MathsTalk by AMSI Schools

A replay of the special episode to celebrate International Maths Day. Host Leanne McMahon talks to AMSI CHOOSEMATHS award winners Elizabeth Dewar and Ryan Jellie. We discuss the changes that they've made to the teaching of Maths at Boneo Primary School and how these changes have affected their students. Former AMSI School Advisor Marcus Garrett joins Leanne in a road trip to Boneo to talk to the s...

Host Leanne McMahon has a long awaited discussion with Maths educator and former AMSI Schools Mathematics Advisor Cass Lowry about great Maths activities that are flexible enough to be done in the classroom, in hybrid mode or via remote learning. This conversation took place when schools were moving to remote learning daily and teachers needed to be able to switch easily and without taking hours i...

Host, Leanne McMahon catches up with highly experienced mathematics educator and founder of  Maths Teacher Circles in Australia, Michaela Epstein to discuss how Problem Solving in classrooms of all year levels can be effective and collaborative. We discuss how teachers can go about incorporating problem solving into their classroom practice and how to structure these activities. We also look at th...

The Grattan Institute recently released a report looking at the benefits of a coordinated, whole-school approach to planning, which carefully sequences learning of key knowledge and skills across subjects and year levels. In this episode, Leanne McMahon (AMSI) and Nadia Abdelal from EM Maths discuss the significance of this report and how the recommendations would play out in schools. Naturally we...

After feedback from our audience, we have cleaned up the audio for this episode to make it infinitely more listenable! Host Leanne McMahon sits down to talk with Kerryn Sandford, a mathematics educator and principal of a secondary school in Melbourne, about her thoughts on how we can ensure our students achieve success in mathematics. This episode sponsored by AMSI's own ICE-EM textbook range: htt...

Host Leanne McMahon talks to Teacher education expert and former AMSI Outreach Officer, Helen Booth about the 'elephant in the room' for many primary teachers, Maths Anxiety. We look at its origins, how it may manifest itself and the effect it can have on our students. Secondary school maths teachers will also be interested in this topic, as they may have remnants of MA themselves, or could be ask...

In our special episode aimed at Senior Mathematics students and their teachers, host, Leanne McMahon talks to the highly respected mathematics educator Vicky Kennard about how these students can use the last few weeks before the exams to maximise their chances of success. We look at where you should be at this stage and very importantly what to do if you're not there yet. ICE-EM Textbooks: https:/...

This is the first in a two part series, directed at all who teach and learn Mathematics. Host, Helen Booth talks with respected educator Vicky Kennard about the science of learning maths and how this can be put into practice by both teachers and students. They delve into study methods, learning theories, growth mindset and a plethora of other aspects of Maths learning.  This will be a great episod...

Host, Leanne McMahon welcomes Marcus Garrett, former MathsTalk host and current Learning Solutions Designer at RMIT Online to discuss the idea that digital mindsets which are underpinned by mathematics, are the key to unlocking opportunities for young people in the jobs market, opportunities in life and also opportunities for the Australian economy. Deloitte Access Economics and RMIT Online conclu...

Popular demand sees us re-releasing part 2 of our conceptual understanding podcast, one of the most downloaded of all of our episodes. In it, Nadia and Leanne continue their discussion about teaching mathematics for conceptual understanding. Today they delve into how Patterns and Algebra can be taught conceptually and then they get practical; discussing the thought process that goes into planning...

By popular demand, we bring you Maths consultant Nadia Abdelal, talking in 2021 about the importance of teaching for conceptual understanding, and why it needs to be extended into secondary classes. This is a must-listen for primary and secondary teachers alike and will hopefully stimulate some real discussion in staffrooms across Australia and the world. It was the first in a 2-part series on con...

Host Leanne McMahon sits down to talk with Kerryn Sandford, a mathematics educator and principal of a secondary school in Melbourne, about her thoughts on how we can ensure our students achieve success in mathematics. This episode sponsored by AMSI's own ICE-EM textbook range: https://schools.amsi.org.au/ice-em-mathematics-textbooks/   We cover all manner of topics that she mentions in her article...

