In this study, we aim to investigate the role of language in small group peer collaboration. Based on the notion of symmetrical scaffolding, we draw on theories of dialogic space and functional linguistics to analyse a transcript of three six-year-old students as they explore a shared understanding of 'two more than'. Using Martin and White's…

Many primary school students have difficulties understanding mathematical equivalence with considerably poorer performance in some countries than in others. However, students' formal understanding of equivalence has significant and long-lasting effects, as it predicts arithmetic and algebra achievement throughout school years. Currently, little is…

The Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment (FIE) program was implemented in a primary school in New Zealand for 10 years old students with average educational ability. Targeted goals were to examine if the FIE program helped students to be less impulsive, plan well, and better in solving problems. The program started with 17 students for the first two…

In this paper, I report on one teacher's journey of change in grouping her students for mathematics learning. In addition, I describe and illustrate the design and implementation of a smart tool used for planning for effective grouping in collaborative mathematics problem-solving. The findings illustrate that when explicit teacher support is…

This small study sought to determine students' knowledge of multiplication and division and whether they are able to use sets of bundling sticks to demonstrate their knowledge. Manipulatives are widely used in primary and some middle school classrooms, and can assist children to connect multiplicative concepts to physical representations.…

Research into the effectiveness of SPRING into Maths as a Tier 2 intervention is limited. This article aims to extend the evidence base for SPRING into Maths through reflective practice that links practitioner voice with theory. The article applies a theoretical lens to SPRING into Maths and provides insights into the journey of a group of…

New Zealand curriculum documents have long referred to mathematics as a problem-solving endeavour. Although this has been an intended focus for more than 25 years, problem-solving has often been an aspect of mathematics teaching that has been overlooked (Holton, 2009). This research explores the experiences of one teacher who is committed to…

A robust understanding of place value is essential. Using a problem-based approach set within meaningful contexts, students' attention may be drawn to the multiplicative structure of place value. By using quotitive division problems through a concrete-representational-abstract lesson structure, this study showed a powerful strengthening of Year 3…

As part of a project exploring the use of challenging mathematical tasks, data from New Zealand teachers and their students were analysed to explore teachers' actions that encouraged students to persist. Rather than rescuing the students when they needed help, the teachers' actions included arranging for and encouraging students to work…

Criticisms have been levelled at e-research that limited knowledge has been produced helpful for guiding educators in using digital tools more effectively for teaching and learning. This issue has become more acute with the emergence of mobile devices that enable learners to transition across different learning spaces and times. Traditional data…

Teachers' perceptions of students' capabilities are particularly important in efforts to support ambitious instructional reforms. In this paper, we explore one teacher's efforts to resolve conflicts and tensions as she engages with new practices associated with ambitious mathematics teaching. While many conflicts arose in the first year of the…

Maori-medium pangarau classrooms occupy a unique space within the mathematics education landscape. The language of instruction is an endangered minority language and many teachers and learners in Maori-medium pangarau classrooms are second language (L2) learners of te reo Maori. Mobile technology could be used in Maori-medium pangarau classrooms…

The purpose of this study was to use the Joint Action Studies in Didactics (JASD) to understand how teachers' and students' interactions co-construct knowledge during Cooperative Learning (CL). The basis of CL is that students learn with and from each other through a structured interdependent relationship. A case study approach was used to examine…

Despite successive waves of technological innovation being rapidly adopted by schools, teaching methods and curriculum designs have been slow to evolve in response to the affordances offered by an increasing array of digital devices. This project explored student thinking, problem solving and collaboration when using digital tablets (iPads) for a…

This paper focuses on children's number fact knowledge from a study that explored the impact of using multiplication and division contexts for developing number understanding with 34 five- and six-year-old children from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. After a series of focused lessons, children's knowledge of number facts, including…