Numeracy PD

Identifying and teaching for numeracy in the classroom

Example• How many drinks?• During a unit on “Alcohol and Drugs” students were given the following information. This was used in a range of

ways to stimulate discussion and debate about the use of alcohol and it’s impact on individuals and our society.• What is a standard drink?• One standard drink contains approximately 10 grams of alcohol. The following table gives you some examples of

standard drinks. The following are approximately one standard drink:• 1 middy full strength beer 285 mL 4.6% alcohol• 1 small glass wine 100 mL 10-14 % alcohol•• 1 glass fortified wine (port or sherry) 60 mL 17-19% alcohol• 1 shot spirits 30 mL 37-43% alcohol• The following list shows how many standard drinks are in common alcoholic drinks (this is on the label of the

container):• Drink Standard Drinks• 1 middy low-strength beer (285 mL, <3% alcohol) 0.5• 1 middy mid-strength beer (285 mL, 3-4% alcohol ) 0.8• 1 can full-strength beer (375 mL, 4-6% alcohol) 1.5• 1 can spirit and soft drink (375 mL, 6-8% alcohol) 1.7• 1 bottle alcoholic soda (330 mL, 5.5% alcohol) 1.5• 1 bottle alcoholic cola (330 mL, 4.5% alcohol) 1.2• 1 bottle alcoholic lemonade (375 mL, 4.2% alcohol) 1.25• 1 stubble cider (375 mL, 4-6% alcohol) 1.5

Step 1 – Indentify the numeracy

• Can you see numbers/quantities/amounts/values/costs etc?

• Can you see mathematical concepts and terms?

• Can you see problem solving possibilities?

• Can you see sums/equations/calculations that need to be made?

Discuss

10 minutes

Example• How many drinks?• During a unit on “Alcohol and Drugs” students were given the following information. This was used in a range of

ways to stimulate discussion and debate about the use of alcohol and it’s impact on individuals and our society.• What is a standard drink?• One standard drink contains approximately 10 grams of alcohol. The following table gives you some examples of

standard drinks. The following are approximately one standard drink:• 1 middy full strength beer 285 mL 4.6% alcohol• 1 small glass wine 100 mL 10-14 % alcohol•• 1 glass fortified wine (port or sherry) 60 mL 17-19% alcohol• 1 shot spirits 30 mL 37-43% alcohol• The following list shows how many standard drinks are in common alcoholic drinks (this is on the label of the

container):• Drink Standard Drinks• 1 middy low-strength beer (285 mL, <3% alcohol) 0.5• 1 middy mid-strength beer (285 mL, 3-4% alcohol ) 0.8• 1 can full-strength beer (375 mL, 4-6% alcohol) 1.5• 1 can spirit and soft drink (375 mL, 6-8% alcohol) 1.7• 1 bottle alcoholic soda (330 mL, 5.5% alcohol) 1.5• 1 bottle alcoholic cola (330 mL, 4.5% alcohol) 1.2• 1 bottle alcoholic lemonade (375 mL, 4.2% alcohol) 1.25• 1 stubble cider (375 mL, 4-6% alcohol) 1.5

How many standard drinks in spirit bottles?

Calculate combinations of drinks over a night and how many total standard drinks consumed

Step 2.1 – Teach for the numeracy

Prompt students to explain terms and quantities to you– This helps other students understand without

being confronted by asking– Forms more solid cognition with students,

explaining out load builds recall and consolidates definitions

– Excellent way for you as a teacher to gauge where students are at and might need extension on

Step 2.2 – Teach for the numeracy

Define terms as you go

– Students will then keep up better and students too afraid to ask won’t fall behind

– Opens possibilities for further numeracy related questioning if students aren’t understanding

Step 2.3 – Teach for the numeracy

Use visual aids– E.g. bring in empty spirit bottles, shot glasses, wine glasses etc

• Students will retain at a much higher rate what they have visually engaged in

• Tactile learners will benefit form this hugely• Engagement – students will stay engaged and the class will be

varied in level and focus

– Find pictures/videos/models of things relating to your topic• Visual learners will be far more engaged and have far greater

retention• Students will take in other things all throughout the videos they are

presented with• Resources can be shared amongst teachers so as to cut down

lesson preparations that need to be made– Ie, teachers have more time to focus on improving other aspects of

lesson

Step 3 – Encourage further explorationEncourage students to look things up on when they get home

– Internet– Library– Go places of interest with friends or family

Offer students rewards for reporting to class on findings they have outside out class

– Encourage questioning on this by other students and further exploration

** Note, this will take up some extra class time however the extra time students spend engaging in the topic can be far more useful than an extra 5 minutes of chalk and talk (often they’ll just fade out anyway and you’ll have wasted an opportunity)

Discuss

• Discuss in a small group thoughts on how you might integrate numeracy into your class

ALSO• Will you get together and plan a unit together?• Will you organise an excursion together

supporting the numeracy you want to enhance in your classroom?

Report

Each group, please report the key points you discussed

– Anyone can ask questions during this time

– Do you have anything you want to link to another persons report?

Final Discussion

If you feel the need please go and speak to other teachers in the room about their report and discuss your ideas or action plans together

When finished you may leave.