Excellence in mathematics education forms one of the crucial foundations for a child’s academic success and future development. Recognising this fundamental truth, The Way Christian Schools recently embarked on a programme to enhance our mathematics teaching methodology, particularly focusing on Base Ten concepts in our Foundation Phase.
We were privileged to welcome Dr Thulelah Blessing Takane, an educator with a PhD in Primary Mathematics, to conduct specialised training for our Foundation Phase teachers. Dr Takane brings extensive experience, including 18 years in education and significant work with the Wits Maths Connect Primary Project, where she has trained hundreds of teachers across Gauteng.
The Base Ten Thinking programme, developed from Dr Samantha Morrison’s doctoral research, aims to improve learners’ proficiency in structuring numbers and calculations. This approach helps children calculate efficiently in higher number ranges – a skill essential for success in later mathematical studies, particularly algebra.
Following the initial training session, Dr Takane visited our classrooms to observe the implementation of these new strategies. Her feedback was overwhelmingly positive, noting impressive results across all grade levels. Our Grade R teacher received a particular commendation for successfully introducing complex Base Ten concepts to our youngest learners, while our Grade 3 pupils demonstrated remarkable aptitude with the empty number line method.
Other key achievements observed in our classrooms included:
- Successful implementation of teaching strategies such as ‘pop fizz’ to enhance mathematical fluency
- Appropriate use of mathematical language, with pupils confidently explaining their thinking processes
- Minimal reliance on counting out loud, with children instead employing mental calculations and reasoning
- Effective use of multiple representations, including bead strings and ten frames
- Strong understanding of number bonds and breaking down numbers
Most notably, our pupils demonstrated the ability to work with numbers mentally, showing understanding rather than mere memorisation. This approach aligns perfectly with our school’s philosophy that strong foundations lead to fulfilled, capable individuals.
This training programme represents our commitment to providing education that goes beyond the standard CAPS curriculum requirements. While we maintain full compliance with national standards, we continuously seek opportunities to enhance our teaching methodologies and provide our pupils with the best possible foundation for their academic journey.