How did it happen?
The Years 6–8 project strongly developed the involvement of teachers and parents in planning and implementing processes that will cultivate ongoing positive relationships. These relationships lead to better understanding of the learning needs of students and of the need for parents to play a role in supporting and being closely involved in their child's learning.
...some resistance was encountered until the members of the team developed an understanding of the project goals and confidence in each other.
The main focus of the project was to engage schools and communities in analysing the issues around numeracy learning for Aboriginal students in the transition period across Years 6–8. This required the primary and high school teachers to work together with their community in the development of the teaching materials. A key to the success of each school project was the support and encouragement given by the school's executive. It was clear that where there had been consultation and negotiation with the teachers about their involvement in the project the process flowed naturally and with greater likelihood of success. Conversely, where the project appeared to have a top-down direction some resistance was encountered until the members of the team developed an understanding of the project goals and confidence in each other.
In 2005 the project shifted focus to classroom activities. Each of the teams at Gilgandra and Quirindi primary schools reflected and analysed their previous year's activities. The evaluations showed enthusiastic engagement by the students and improved learning outcomes. The reasons were identified as the hands-on nature of the learning experiences, the structure of the steps in each activity and their connectedness to culture and real-life learning.
As a result of the evaluations and analyses of numeracy data, the teachers, AEAs and mentors developed a series of class lessons focusing on measurement that more explicitly combined teaching with student activities emphasising hands-on experiences.