Investigating the mathematics skills gap in the Primary years

Oxford University Press ANZ is investigating the challenges facing mathematics students in Primary school. Your opinions will help contribute to further research and shape the direction of future mathematics publishing.

The mathematics skills gap in this survey refers to a lack of prerequisite knowledge and gaps in understanding across primary years levels (F–6).

To thank you for your participation, the first 200 respondents to complete the survey will receive a complimentary copy of Daily Workouts for Foundation to Year 6.

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Question Title

* 1. Do you teach maths?

Yes

Question Title

* 2. What year level/s do you teach? Please tick all that apply.

Kindergarten

Foundation

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

None, I hold a position that means I do not teach a class

Question Title

* 3. What methods do you currently use to identify gaps in your students' understanding of mathematical concepts? Please tick all that apply.

Placement tests at the beginning of the year

Testing prior to commencement of a topic

Formative tests

Testing at completion of a topic

Monitoring classroom engagement

Student reports or test results from previous years

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 4. If you undertake placement tests at the beginning of the year, what type of placement test do you use?

Progressive Achievement Test (PAT)

Our school does not use placement tests

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 5. Please estimate the spread of levels of understanding in your mathematics classroom. Please complete for any years that you teach.

	1 year	2 years	3 years	4 years	5 or more years
Kindergarten	Kindergarten 1 year	Kindergarten 2 years	Kindergarten 3 years	Kindergarten 4 years	Kindergarten 5 or more years
Foundation	Foundation 1 year	Foundation 2 years	Foundation 3 years	Foundation 4 years	Foundation 5 or more years
Year 1	Year 1 1 year	Year 1 2 years	Year 1 3 years	Year 1 4 years	Year 1 5 or more years
Year 2	Year 2 1 year	Year 2 2 years	Year 2 3 years	Year 2 4 years	Year 2 5 or more years
Year 3	Year 3 1 year	Year 3 2 years	Year 3 3 years	Year 3 4 years	Year 3 5 or more years
Year 4	Year 4 1 year	Year 4 2 years	Year 4 3 years	Year 4 4 years	Year 4 5 or more years
Year 5	Year 5 1 year	Year 5 2 years	Year 5 3 years	Year 5 4 years	Year 5 5 or more years
Year 6	Year 6 1 year	Year 6 2 years	Year 6 3 years	Year 6 4 years	Year 6 5 or more years

Question Title

* 6. How do you think the spread of skills impacts your students’ progress in mathematics? Please tick all that apply.

Hampers their progression through the course

Reduces their engagement with mathematics

Reduces their confidence and increases anxiety

Negatively impacts on their performance

Reduces their achievement

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 7. Do you think the spread of skills has consequences for students' longer-term learning?

No, not really

Yes, to a great extent

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

Question Title

* 8. Do you think gaps in literacy and comprehension skills can impact students’ progress with maths? Please complete for any years you teach.

	Very unlikely	Unlikely	Neither likely nor unlikely	Likely	Very likely
Kindergarten	Kindergarten Very unlikely	Kindergarten Unlikely	Kindergarten Neither likely nor unlikely	Kindergarten Likely	Kindergarten Very likely
Foundation	Foundation Very unlikely	Foundation Unlikely	Foundation Neither likely nor unlikely	Foundation Likely	Foundation Very likely
Year 1	Year 1 Very unlikely	Year 1 Unlikely	Year 1 Neither likely nor unlikely	Year 1 Likely	Year 1 Very likely
Year 2	Year 2 Very unlikely	Year 2 Unlikely	Year 2 Neither likely nor unlikely	Year 2 Likely	Year 2 Very likely
Year 3	Year 3 Very unlikely	Year 3 Unlikely	Year 3 Neither likely nor unlikely	Year 3 Likely	Year 3 Very likely
Year 4	Year 4 Very unlikely	Year 4 Unlikely	Year 4 Neither likely nor unlikely	Year 4 Likely	Year 4 Very likely
Year 5	Year 5 Very unlikely	Year 5 Unlikely	Year 5 Neither likely nor unlikely	Year 5 Likely	Year 5 Very likely
Year 6	Year 6 Very unlikely	Year 6 Unlikely	Year 6 Neither likely nor unlikely	Year 6 Likely	Year 6 Very likely

Question Title

* 9. What are the key issues that you think are preventing you from addressing gaps in student understanding? Please tick all that apply.

Time constraints

Lack of resources

Lack of knowledge of remedial teaching methods

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 10. What additional resources do you think would help you to address the mathematics skills gap in the classroom? Please tick all that apply.

Diagnostic testing and reporting

Differentiated learning resources

Access to intervention resources

Personalised learning resources

Professional development and training

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 11. Do you teach Upper Primary maths?

Yes