Cover of Set 2026 number 2

Set 2026: no. 2

Purchase a physical copy of this issue or subscribe
NZ$60.00

Early mathematical thinking is often missed when assessment focuses only on numbers and symbols. This article explores how young children express mathematical ideas through multiple modes in play-based contexts, including gesture, drawing, construction, movement, and interaction with materials. Drawing on social semiotics, embodied learning, and play-based pedagogy, this article highlights how children engage in mathematical thinking and communication through pattern, spatial reasoning,… Read more

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… Read more