distancing the setting,…