Place Value: Assessment & Targeted Instruction

Description

Place value understanding underpins almost every part of the mathematics curriculum. Counting, estimating, money, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, converting units, scientific notation and percentage all relate to place value. Research has shown that many students fail to develop a robust understanding of place value in early Primary school, which places them at considerable risk of failing to understand the subsequent big ideas (including multiplicative thinking and partitioning). In this session Dr Ange Rogers will share her research into the development of a valid and reliable whole number place value assessment called the Place Value Assessment Tool (PVAT), and how this assessment can be used to accurately identify gaps in student understanding. The session will unpack several common student misconceptions and provide practical ideas for addressing, and where possible avoiding, the development of these misconceptions. A framework will be presented to support teachers to systematically and comprehensively teach place value. Participants will leave this session with a deeper appreciation for the challenges and importance of place value and be armed with a variety of ideas to assess and target the needs of their students.

2 PD Points