Using a one-question snapshot to surface arithmetic understanding

Abstract

Persistent concerns about arithmetic fluency in primary classrooms often focus on whether students can produce correct answers, rather than how those answers are generated. Drawing on research in mental computation and formative assessment, and on large-scale professional learning work across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, this article introduces the one-question snapshot as a practical routine for everyday classroom use. The routine is designed to surface students’ strategies and support teacher noticing. Practice-based evidence from recent work with Aotearoa New Zealand schools illustrates how the routine can reveal hidden reliance on counting strategies and inform more responsive teaching approaches.
 

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