Vosaic Observation Term 4

 This year, I have been focusing on my maths teaching while implementing our new maths program Prime Maths. My students are doing very well and we worked hard to understand and implement this new focused way of teaching maths. 

For my final Vosaic observation of the year, my question was: Has the teacher implemented a lesson that allows students to explore mathematical concepts, using manipulatives as tools for discovery, while also facilitating meaningful mathematical discussions and problem-solving? 

The progam had this to say about my lesson: 

Yes. The teacher implemented a lesson that uses manipulatives for student exploration and supports mathematical discussion and problem-solving.

• Manipulatives used as tools for discovery: The teacher instructs pairs to each take 10 counters and to combine and split them to explore division. The class physically combines to make 20 counters and then splits into two groups, and later students are encouraged to use counters or draw on whiteboards/MacBooks for practice.
• Exploration of mathematical concepts: The teacher models and elicits conceptual understanding of division as “splitting into groups,” connects division to multiplication as its inverse, and demonstrates multiple symbolic forms of division. Concrete examples are used (20 rings into 2 groups → 10 each  ; 9 seahorses into 3 groups → 3 each ; 20 chicks into 4 nests → 5 each at.
• Facilitation of mathematical discussion and problem-solving: The teacher prompts pair talk and checks students’ grouping, asks guiding questions, asks students to write number sentences and explains how to record division, and has students both draw representations and use facts to check answers .
• Opportunities to justify/check answers: The teacher models checking division via multiplication and has students demonstrate by counting or using multiplication facts.

Evidence-based moments to highlight

• Moment 1 (manipulative exploration): Students combine counters and split into two groups to discover 20 ÷ 2 = 10.
• Moment 2 (conceptual discussion and representation): The teacher connects division to multiplication and shows multiple symbolic representations and a fraction connection.

Conclusion

Overall, the transcript shows a lesson structure that integrates manipulatives for hands-on discovery, prompts partner discussion, models representation and notation, and reinforces conceptual understanding and checking strategies—supporting meaningful mathematical exploration and problem-solving.

At the beginning of the year, I was most worried about how to best implement the use of manipulatives to springboard conceptual understanding and mathematical vocabulary development. Now, I fully believe that take the time to read the teacher notes and follow them as a guide for my maths lessons I can easily achieve this in my lessons on a daily basis. 

The summary of my lesson provided me with more feedback that I will consider moving forward into next year, primarily providing more opportunites for students to talk during our math sessions especially during the we do/you do portions of our lessons. 

Prime Maths: A Different Classroom Environment

 We are moving along into our Prime Maths journey, and as we move along we have encountered many learning bumps along the way. However, as a class, I strongly feel like we have made the easy turn to understanding. The students now understand what is expected of them and they are working diligently to complete their learning in a timely manner. They had developed a deeper understanding for MathsPro (the online "assess" component) and now know that they must try their best, and seek help as needed, to obtain the highest score possible. They are independently asking to have their mathspro tasks reset so that they may resit a session after reviewing what they have done wrong the first time through. 

Students are taking it upon themselves to actively use the manipulatives we modeled and worked with at the beginning of each session when completing their work as needed. 

Check out this photo of students working independently all using different modes of learning. Such an amazing thing to see!