Maths - creating opeNups

'OpeNups' are tasks that give students opportunity to activate their learning. A rich and balanced maths programme includes tasks - these are open and solved in a short time, investigations - solved over a longer period of time, and games - open, repeated use, focus can change. Open tasks promote the 'dos' (understand - know - do) - modelling and investigating and communication. The give us an opportunity to assess in a fun way - by children exploring. 

We spent time building tasks that teachers can do repeatedly with students and adapt. The aim is to have a folder that cluster teachers will contribute to and share tasks for multiple levels. Teachers creating tasks builds consistency and alignment with the progressions. We'll have a folder of annotated 'samples' of what students need to be doing to be 'here'.

I liked seeing how Rob modelled launching an investigation (into coordinates), how engaged all learners were and the possibility for teacher to provide explicit teaching, enable and extend learners, formatively assess student learning, and be flexible with groups. 

We're booked in to continue with Rob (and his team) next year and this will put us well on track with learning the new curriculum for maths. (Rob said to think of it more as a re-write - it will still be familiar. Number, Algebra, Measurement, Space, Statistics and Probability. )