Effective Mathematics Teaching DVDs

Algebra and fractions

These DVDs include a variety of video clips from the classrooms of Victorian teachers. The material is intended to provide the basis for professional conversations amongst teachers regarding effective teaching practices.

Two companion DVDs have been produced: one on the teaching of fractions in upper primary school, and one on the teaching of algebra in lower secondary school.

The DVDs are organised around ‘Teacher Characteristics’ associated with effective mathematics teaching. These teacher characteristics have been adapted from the work of the Early Numeracy Research Project together with other research on effective teaching.

Within both the DVDs, the viewer is able to:

• watch a rich classroom activity, which involves a number of effective teacher characteristics, or
• focus on a particular characteristic, looking at one or more video clips around that theme.

The table below identifies the Teacher Characteristics as used in the Effective Mathematics Teaching DVDs. Within the eight key focus areas, a number of explicit characteristics have been highlighted as contributing to effective practices.

Focus	Effective Teachers of Mathematics…
Adaptations and Connections	Use teachable moments as they occur Make connections to mathematical ideas from previous lessons, other contexts, and to experiences and uses inside and outside the classroom
Classroom Interactions	Respond constructively to misconceptions Use creative questioning to build on student ideas Encourage students to listen, evaluate, and build on the ideas of others Hold back from telling, listen attentively Encourage students to explain their thinking
Expectations	Have high but realistic expectations of all students Promote and value effort and risk-taking
Task Features	Choose tasks that engage students Structure tasks for different possibilities, strategies and products to emerge
Tools and Representations	Assist students to translate between different representations and contexts (e.g. diagrams to tables to graphs to symbols) Use a range of materials, representations and/or contexts for the same concept
Mathematical Focus	Make the mathematical focus clear to students Promote general thinking skills
Organisational Style	Use a variety of group structures and teacher roles Focus students’ mathematical thinking with an introductory activity
Reflection	Reflect on the lesson: Effectiveness, content, students’ responses and learning

These DVDs illustrate learning experiences in classrooms of real teachers with real students. The video material was not scripted, which makes the DVDs an interesting starting point for discussion and professional learning. There is much to talk about in the classrooms of these teachers and their students. The examples show some of the craft of effective mathematics teaching.

In July 2007, every government school in Victoria received a copy of the Effective Mathematics Teaching DVDs.