With the new Maths and Statistics curriculum still bedding in, many New Zealand teachers and leaders are telling us the same thing: their students need more structured maths practice and reinforcement to really consolidate their learning.
The first result off the rank are their latest Maths Practice books for Year 4: curriculum-aligned, ready to use, and built to help teachers cover every strand at the start of Phase 2 as confidently as the familiar territory of Number.
In this interview, we chat with Jackie Andrews, one of our author-educators of Maths Practice books for Year 4. We asked why these books were created, the biggest challenges her own school is facing, and her advice for supporting students who are struggling to keep up.
Why are the Maths Practice books being created?
We are into our second year using the new Maths and Statistics curriculum and it is tough. The books supplied by the Ministry are useful but there’s not enough practice and reinforcement. The Maths Practice books are made to help with this. We know the emphasis is on coverage but there are places where if you don’t consolidate knowledge, you just don’t move forward.
What is the biggest challenge with this new curriculum, and why?
Strand coverage is where we got into trouble. With the previous curriculum it was easy to stay in the world of Number. This left other strands in the dark and in danger of not being covered or not being given enough emphasis.
Teaching the year level curriculum is another big change for us. We were teaching from where the students were at. The result was we were getting Year 8s going into Secondary School, and there were parts of the curriculum they had never seen or heard about. So, with our “coverage, not mastery” hat on we launched into the new curriculum.
How do the Maths Practice books help NZ teachers?
They’ll particularly benefit teachers who haven’t lived in the strand world for a while and have lived strongly in Number. They will also support any classroom teacher who is needing to give students a wee boost or need something to help consolidate their learning.
The curriculum has changed quickly, and for many teachers it has been difficult to keep up. The companies producing government workbooks simply didn’t have time to update their resources, and many long-term plans no longer align with the curriculum. It has been incredibly challenging to know exactly what to teach and in what sequence.
These books are curriculum-aligned, following the correct structure and sequence. We spell out exactly what’s in the Maths and Statistics curriculum. As a result, they take away the heavy lifting. Instead of starting from scratch or piecing resources together from multiple places, everything is organised, sequenced and ready to use. Teachers can focus on teaching rather than spending hours planning and creating resources.
What do these books provide that the free Government resources do not?
The biggest difference is the amount of knowledge building, practice and reinforcement. When we began teaching the new curriculum in February, we had access to the free Government workbooks, but there simply wasn’t enough practice for students to develop confidence and mastery.
Writing these Maths Practice books gave me a deep understanding of the curriculum. It became very clear what each learning intention required and how much depth students needed before moving on. As a result, these books make the curriculum explicit. They show exactly what needs to be taught in each strand and provide enough carefully sequenced practice for students to succeed.
Another challenge is that the Government made further curriculum changes in October last year, adding new content and removing a small amount. Those updates are not fully reflected in the workbooks, the website or the published long-term plans. While the changes can be found on Tāhūrangi, they are not always easy to locate.
These books incorporate those updates, so teachers can be confident they are teaching the current curriculum. Everything is in one place, easy to find, and ready to use.
What advice would you give to teachers in NZ with struggling students?
I know it’s all about coverage right now, rather than consolidation – but sometimes our children actually need to understand something before they move on. These books provide the consolidation needed.
Children need more practice to embed the learning and progress. Our new Maths Practice books are designed to help you do that.
About Jackie Andrews
Jackie Andrews is the principal of St Teresa’s Primary School, Christchurch, New Zealand, where for the last 10 years she has enjoyed teaching and learning alongside students she describes as “the most fabulous little people”. Her classroom experience, combined with her leadership role, continues to shape the practical, supportive resources she creates for busy educators to make teaching manageable, engaging and effective. Her 75+ educational titles across mathematics, English and curriculum planning are widely used in schools. As schools work through ongoing curriculum changes, Jackie is particularly passionate about creating resources that help teachers make sense of new expectations and confidently support learning so that students experience success in the classroom. Outside of education, Jackie’s greatest joy has been watching her own children grow up and begin to spread their wings.
