Primary Mathematics and Science Strategy

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Primary Mathematics and Science Strategy 2010
-2013
November 2009
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Primary Mathematics and Science Strategy 2010
-2013
The Primary Science and Mathematics Strategy aims
to achieve sustainable, system-wide improvement
in student learning, in mathematics and science,
from Reception to Year 7 in South Australian
public schools from 2010 to 2013.
In the long term, the strategy will result in an
increase in student engagement, participation and
achievement in science and mathematics across
both primary and secondary years, so that all
young people leave school with an appreciation of
the importance of science and mathematics, and
are able to apply science and mathematics to
their daily lives. We also aim to see increased
take up of senior secondary mathematics and
science subjects leading to a range of training
and employment pathways and related careers
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Primary Mathematics and Science Strategy 2010
-2013
The Primary Science and Mathematics Strategy aims
to contribute to a sustainable model and process
for ongoing professional learning in mathematics
and science for primary teachers beyond 2013.

• To include
• range of workshops across the year in range of
  locations
• on-line professional development materials and
  support
• video resources to support learning
• teacher reference group to provide input into
  needs
• ongoing support for instructional leadership in
  mathematics and science

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Primary Mathematics and Science Strategy
The Primary Mathematics and Science Strategy aims
to have all primary students benefiting from
strong, high quality mathematics and science
programs evidenced by

• involvement in quality learning programs as
  their teachers undertake professional learning
  programs Primary Science Connections and Maths
  for All
• improvements in NAPLAN results through an
  increased number of students above the national
  minimum performance standards
• improvements on international PISA and TIMSS
  assessments
• increased engagement and enjoyment in
  mathematics and science reported by parents and
  students
• increased students aspirations for careers
  involving mathematics and science.

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Primary Mathematics and Science Strategy

• Through
• extending and supporting effective teaching
  strategies already in place in schools
• supporting teachers to become more confident
  and knowledgeable in the teaching of science and
  mathematics through Primary Science Connections
  and Maths for All programs
• supporting school leaders plan and implement a
  whole school approach to mathematics and science
  teaching in the primary years aimed at closing
  the gap between the most and least successful
  children
• providing support to teachers, leaders and
  schools in preparing for the implementation of
  the National Curriculum in Mathematics and
  Science
• the development of an ongoing professional
  learning program for primary teachers, beyond
  2013
• guaranteed instruction time for mathematics and
  science

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Primary Mathematics and Science Strategy
Guaranteed Instruction time

• by the start of 2011, Years 4 to 7 students
  will be spending a minimum of 120 minutes per
  week on science and 300 minutes per week on
  mathematics and numeracy.
• by the start of 2011 year 3 students will be
  spending a minimum of 90 minutes per week on
  science and a minimum 300 minutes per week on
  mathematics
• by the start of 2013, Reception to Year 2
  students will be spending a minimum of 300
  minutes per week on mathematics and up to 90
  minutes per week on science.

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Primary Mathematics and Science Strategy
Regional support
Professional Learning Communities
Teacher professional learning and resources
Primary Connections and Maths for All
Principal and teacher leadership in science and
mathematics
Student learning, engagement and interest in
Science and Mathematics
Schools in Clusters
Curriculum Services
Minimum teaching times
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Primary Mathematics and Science Strategy
Regional Curriculum Consultants
Clusters
Teacher professional learning and resources
Primary Connections and Maths for All
Principal and teacher leadership in science and
mathematics
Professional Learning Communities
Student learning, engagement and interest in
Science and Mathematics
Workshops, flexible format PL
Key leaders in each school
Project Officer Teams
Teacher Facilitators
Minimum teaching times
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Primary Mathematics and Science Strategy
Implementation
Regional/central office partnership with a focus
on clusters of schools
strong instructional cluster leadership exercised
by Regional Directors, Regional Directors and
principals with explicit accountability for
principals, clusters and regions collaborative
work across schools in clusters, with regional
offices and central office, to ensure the
centrally developed program offerings are
tailored to meet local learning needs of students
and teachers facilitators in mathematics and
science Regional Directors and Principals will
determine how best to configure facilitators in
each region, to work with each cluster of schools
to support training identification of a lead
principal for each cluster and a key leader/s in
each school for mathematics and for science.
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Primary Mathematics and Science Strategy
Implementation
The intended implementation of the National
Curriculum in Science and Mathematics for R-10
from 2011 will be supported by the Primary
Mathematics and Science Strategy. Negotiation
will occur with schools and clusters to allow for
a whole school approach (years 3 to 7) or a year
level focus. Professional development options
will include a range of formats and flexible
delivery options so that teachers in remote and
country areas can access it as well as schools
that find block release time difficult due to
limited availability of temporary relieving
teachers. Longer term sustainability will be
built into the professional development so that
by 2013 there is an ongoing professional
development program for primary teachers that is
ongoing and updated with research and results
from evaluation.
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Primary Mathematics and Science Strategy
CLUSTERS AND TEACHER FACILITATORS
Regions negotiate clusters of schools same for
mathematics and science Regions allocated funds
to pay for travel of teacher facilitators and
support the infrastructure for this.
For each cluster

