S03E03 - Liana McCurry on Mathematical Practices in High Performing Countries


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Feb 08 2025 64 mins   11

In this episode of Knowledge for Teachers, Brendan Lee speaks with Liana McCurry, a passionate advocate for primary school maths education. Fresh from her Churchill Fellowship, Liana shares findings from her research into mathematical practices across six countries.


Listeners will gain insights into the systemic issues contributing to Australia's declining maths performance and discover how to bridge the research-to-practice gap. Liana delves into key topics, including:



  • Mathematical modelling and its surprisingly misunderstood place in the curriculum.

  • The power of multisensory approaches to unlock conceptual understanding.

  • Why fluency in maths is a foundational skill that needs renewed focus.


Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion that equips educators with practical knowledge and strategies to transform maths education in their classrooms.


Resources mentioned:



  • Books:







      • Explicit Direct Instruction by Hollingsworth and Ybarra.

      • Explicit Instruction by Anita Archer and Charles Hughes

      • Harnessing the Science of Learning by Nathaniel Swain.

      • Direct Instruction Mathematics by Stein et al



    • Websites:

      • Ochre

      • Science of Math website.

      • Thinking Forward Educators,

      • Brian Poncy's MIND

      • Steve Wyborney's Esti Mysteries



    • Podcasts:

      • Knowledge for Teachers.

      • Dyscastia, hosted by Bill Hansberry and Michael Shanahan.

      • Craig Barton podcast.

      • Progressively Incorrect, hosted by Zach Groshell

      • Chalk and Talk, hosted by Anna Stokke







  • Training and Conferences:





    • Sharing Best Practice conferences.

    • What Works series in Geelong.

    • Orton Gillingham Math, Multisensory Maths training





You can connect with Liana:


Linkedin


Email: [email protected]


Website: sol-education.net



You can connect with Brendan:


Twitter: @learnwithmrlee


Facebook: @learningwithmrlee


Website: learnwithlee.net



Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:

https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast



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