Teaching Number in the Classroom with 4-8 Year Olds

Dr Robert J. (Bob) Wright holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in mathematics from the University of Queensland (Australia) and a doctoral degree in mathematics education from the University of Georgia. He is an adjunct professor in mathematics education at Southern Cross University in New South Wales. Bob is an inter­nationally recognized leader in assessment and instruction relating to children’s early arithmetical knowledge and strategies, publishing six books, and many articles and papers in this field. His work over the last 25 years has included the development of the Mathematics Recovery Program, which focuses on providing specialist training for teachers to advance the numeracy levels of young children assessed as low-attainers. In Australia and New Zealand, Ireland, the UK, the USA, Canada, Mexico, South Africa and elsewhere, this programme has been implemented widely, and applied extensively to classroom teaching and to average and able learners as well as low-attainers. Bob has conducted several research projects funded by the Australian Research Council including the most recent project focusing on assessment and intervention in the early arithmetical learning of low-attaining 8- to 10-year-olds.

Garry Stanger has had a wide-ranging involvement in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Australia. He has held positions of Head Teacher, Deputy Principal and Principal, and has been a Mathematics Consultant with the New South Wales Department of Education. He has also taught in schools in the USA. He has worked with Robert Wright on the Mathematics Recovery project since its inception in 1992 and has been involved in the development of the Count Me In Too early numeracy project. His last project before finally retiring was working with Jenny Bednall, Head of Junior School, Trinity South and the thirty teachers at the Trinity College schools in South Australia. 

Ann Stafford’s academic background includes graduate study at Southern Cross University, Australia, the University of Chicago, and Clemson University. She received a Master’s degree from Duke University and an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her professional experience includes teaching and administrative roles in K-5 classrooms and supervision in the areas of mathematics, gifted, early childhood, and remedial as well as teaching and research positions at Clemson University. She has led in the writing and development of Early Childhood and Mathematics Curricula for the School District of Oconee County, South Carolina. Ann has received numerous professional awards and grants for outstanding contributions to the region and state for mathematics and leadership. She was the leader in the implementation and classroom applications of Mathematics Recovery in the USA and currently is an academic consultant.

Jim Martland is a member of the International Board of Mathematics Recovery and Founder of the Mathematics Recovery Council (UK and Ireland). He was a Senior Fellow in the Department of Education at the University of Liverpool. In his long career in education he has held headships in primary and middle schools and was Director of Primary Initial Teacher Training. In all the posts he continued to teach and pursue research in primary mathematics. His current work is with local education authorities in the UK and Canada, delivering professional development courses on assessing children’s difficulties in numeracy and designing and evaluating teaching interventions.