Mathematics

At Solway Primary School, Mathematics teaching and learning is structured around the Big Ideas in Mathematics outlined in the Victorian Curriculum 2.0. These Big Ideas support coherence, depth and transfer of learning by helping students see how mathematical concepts connect and build over time.

Our teaching approach prioritises explicit instruction, deliberate practice and checks for understanding, ensuring students develop fluency and conceptual understanding before applying their learning through rich, open-ended tasks.

The Big Ideas in Mathematics at Solway

Number and Place Value

Students develop a deep understanding of how our number system works, including the value of digits, the role of zero and the relationships between numbers.

At Solway, teachers explicitly teach number structures, representations and language. Students practise reading, writing, comparing and partitioning numbers to build accuracy, efficiency and confidence before applying these skills in problem-solving contexts.

Additive Thinking

Additive thinking underpins students’ ability to add and subtract flexibly and efficiently.

Students are explicitly taught strategies for addition and subtraction, beginning with concrete and visual models before progressing to more abstract representations. Fluency is developed through regular practice, with students encouraged to explain their thinking and choose efficient strategies. Rich tasks are introduced once students demonstrate mastery of core concepts.

Multiplicative Thinking

Multiplicative thinking is essential for understanding multiplication, division, fractions, ratios and proportional reasoning.

At Solway, students build multiplicative understanding through explicit teaching of equal groups, arrays, scaling and relationships between multiplication and division. Fluency with number facts and strategies is developed systematically, allowing students to confidently apply their understanding to increasingly complex problems.

Fractions, Decimals and Percentages

Students learn to understand fractions, decimals and percentages as numbers that represent quantities and relationships.

Teachers explicitly teach these concepts using concrete materials, visual models and number lines. Students develop fluency and conceptual understanding before being asked to compare, calculate and apply these ideas in meaningful contexts.

Measurement

Measurement supports students to quantify and describe the attributes of objects and spaces.

At Solway, students are explicitly taught how and why measurement works, including units, tools and formulas. Fluency is developed through repeated practice and real-world applications, with rich tasks used to connect measurement to problem-solving and reasoning.

Geometry and Spatial Reasoning

Geometry and spatial reasoning help students understand shape, space and location.

Teachers provide explicit instruction in properties, relationships and transformations of shapes. Students develop precise mathematical language and reasoning skills, enabling them to visualise, describe and justify their thinking.

Statistics and Probability

Students learn to collect, represent, interpret and analyse data to make informed decisions.

At Solway, explicit instruction supports students to understand data displays, measures and chance. Once foundational skills are secure, students apply their learning to investigate real-world questions and interpret outcomes.

From Fluency to Application

Across all Big Ideas, teaching follows a consistent sequence:

• explicit teaching of concepts and strategies

• guided and independent practice to build fluency

• frequent checks for understanding

• feedback and adjustment of instruction

• application through rich, open-ended tasks

This approach ensures students have the knowledge, skills and confidence required to engage deeply with mathematical thinking.

Mathematics Classrooms at Solway

In every Mathematics classroom, students experience:

• clear learning intentions and success criteria

• explicit modelling and worked examples

• consistent engagement norms

• regular opportunities to explain and justify thinking

• high expectations and supportive feedback

By aligning our teaching to the Big Ideas in Mathematics and the Science of Learning, Solway Primary School supports students to become confident, capable and curious mathematicians.