Strength In Numbers

Middle leadership might just be the hardest job in school - not because the role itself is impossible, but because so few leaders are ever truly prepared for what it demands. In this episode, Allan sits down with Darius Samojlowicz, Executive Officer of the Mathematics Association of New South Wales, for an honest and practical conversation about what it really means to lead from the middle. Dariu...

Astrophysicist and former Women in STEM Ambassador Lisa Harvey-Smith joins Allan Dougan to explore why mathematics matters more than ever — in science, education, and society. From modelling galaxies to understanding artificial intelligence, Lisa explains how maths sits at the heart of discovery, even when scientists aren’t consciously using equations every day. She reflects on her jou...

What is mathematics education actually for? Tom Mahoney, numeracy learning specialist, secondary mathematics educator, and PhD candidate in educational philosophy at Deakin University joins AAMT CEO Allan Dougan to explore this deceptively simple but powerful question. Importantly, this episode is not about prescribing a “right” ideology. Instead, it encourages teachers to reflect crit...

Practical advice for mathematics leaders who feel constrained by context, reminding listeners that changing practice in even one classroom matters, and that meaningful leadership often grows incrementally. AAMT CEO, Allan Dougan discusses with Matt how to model leadership in schools, and whether leadership should focus on changing practice rather than changing people. This episode is a thoughtful...

Kylie Stone is a WA primary teacher whose passion for mathematics teaching has been shaped through almost two decades of working across regional and metropolitan schools. Kylie shares how she builds confident, flexible mathematicians by focusing on journey over destination , prioritising strategy selection, and creating a warm, engaging environment where every student can access maths meaning...

Challenges teaching at a culturally diverse and economically disadvantaged school, building an action plan, gathering quality data, and overcoming the language barrier with a universal language: mathematics. Dandenong Primary’s Assistant Principal, Terri Truscott, and AAMT’s Education Specialist, Denise Halliday, explore lessons learned in the process of implementing concepts from Pete...

Guest host  Denise Halliday speaks with Leanne West and Vicky Schavoni , two passionate maths educators who joined the AAMT’s 2024 North American Study Tour. Together, they reflect on what they learned visiting classrooms in Chicago and Calgary , attending the NCTM Conference , and connecting with teachers and leaders across the continent. From building thinking classrooms and vertical...

For Sam Ayre , mathematics isn’t just about numbers—it’s a language for thinking, reasoning and communicating. In this lively discussion with Allan Dougan , Sam describes how he helps students find confidence and voice in maths through classroom talk, group problem-solving, and conceptual understanding. He also offers advice for teachers wanting to make small, sustainable changes...

Maths enrichment, identifying student progress, the YMSA competition, and early career challenges. Trinity Grammar’s Mathematics Specialist, Jessica Zhu, joins AAMT’s Education Specialist, Denise Halliday, to discuss all things maths enrichment: open vs closed ended tasks, fighting against the forgetting curve, engendering maths creativity in students, the YMSA competition, Pi Day, and...

The power of mini whiteboards, call and respond, quality multiple choice diagnostic questions, and other tools to gather reliable data from the classroom quickly. Host of the 'Mr Barton Maths' podcast, Head of Education at Eedi, author of 'How I Wish I'd Taught Maths', and creator of countless mathematics teaching websites, Craig Barton, joins Strength in Numbers to discuss effective ways to devel...

Whether you’re in the classroom, leading a team, or shaping policy, Season 4 is about unpacking what matters most in maths education—and why. Together, we’ll explore; how data can inform responsive teaching, the role of rich tasks and open-ended challenges in building Thinking Classroom, turning assessment into agency and curriculum into culture This season, we dive deeper into t...

The AAMT’s position paper “Pedagogy in Mathematics,” giving teachers back their voice, maintaining appropriate challenge, and how to get the most value from the paper.  Professor of mathematics education and AAMT’s board chair, Catherine Attard, joins Strength in Numbers to discuss the recently published position paper “Pedagogy in Mathematics,” a framework...

AAMT’s study tour to the NCTM conference, ICME 15, the Focus on Maths grant program, and the Pedagogy in Mathematics paper. Mathematics Education Specialist at AAMT, Denise Halliday, joins Alan for a retrospective on the AAMT’s busy 2024, including events such as a study tour to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics conference in Chicago, the National Summit on Aboriginal and...

