Hacking Maths

Our school is currently participating in maths PD this year. The focus is mainly on independent activities and ensuring that our reluctant or academically low learners are engaged. At my previous school I participated in a series of maths papers through the University of Auckland (from 2010-2012). The main focus of those papers being on instructional group teaching, including both number and strand maths. This year I'm looking forward to further exploring and experimenting with how to improve the activities that my independent groups are working on. 

At the beginning of this year I was handed a stack of maths text books for my students to use. I don't doubt that there's valuable content in there, but I think it's about time maths had a makeover. In the 21st century do independent maths activities always have to consist of tidy, ruled books and activities completed from a text book? I think not. 

Independent maths activities in my classroom have always been reasonably hands on. I've previously included game boxes with knowledge practise activities, iPad apps that have been used to reinforce basic facts, as well as a follow up activity from their instructional group session. Maths in our class isn't a quiet time. It's a time for discussion, problem solving, collaborative learning, hands on activities, reflection and sharing. 

I've been lucky to be given five iPads for my class, as well as to have had a maths facilitator come into my class to model a variety of hands on independent activities. The activities included games that used a variety of equipment outside e.g. a tag game with foam 'islands', frisbees to practise basic facts etc. 

My goal is to further improve the quality of maths programme by doing the following: 

• Most of the children in my target group for maths are also in my target reading and writing groups. Because of this I want to ensure that maths time doesn't become a reading or writing challenge. Therefore; I plan on including more hands on activities e.g. inside maths games using cards, dice, game boards, outside games, iPad apps etc. I also want to ensure that these activities are specific to their maths knowledge hot spots.
• Hacking the way that maths books are set up. I work at a decile 9 school and book work is held in high regard. I shared my concern with my team leader that my kids had very little in the way of book work in their maths books, due to the learning being so hands on. They had the odd follow up activity that had been completed in their books, as well as we're starting to use group modeling books. He was very supportive and open to suggestions. As a result I'm in the process of creating a new maths book template for our syndicate to use. Basically when the children learn a new independent game or activity they will be required to write the learning intention in their book. Underneath photos or a diagram of the activity will be glued in and the children will write a set of instructions on how to play the game. This also acts as a resource that the child can refer back to. If a group completes a hands on activity for their independent activity they will be expected to record their learning intention, what the activity was and then reflect on their learning at the end of the session. I'm looking forward to trialing this new system. 
• To teach my students how to reflect on their learning. We are going to trial building reflection time into the end of each maths session. Most children will write a written reflection, while some will have the option of voice recording their reflections using an iPad or voice thread. The child will then create a QR code that links to their recording. The QR code will be pasted into their maths book. 
• To make time to connect with the groups of children who are working independently, on a more regular basis. 
• We use Maths Whizz as part of our independent programme. My aim is to weekly review this to identify which areas individual children are finding challenging, so I can further support them. 
• To effectively use the five iPads in my classroom to support my target students, during their independent work. This may be done in a variety of ways, but could include using apps such as Squeebles, Maths Slide or Multi-touch Maths. More importantly, I want to see children creating content e.g. creating a movie of an independent game to teach another group, using Educreations to demonstrate a new strategy they've learnt or using Popplet or Puppet Pals to show their learning. 
• I've also been watching some of Dan Meyer's YouTube clips and am inspired to include more real life problems in my maths programme. Have a look at the clip below.