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The module Teaching and Learning Mathematics in Diverse Classrooms is intended as a guide to teaching mathematics for in-service teachers in primary schools, but is suitable for maths tachers accross the curriculum. It is informed by the inclusive education policy (Education White Paper 6 Special Needs Education, 2001) and supports teachers in dealing with the diversity of learners in South African classrooms.

Using technology and creating unique learning environments are two big dreams that all types of teachers have, from elementary educators to distance education teachers to college professors. If you're already used to taking classes from an online college but are curious about creating your own open resources, or if you are studying to be a teacher in today's tech-fueled economy, check out these 50 free courses on teaching with technology.

Number booklet coverDuring April 2008 Brombacher and Associates ran a four-day workshop for FET College lecturers on the assessment and remediation of the pre-requisite knowledge and skills assumed to be necessary for students to be able to study Mathematical Literacy. The workshop, presented by Aarnout Brombacher and Marc North,was attended by one lecturer from each of the 50 FET Colleges. The workshop focussed on the use of pre-tests to determine the knowledge and skills that college students have at the start of the programme and on the teaching of the necessary knowledge and skills in those cases where the students do not have these. Click on the "read more" link below to access the pre-test and remediation materials developed for the workshop as well as the powerpoint slide shows that supported the teaching these could be used by college lecturers in their remediation efforts. Downloads: Handout (44 pages): Numbers (download) o Presentation: Order of operations (download) o Presentation: Percentage (download) o Presentation: Ratio (download) o Presentation: Proportion (download) o Presentation: Rate (download) Handout (40 pages): Patterns and Relationships (download) Handout (11 pages): Space, Shape and Orientation (download)

In this unit, the theoretical basis for teaching mathematics - constructivism - is explored. Varieties of teaching strategies based on constructivist understandings of how learning best takes place are described.

This unit gives a historical background to mathematics education in South Africa, to outcomes-based education and to the national curriculum statement for mathematics. The traditional approach to teaching mathematics is then contrasted with an approach to teaching mathematics that focuses on 'doing' mathematics, and mathematics as a science of pattern and order, in which learners actively explore mathematical ideas in a conducive classroom environment.

This is a tutorial designed to show you how you can incorporate Google Earth into your classroom. Aside from the obvious geography connections you can use Google Earth to teach area, perimeter, geometry, and many other mathematical concepts.

"Looking for an online activity to engage your maths class today? Or an online widget to consolidate what you learnt yesterday? MathsLinks is a directory of 300+ useful objects found on the web for teaching Maths. This site aims to not only collate the best maths activities on the web, but present them in a meaningful way."

"In previous posts, I have summed up my position on Khan Academy as follows: Khan Academy teaches only one part of mathematics-procedures-and that isn't the most important part. Writing about mathematics, developing a disposition for mathematical thinking, demonstrating a conceptual understanding of mathematical topics are all more important than procedures. That said, procedures are still important, and Khan Academy provides one venue where students can learn them. In the end, I think every young person should have an account there. Even if only one in a thousand or ten thousand benefit, that would be a terrific outcome. "

I have read the attached article in Die Burger of 10 August 2012. The article confirms the  urgent need for the teaching of mathematical literacy. It strengthen the view that if a person can do and understand maths he or she is not necessarily mathematical literate or numerate.  

This article deals with an intervention unit which focused on the positive effect of integrating poems, stories and fables (the literary genre) for improving mathematical language, fostering the teaching of mathematics language, increasing satisfaction with the process and strengthening the relationship between use of daily language and mathematics language. The study was conducted amongst pre-service mathematics teachers, specialising in literacy activities designed to foster mathematics language.

"South Africa is significantly underperforming in education, particularly mathematics teaching and learning. Fundamental reforms are needed in the public sector. Business leaders need to incorporate an understanding of private education and other market experiments and schooling innovations in their overall perspective and priorities for intervention and reform.   Read more in a new CDE Insight, MATHEMATICS OUTCOMES IN SOUTH AFRICAN SCHOOLS: What are the facts? What should be done? "

Maths4Us is a joint initiative between unionlearn, NIACE and National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) to encourage people to tackle numeracy, take-up numeracy learning and have fun with maths.

"I have found some usefull articles which could be used to make teaching of ratios and proportion more realistic to the kids. Another source which could be used is The travels of Gullivar. There is also a very interesting article about the usage of electronic media by teenagers which could be used in math lit classes."

"although we study mathematics to solve problems, it is not always obvious that we can also use problems to teach mathematics. I illustrated how well-chosen problems can provoke a child to perform mathematical procedures without necessarily knowing the mathematical term associated with the procedure. "

Great resource for Arnot www.brombacher.co.za for mathematical literacy. During April 2008 Brombacher and Associates ran a four-day workshop for FET College lecturers on the assessment and remediation of the pre-requisite knowledge and skills assumed to be necessary for students to be able to study Mathematical Literacy. The workshop was presented by Aarnout Brombacher and Marc North. It focussed on the use of pre-tests to determine the knowledge and skills that college students have at the start of the programme and on the teaching of the necessary knowledge and skills in those cases where the students do not have these.

This is more a maths than a Ml resource but...."This is an excellent place to go if you want to understand how to complete problems in basic math, trigonometry, calculus, or algebra. Mr. McKeague is a mathematician who offers clear examples on math problems through a video. He is joined by various students who also give eamples to math problems. The videos found here have super quality and would definitely help to instruct or teach difficult math explanations. This site is free, and they offer a free subscription if you plan to use the site often. When you join, you can create playlists because a login has been created for your usage." Thanx Dearlibrarian for pointing me to this! www.dearlibrarian.com

The Materials Bank is a teaching resource for FET college lecturers. It includes learning and assessment activities which can be downloaded for use in your classroom. The downloaded materials can be adapted and edited to suit your needs. The activities were written for sector-based qualifications offered by colleges before the introduction of the NCVs. However there is a great deal of overlap between the two. Check the outcomes to see how these activities and ideas match the outcomes of your curriculum. It has been developed by the WCED

The objective of good math teaching should not be to "cover the curriculum" but to show students how to explore our fascinating and beautiful world through the lens of mathematics. We must change our focus in math education from a focus on a largely irrelevant and uninteresting set of learning objectives to a focus on making math relevant and engaging for students.