Certificate in Future Oriented Learning

Thinking like a mathematician: increasing student self-efficacy in maths

This project investigated ways to improve Year 6 students’ self-efficacy in Mathematics by encouraging them to “think like mathematicians.” Recognising that a lack of confidence and a reluctance to engage with challenging tasks were hindering learning, the intervention combined research-based pedagogies with a supportive classroom environment. 

Over the course of a term, students participated in activities designed to foster positive dispositions, such as collaborative problem-solving, reflective discussions on mistakes, and explicit teaching of mathematical mindsets. Pre- and post-intervention observations, alongside informal surveys, indicated that students were more willing to persevere when facing complex problems, reported greater enjoyment in lessons, and increasingly identified themselves as capable mathematicians. 

The success of this classroom-based initiative, along with positive feedback from leadership and other staff, underlines the potential for targeted, research-driven approaches to influence students’ confidence and achievement in Mathematics.