A grassroots approach to improving numeracy

Abstract

Following a successful approach to improving literacy, a group of schools in one district in South Australia developed a plan to raise numeracy outcomes among their students. The three-year Southern Numeracy Initiative was planned collaboratively by teachers in the district. Changes in performance were monitored across the years of the project to provide feedback to schools and to the system. Despite transfers of teaching staff and changes in the schools involved there was significant improvement in numeracy performance across every grade. Strengths and weaknesses of this grassroots approach to improving standards will be discussed.