Thinking Deeply about Primary Education What are some high-impact, low-effort ways to improve mathematics across a school?
Mar 5, 2025
Stuart Welsh, an expert in mathematics education, shares insightful strategies for enhancing math teaching in schools. He discusses the power of whole class engagement using tools like mini whiteboards and colored cards. The conversation highlights structured routines and retrieval practice quizzes to boost learning with minimal effort. Welsh emphasizes memory retrieval strategies and the effective use of visualisers to support problem-solving, making mathematics both engaging and accessible for students.
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Use Whole Class Response
- Use whole class response strategies like mini whiteboards to engage every student simultaneously in math questions.
- This routine helps gather rich formative assessment data and increases student thinking time efficiently.
Implement Regular Retrieval Practice
- Implement regular retrieval practice quizzes to boost math retention and teaching effectiveness.
- Dedicate weekly brief sessions to retrieval helps reinforce previous learning with manageable effort.
Optimize Retrieval Question Design
- Retrieval questions should be quick to answer and focus on recalling chunked knowledge, not complex problems.
- Use optimal timing to present questions at the point where students nearly forget but can still retrieve information.