Situating the curriculum in real life to engage students, giving purpose to learning, teaching that real data is never perfect, the value of not having the right answer as a teacher, and much more. Founder of the Australian Data Science Education Institute, author of Raising Heretics, PhD in Computer Science Education, and passionate educator, Dr Linda McIver joins Allan to discuss best practices...

The power of AI as a teaching aid, how to ethically use AI and ChatGPT as a thinking partner, content generator, and consumer of data. Co-CEO of Tutero, Joey Moshinski, and Education Specialist at AAMT, Denise Halliday join Allan to talk about the benefits, challenges, limitations, and ethics of using AI large language models as a tool to improve the teaching of mathematics, as well as challenges...

The value of mathematical empathy, combatting societal perceptions about mathematics, meeting students where they are in order to understand them, and more. PhD Candidate and author of “Contemplating the Role of Mathematical Egotism”, Rebecca Burtenshaw joins Allan for a conversation on mathematical egotism, Rebecca’s journey from “disillusioned with mathematics” to PhD candidate in maths educatio...

Student engagement, #lessonstarter, engaging students with concrete materials, supporting pre-service and early career teachers, and getting out of your comfort zone. Legendary Alice Springs based teacher, teacher educator, and maths consultant Matt Skoss shares with Allan his keys to student engagement, pedagogy choice, teaching mathematical collaboration, transitioning students from concrete to...

The accessibility and power of CODAP, finding the right tools to teach statistics, mining for dataset gold, linking students' lived experiences to statistics, and embracing the specificity of statistics. Director of Learning Analytics and Technology at Loreto College, Timothy Bond chats with Allan about teaching statistics to students, his journey from avoiding statistics to loving it, the benefit...

How playfulness in the classroom can help get through content more quickly, help students communicate difficulties, and motivate them to be more engaged and excited about mathematics. Australian Education Awards 2023’s Rising Star of the Year, Stephanie Thomas, joins Allan to share her unique approach to teaching her Specialist Mathematics and year 11/12 General Mathematics classes. She explains h...

Reasoning boards, building confidence in teachers and students alike, avoiding pitfalls in pre-assessment, breaking down “right or wrong” thinking, and encouraging productive classroom discussion. Creator of Reasoning Boards, author of articles in both Prime Number and APMC Voluma 28, Donna McNeight joins the season 3 return of Strength in Numbers to help spread confidence in mathematics, effectiv...

The maths education pedagogy war, the role of questioning, inquiry based teaching, pedagogical paralysis, developing students who appreciate mathematics, and more. President of the American NCTM and 8th grade teacher of over 25 years, Kevin Dykema, and AAMT’s own president and maths education academic, Catherine Attard, join Allan to talk about the challenges universal to mathematics teaching rega...

The Strength in Numbers podcast is back for its highly anticipated third season, and this time, we're diving deep into the heart of mathematics education. Join us as we hear from a diverse array of guests – from seasoned educators to renowned experts and academics – who unpack the challenges facing modern mathematics education. Whether you're an educator, a parent, or simply someone who wants to u...

Extending students creatively with the National Maths Talent Quest, the value of slow mathematics, contextualising theory with practice, how cybersecurity can engage students in mathematics, and the Maths Book Club WA. 2023 Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools recipient, Donna Buckley shares her expertise and experience on engaging students via challenges,...

Evidence-based thinking vs assumption-based thinking, the power of front-loading, and what a PLC even is. Nichols Point Primary School teachers Annie and Beck, along with Teaching and Learning Manager at Essential Assessment, Jacinta Browning join the podcast to talk about how they have utilised Essential Assessment to drive community wide improvement cycles, used a PLC as a vehicle for student-le...

Using storytelling as a teaching tool, the value of the relationship between student and lesson, hit YouTube channel MisterWootube, and the unique approach of the Mathematics Growth Team. Professor of Practice at the University of Sydney, published author, TED speaker, TV host on ABC and Channel 10, and Mister Wootube himself, Eddie Woo joins this episode of the podcast to share the many lessons h...