Extending mathematical understanding (EMU) is a mathematical intervention program utilised in a number of dioceses around Australia. The aim of the program is to accelerate student growth while diagnosing students’ mathematical difficulties Gervasoni (2012).
In the past five weeks I have been getting to know my stage two students for the year but also getting to know three year 1 students who will form part of my intervention group for the year. I am just skimming the surface but these students are eager to learn and grow. It has been through this process that I have been reflecting on the students within my own class.
Students with vulnerability in mathematics present in so many different ways. They can:
- be the quite student in your class who never offers suggestions or ideas;
- the disruptive student who aims to disturb those around them;
- the over confident student who thinks they have mathematics all sorted;
- the student who is distracted by the counters or manipulatives that they have around them; or
- so many other students in between.
Based on CEDP intervention model EMU intervention falls into ‘tier two’ intervention. It is a small group, three student, intervention and the program runs for a period of 20 weeks. However, prior to the intervention in ‘tier one’ classroom instruction. This year in my classroom teaching role, I have many students that require this sort of intervention in my mathematics lessons. They need assistance to understand the mathematics that is happening within the classroom. This falls under diversity being the norm, in our classrooms.
As I write this blog and as I’ve started my training to become an early years intervention its allowed me to think about how I teach mathematics and how I want to teach mathematics to my students. This year will be a big learning curve as I tackle new challenges but I know when I look back at the end of the year I want students in my class and students in my intervention group that love mathematics and believe that their brain can grow to learn lots of new things every single day.
iTeach 