Positive maths culture

Students often come to maths with strong preconceptions about the nature of mathematics learning and themselves as maths learners. These ideas are shaped by students’ own prior experiences of school maths, biases and stereotypes they may have experienced, and beliefs about maths and maths learning held by significant people in their lives.  

5 steps to creating a positive maths culture

A positive maths culture actively challenges stereotypes and supports all students to see maths as a creative, inclusive field of study, and themselves as capable, engaged maths learners. Creating maths-positive learning environments can address student disengagement and increase students’ motivation and maths aspirations.

These 5 key steps help develop a positive maths culture:

  1. Combat stereotypes
  2. Support emotional regulation
  3. Celebrate mistakes
  4. Support reasoning and deep thinking
  5. Value student voice and collaboration

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