Numeracy Across the Curriculum

By: Merrilyn Goos, Vince Geiger, Shelley Dole, Helen Forgasz

ISBN-13: 9781760297886
ISBN-10: 1760297887
Publisher: A&u Academic
Published date: 2018-11-21
Being numerate involves more than mastering basic mathematics. Numeracy connects the mathematics learned at school with out-of-school situations that require capabilities such as problem solving, critical judgment, and sense-making related to non-mathematical contexts. This book provides prospective and practicing teachers with practical, research-based strategies for embedding numeracy across the primary and secondary school curriculum. Based on the authors’ 10-year research program, the text explains what numeracy is and how numeracy has developed as an educational goal. It describes in detail the five dimensions of the authors’ model: attention to real-life contexts; application of mathematical knowledge; use of physical, representational, and digital tools; the promotion of positive dispositions towards the use of mathematics to solve problems encountered in day-to-day life; and a critical orientation to interpreting mathematical results and making evidence-based judgements. There is guidance on how to embed numeracy across all subjects within the curriculum, how to assess numeracy learning, and how to deal with challenges and dilemmas including working with discipline boundaries and developing support resources. Featuring practical examples and case studies throughout, this book will build pre-service teacher confidence, demystify common misconceptions, and grounds theory into practice in this vital area of student competency.