• lead school in each cluster can be the same
  or different for maths/science
• 5,500 per cluster paid in 2010, 2011, 2012,
  2013 in Ma and Sc total of 44,000
• funds kept in identified lead school(s)
• funds to cover additional release time,
  resources to support Strategy
• funds cover also release of key leaders for
  meetings and workshops

Teacher facilitators

• teacher facilitator for each cluster - one in
  Mathematics, one in Science
• released one day per week
• help run workshops in region with Central
  Office Project Officer
• team with teachers in classroom to help teach
  new units
• work with Regional Curriculum Consultant to
  manage PLCs
• travel between schools funded through travel
  grant to regions

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Primary Mathematics and Science Strategy
Science First
The timeline for the professional development of
teachers with the prioritisation of science in
the first part of 2010, will enable all schools
to implement the minimum teaching time for
science of 120 minutes for years 4 to 7 students
from February 2011 and Year 3 students - 90
minutes for science Many teachers have already
undertaken training in Primary Science
Connections during 2007 and 2008. Further
professional learning will be offered for these
teachers to extend their learning and to support
their work in coaching and mentoring others.
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Primary Mathematics and Science Strategy
Mathematics for All from June 2010
The expectation is that all schools will be able
to implement the minimum teaching time for
mathematics of 300 minutes for years 3 to 7
students from February 2011. Many schools will be
doing this already (given the In the Balance
findings for mathematics - average instruction
time 263 minutes). Professional development in
Maths for All from June 2010 will allow schools
not currently teaching 300 minutes of mathematics
to prioritise this area for a professional
learning focus. From June 2010, teachers will
be able to access professional development in
Maths for All supported by learning
community/cluster facilitators with a focus on
mathematics.
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Primary Mathematics and Science Strategy
Focus on Early Years 2012
In 2012 there will be a specific focus on
Reception to Year 2 teachers with a carefully
developed evidence-based, integrated mathematics
and science program of professional development.
Development of this program with occur from 2010
in conjunction with expert advisors and
teachers, building on successful strategies
already in place.
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Primary Mathematics and Science Strategy
Leadership Program
an ongoing leadership program for principals and
deputy principals and key leaders in mathematics
and science Workshops and materials for
principals in weeks 2 to 4 of term 1 and weeks 2
to 4 of term 3 to support them understand the PD
for teachers and a whole school approach RCCs
and ARD/RDs Materials to support leaders and the
establishment and maintenance of professional
learning communities
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Primary Mathematics and Science Strategy
Specific outputs for the Strategy include

• Primary Connections materials provided to each
  primary teacher
• Maths for All materials provided to each
  teacher including Big Ideas in Number and other
  resources as they are developed
• teaching resources to support quality student
  learning which are evidence-based, linked to
  school and regional needs and supportive of
  National Curriculum
• a website with exemplars of good practice, case
  studies and other resources
• online materials for professional development
  accessible by all teachers anywhere in the state
  making use of a range of ICT tools
• an expanded Science Equipment Scheme to include
  Primary Connections equipment
• an ongoing leadership program for principals
  and deputy principals and key leaders in
  mathematics and science

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Primary Mathematics and Science Strategy
Specific outputs for the Strategy include

• teachers trained as learning-community
  facilitators regions decide the mix of
  facilitators with varying amounts of release time
  up to a maximum of the full time equivalent of
  the number of clusters multiplied by 0.2
• Facilitators will establish and support
  networks of schools in professional learning
  communities and work with central project
  officers to deliver the professional learning
  programs in their cluster
• identified mathematics and science leaders in
  every primary school
• professional learning communities in clusters
  of schools established across the state and
  accessible to all schools
• whole-school improvement plans, achieving
  achievement targets for mathematics and science
  learning in each school
• approximately 6,130 primary teachers engaged in
  two professional learning programs which include
  face-to-face, and flexible delivery
• a range of examples of practical and applied
  learning in mathematics and science relevant to
  years 3 to 7

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Primary Mathematics and Science Strategy
Workshops

• menu of workshops available in November 2009
  for Primary Science Connections to start in
  February 2010
• in April 2010 for Maths for All to start July
  2010.
• further workshops will be added to the menu as
  they are negotiated with regions and clusters of
  schools.
• workshops will be conducted as much as possible
  in regions to reduce travel for teachers and
  leaders.
• in each region, they will be run by a
  curriculum manager or project officer from
  central office, a science or mathematics
  facilitator, and possibly a regional cluster
  coordinator located in the region.
• the number of workshops will be organised to
  allow for all teachers to attend their preferred
  options. They will also take into account
  teachers previous training and the previous
  initiatives in the cluster and/or school.

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Primary Mathematics and Science Strategy
Funding for Professional Learning

• schools receive funds to cover teacher release
• January 2010
• July 2010
• January 2011
• January 2012
• total funds - based on average of 6 days per
  teacher years R to 7 with some additional days to
  fund in-school release
• all teachers are expected to access
  professional learning relevant to their needs
• decisions about release time are school-based
• principals will be managing this and
  negotiating with staff
• principals will be accountable for how funds
  are spent service agreement and reports to
  trigger July payments