Nicki, a teacher from Gladstone State High School in the Make It Count Cluster discusses what and how they went about improving maths outcomes for Indigenous students.

1. Gladstone Cluster

2. As a cluster we have met regularly to:
•Discusswhat is happening in our schools
•Share resources and ideas
•Interact with our students in a non classroom situation
•Present to the district
•Demonstrate our pedagogy
•Inspire our cohort
•Support ideas and school direction
•Influence others
•Challenge our own ideas
•Learn from each other
•Reflect on our own practices

3. Gladstone State High School is aiming at improving indigenous results through:
•Murri Centre run by Aunty Loris
•Indigenous Teacher Aides
•Murri Homework Centre
•ARTIE Program
•District Organised Events
•“Know your class” focus
•Improving individual pedagogy

4. We have focussed on:
•Building strong and trusting relationships
•Used hands on learning
•Accessing maths 300
•Utilised more resources
•How and what the students are learning
•Celebrating successes
•Developing mathematical thinking
•Real life situations and stories
•Reasonableness

6. Has my teaching changed?
I don’t think that my teaching has changed during my
involvement with Make It Count; however my awareness
of how I teach and what I teach has definitely been a
priority which I think has improved my overall teaching
pedagogy.
2011 and my involvement with Make It Count has made
me a better teacher to all students in my classroom.