Introduction
Place value is one of the cornerstones of our number system. Therefore, developing a robust, conceptual understanding of this topic is vital. If this is not achieved and if focus is placed on short-term performance or procedural knowledge, progress in mathematics is likely to be delayed (Department of Education WA, 2013a). Green (2014) upholds this belief as she describes seeing maths as more than just a list of rules to be memorised. Instead, mathematics should allow children to make sense of the world around them.
Part A
Diagnostic Assessment
Diagnostic assessment is designed to determine students’ existing knowledge about a topic or concept. This is important because students’ prior knowledge should be recognised and utilised
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Instead students must construct their own mathematical knowledge, in there own way and at their own pace. The First Steps in Mathematics resources upholds the belief that learning is done “by the learner rather than to the learner” (Department of Education WA, 2013a). This means that children should be given the opportunity to utilise hands-on materials to make sense of the information they are being exposed to. For example, MABs and bundling sticks can be utilised to teach a variety of concepts. This equipment can be used to build numbers from 10 to 100 and beyond. The numbers created can then be written on place value charts. This assists children to makes sense of the ten group and understand how it can be displayed in different entities, such as, a ‘ten group’ or ‘ten …show more content…
The use of materials turns abstract mathematical ideas into concrete, real-world situations. Manipulatives can be utilised to introduce concepts, pose problems and uncover solutions (Burns, n.d.). For example, bundling sticks, MABs and ten frames can be used to show how zero acts as a place holder; number expanders can be used to teach the columns of place value; Unifix is very helpful when teaching part-part-whole relationships; and lastly, dot cards and counters can be used to teach counting and