Conference synopsis_MAVCON2026 - Flipbook - Page 132
SESSION G: Friday, 2pm-3pm (cont.)
tackle once they hit secondary school, from fractions and
proportional reasoning to algebra. Yet many students leave
Victorian primary schools reliant on additive strategies, thus
limiting their ability to tackle more complex mathematical
ideas.
In this practical and engaging session, we will explore what
multiplicative thinking looks like in primary classrooms from
Foundation all the way through to Year 6. Drawing on current
research and classroom experience, participants will discover
how to develop multiplicative thinking through rich tasks,
purposeful questioning, and visual representations.
You will leave with ready-to-use activities and teaching
approaches that build confidence, deepen understanding,
and help students move beyond procedures to become
flexible and powerful mathematical thinkers.
Key takeaways:
1. Recognise and develop multiplicative thinking across the
primary years.
2. Understand how to use rich tasks, questioning, and
representations to build understanding and tackle
misconceptions.
The session will also explore how assessment evidence can be
triangulated with other sources of information to strengthen
decision-making within an MTSS framework. Participants will
leave with strategies to support responsive planning, target
intervention and extension, and use evidence more effectively
to improve student outcomes in mathematics.
Key takeaways:
1. Identify which students require additional support or
extension and why.
2. Use assessment evidence to prioritise next learning steps
and target teaching responses.
3. Combine multiple sources of evidence to monitor growth
and evaluate the impact of interventions.
Remember:
This session is suitable for all attendees, and a laptop
is recommended. Participants who have previously
administered Digital Assessment Library (DAL) assessments
may use their own data throughout the session. Attendees
without existing assessment data will have access to a
demonstration account to support participation in all
workshop activities.
3. Leave with ready-to-use tools to strengthen mathematical
reasoning.
G30 FROM ASSESSMENT TO
INTERVENTION: USING EVIDENCE TO
INFORM MTSS
Sub-category: Engaging and including every learner
Crystal Afitu, VCCA
F - Y10
Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) require educators
to make informed decisions about when, where and how
to provide additional support and extension for students.
However, collecting assessment data is only the first step. The
challenge lies in interpreting evidence and translating it into
meaningful action.
This session explores how curriculum-aligned assessment
evidence can be used to identify student learning needs,
inform targeted support, and monitor progress over time.
Using examples from the Digital Assessment Library (DAL)
and Insight platform, participants will examine practical
approaches to analysing assessment results, including
the use of Guttman analysis to identify student strengths,
misconceptions and next learning priorities.
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G31 BUILDING STRONG FOUNDATIONS:
WHY COUNTING MATTERS MORE THAN
TIMES TABLES.
Sub-category: Mathematical content and concepts
Michaela Epstein , Maths Teacher Circles
Early Childhood - Y12
Do you find yourself spread thin, trying to get through all the
curriculum? After all, the curriculum is jam-packed with very
little wiggle room. But, it doesn’t have to be like this.
In fact, not all curriculum dot-points were created equally.
Some ideas matter far more than others. These are Big Ideas:
concepts that connect to and unlock a lot of other learning.
Counting is one of them. It drives everything. From addition
to advanced algebra. Patterns to probability.
Counting is a concept that is as relevant for secondary
schoolers, as it is for early learners. It’s the heartbeat of maths.
At the practical session, Michaela will share how, by focusing
on less, we can go deeper. And, from this, you’ll uncover the
power of counting. Whether you teach Year 10s or Year 2s,
you’ll learn how you can use it to unlock important insights for
all students.
