Mathematics

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Mathematics

HomeSchool resourcesMathematics

Topic summary

The choices teachers make about what to teach and how to teach it have a powerful impact on students’ learning and attitude to maths.

While mathematics is an established body of knowledge and skills that has been developed over millenia, mathematics research is marked by debates over how to define mathematics, and these debates influence how maths is taught. Some schools of thought define maths as a set of formal rules and procedures that must be mastered to the point of automaticity, while others see it as a creative endeavour and a space for discovery. However, rather than seeing these as dichotomous, it is important to understand how both contribute to effective mathematics teaching and learning. 

Mathematics is essential because it contains important skills and knowledge for participating in society as an adult. It serves as a gatekeeper for multiple opportunities in study and employment.

There is a relatively strong, and growing, body of research on how to effectively teach mathematics to support the learning of all students. The research demonstrates the importance of social factors, particularly engagement and mathematics learner identity, in teaching and learning maths.

It is essential to design learning tasks and select teaching tools carefully to ensure that they support the intended learning. Teaching and learning in maths should balance conceptual understanding with skills practice, and be responsive to the needs of the students and the learning context. Promoting a positive mathematic learner identity for all students and communicating the belief that mathematics is for everyone are important components of effective teaching and learning in maths.

  • How can we ensure that teaching and learning in mathematics attends to key concepts and skills while being responsive to all students?
  • How can we design tasks and select tools that best serve our learning intentions and promote challenging tasks?
  • How can teachers work together to design the best possible teaching and learning programmes in maths?
  • How can we promote positive mathematics learner identities and positive ideas about maths?

Research reviews

Teaching mathematics in primary school: A practical guide

A detailed resource using videos of practice to explore key principles of effective maths teaching.

Five research-derived themes to consider when teaching maths

Evidence-based approaches and strategies for teaching and learning maths.

Engaging and effective teaching and learning in secondary school mathematics and statistics

An introduction to effective and inspiring approaches to teaching mathematics and statistics at secondary school level.

Developing positive mathematics learner identities in secondary school

An introduction to the concept of mathematics learner identity and how positive maths identities can be promoted through effective teaching and learning

Webinars

How do people learn mathematics? Insights from the science of learning

LIVE EVENT: 7.30PM WEDNESDAY APRIL 30, 2025
Dr Tanya Evans from the University of Auckland will talk about how the decades of cognitive research can be applied to teaching mathematics in the classroom

Culturally responsive mathematics education

Associate Professor Jodie Hunter (Massey University) shares insights from her extensive classroom-based research into the use of culturally responsive approaches to teaching and learning mathematics in primary school

Mathematics and statistics teaching at primary school

A discussion on the principles you can use to work out the form of your lessons, and mathematics and statistics programmes more broadly

Infographics

Snapshots

How to take a culturally responsive approach to teaching mathematics in primary school

Key insights from the webinar with Professor Jodie Hunter on effective, culturally responsive maths teaching in primary school.

What to consider when designing mathematics programmes in primary school

A summary of the key insights from the webinar on primary school mathematics, with Fiona Ell and Lisa Darragh
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