Happy New year and welcome to 2022! In our first episode for the year, host Leanne McMahon talks to educator and digital guru Greg O'Connor from Texthelp. Greg poses some of the problems he sees in how our students are learning maths and suggests some solutions for overcoming these issues. Contact us at www.calculate.org.au or https://www.facebook.com/amsischools   Resources: Contact Greg: Email:...

Host Leanne McMahon talks all things tutoring with a 'maths education novice.' We discuss the options available for tutoring from a parental perspective and then look at how teachers (and parents) can use the Tutor learning initiative in Victorian schools (and also available in other states) As a spoiler, we came to a conclusion that private tutoring should probably be sought out as an option only...

MathsTalk returns with a two-part podcast featuring host, Leanne McMahon talking to maths leader and classroom teacher Cass Lowry about the proposed changes to the Australian Curriculum. In today's teabreak, we discuss the rationale behind the changes and the 'core concept organisers.' As usual, the discussions centre around our classroom and consultancy experience and we certainly welcome your in...

Host Leanne McMahon and guest Cass Lowry talk about one of the most asked questions on Maths Education Social Media, "What intervention program is best?" We discuss the value of intervention in general and look at a couple of specific examples that we have used. Resources: English Research into the best use of Teaching assistants: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/tools/guidance-reports/...

The release of the draft of the new Australian Curriculum in Mathematics has caused quite a stir. While this will be discussed in our next episode, we thought it timely to rerelease one of our most popular podcasts (edited for a quicker listen). It looks at why 'learning your tables' is not enough and how teachers can become more familiar with multiplicative thinking. Host Marcus Garrett and AMSI...

With all the talk about NAPLAN, it seems like a great time to revisit the idea of fluency. Mathstalk will be back with new episodes in 2 weeks. Host Leanne McMahon is joined by AMSI Outreach Officer and MathsTalk Twitter chat host, Cass Lowry to discuss the idea of Mathematical Fluency. This conversation stems from a #MathsTalk Twitter chat on the same topic held on November 12th 2020 that led to...

Nadia and Leanne continue their discussion about teaching mathematics for conceptual understanding. Today they delve into how Patterns and Algebra can be taught conceptually and then they get practical; discussing the thought process that goes into planning units. For suggestions comments and ideas, please contact us at @AMSISchools on Twitter or Choosemaths@amsi.org.au Resources from the podcast:...

As a response to feedback on our recent Podcast, Conceptual Understanding, we have rereleased the podcast we referred to, "The Equals sign" Host Claire Embregts grabs a cuppa with AMSI Schools Outreach Officer Leanne McMahon to talk about the importance of the equals sign in Mathematics. We chat about the common misconceptions behind the equals sign and what teachers can do to avoid or rectify the...

In our first 'live' podcast for 2021, host, Leanne McMahon talks to Mathematics Consultant Nadia Abdelal. They discuss the importance of teaching for conceptual understanding, and why it needs to be extended into secondary classes. This is a must-listen for primary and secondary teachers alike and will hopefully stimulate some real discussion in staffrooms across Australia and the world. It is the...

Due to popular demand we are re-releasing the episodes from 2020 that look at starting the year in Mathematics. We'll be back very soon with fresh, exciting episodes for the new year. In the first Mathstalk series of the year, the team looks at starting the year in Mathematics. From setting up your classroom with resources, planning and delivering the best Maths lessons you can, to our favourite g...

In this Tea Break episode, host Claire Embregts is joined by AMSI Outreach Officer Anna Bock who shares some ideas and strategies that teachers can implement in the classroom to support their students with understanding the concept of Addition. We chat about some of the ideas that underpin Addition and the importance of providing practical situations with adding single digit numbers before moving...

Leanne McMahon enlists the journalistic/Maths educator talents of Vicky Kennard and Cassandra Lowry to review some highlights of the 2020 Mathematics Association of Victoria Virtual Conference held on the 3rd and 4th of December. If you didn't manage to attend, our reviewers give some great insights into their learnings and provide links to resources that the speakers provided. Related Links: MAVC...

Leanne McMahon interviews Mathematics Association of Victoria Events Manager, Jacqui Diamond about the upcoming Virtual Conference. We discuss how Covid-19 has thrown a spanner in the works of one of the biggest events in the Australian Maths Education community's year and how Jacqui has devised ingenious ways of making the conference bigger and better. If you would like to contribute to the "LIVE...