At Lumen Christi Catholic Primary School, we believing in developing students’ mathematical understanding to the fullest extent. Through extensive assessment and planning, we cater for the reality of a range of abilities in all grade levels. Daily Maths lessons, along with programs such as MEP and EMU ( these are further explained below) , provide opportunities for students at our school to be supported, extended  and challenged in developing their mathematical knowledge and skills.

The planning of these units of work are closely aligned to current AusVELS curriculum standards in the areas of Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry and Statistics and Probability.

To further enhance the planning and understanding of both teachers and students we also use the Key Ideas document developed by the Catholic Education Office Melbourne (CEOM). This document gives clear descriptions of the important concepts to develop in all areas of Mathematics which supports our school’s philosophy of understanding Mathematics, not just learning facts and processes.

Lumen Christi develops a environment in which Mathematics is challenging, purposeful, collaborative and purposeful.

We follow a strong philosophy of developing Good Mathematicians who follow a problem solving approach that encourages collaboratively seeking solutions using a wide range of strategies that are the most effective and efficient for individual students.  We promote understanding ahead of simply learning processes to follow.


Problem Solving At Lumen Christi

We encourage participation in activities both in our school and beyond that promote Mathematics as a fun AND challenging experience. We do this through a range of school events as well as competitions and events linked to state and national organisations. We believe strongly in children striving to do their best so participation in these activities is encouraged.

Teachers and Mathematics Leaders at Lumen Christi keep up to date in the latest teaching and learning strategies in Mathematics by attending Professional Development courses organized by the CEOM as well as other sessions and conferences aligned to other Mathematics organisations. 

https://sites.google.com/a/lcpointcook.catholic.edu.au/lumen-maths/

Click the image above to go to a student/teacher created website supporting Mathematics learning at school and home. This site is being developed throughout the year so its content will change.


MEP (Mathematics Extension Program)

The Mathematics Extension Program (MEP) is a program provided in Grades 3-6 once a week (depending on timetabling of teachers involved) for students who show high ability in problem solving in Mathematics. Each year students nominate themselves or are recommended by their teachers to tackle problem solving challenges based on resources such as the Australian Mathematics Competition. Their performance in this challenge is used to select the final twelve students maximum in each Grade Level. The students in MEP each year can change on a yearly basis.

Each MEP session introduces a problem for the group to solve along with their teacher. The problems selected involve a range of mathematical concepts to explore and the students will attempt strategies, discuss and explore more efficient strategies and often collaborate over a number of weeks to finally solve the problem.

On a regular basis students in MEP will attempt to solve problems from the NRich Maths website. www.nrich.maths.org. This website poses problems for students around the world to solve and then share their solutions via the website. MEP teams have had their solutions published on this website on several occasions. Here are links to a couple of examples.

http://nrich.maths.org/507/solution

What is the EMU Program? 

EMU aims to

  • Identify the learning difficulties commonly experienced by young children
  • Enhance the understanding of the process of learning Mathematics
  • Explore strategies for assisting children to develop the confidence to construct the ideas to move         beyond their difficulties
  • EMU is a whole school approach. The specialist intervention teacher as well as the classroom             teacher and parents work together in partnership to support the child

    • How does this look at Lumen Christi?

    • An individual learning plan is developed for each child, to ensure that the EMU program targets his or her needs
    • Regular intervention sessions take place three to five times a week for 30-40 minutes
    • Each session begins with a discussion of the homework activity that was set from the last EMU session
    • The children will then participate in counting and place value activities
    • The teacher presents an open-ended question for the students to investigate and explore possible strategies to reach a solution
    • Students then reflect on the learning for that session and record their ideas in their Reflective Journal
    • The teacher will explain the take home activity
    • Each night the child will complete the home activity and parents will have the option of giving their child or the teacher feedback about the task

    For more information about the EMU program, please contact: Bec Delorenzo (Maths Intervention Leader)