This story exemplifies the importance of talking about and validating learners' own ways of problem-solving. Numeracy instruction endeavours to strike a balance between learning "traditional" numerical calculation and using learners' own life experiences and knowledge.

This approach to Numeracy integrates all of Banks' typologies of knowledge (see Introduction, p. 12). Numerical calculation skills are one form of school or mainstream academic knowledge. These are integrated with "real-life" numeracy problems that honour the personal, cultural, and popular knowledge adults bring to the learning environment. In this way, an adult's own life experiences are validated. The approach motivates learners and can stem math anxiety.

NUMERACY Level 1 NUMERACY Level 2

Benchmark

Demonstrate basic numeracy skills.

Learning Outcomes
  1. Learners will demonstrate knowledge of numbers and number sense.
  2. Learners will demonstrate knowledge of basic numerical operations.
  3. Learners will demonstrate basic knowledge of space, shape, and measurement.

Benchmark

Demonstrate complex numeracy skills.

Learning Outcomes
  1. Learners will demonstrate knowledge of complex numerical operations.
  2. Learners will demonstrate complex knowledge of space, shape, and measurement.
  3. Learners will demonstrate knowledge of data interpretation.

Benchmark

Solve simple numeracy problems in daily life.

Learning Outcomes
  1. Learners will demonstrate critical and creative thinking to solve simple mathematical problems.
  2. Learners will understand and use numeracy for practical daily living tasks.

Benchmark

Solve complex numeracy problems in daily life.

Learning Outcomes
  1. Learners will demonstrate critical and creative thinking strategies to solve complex mathematical problems.
  2. Learners will understand and use numeracy for complex daily living tasks.