The no-language method

The teacher draws on teaching strategies informed by indigenous Australian culture, that she feels are relevant for all of her students. She uses a no-language activity to tune the students in to maths and to remove any potential confusion for EAL/D students, generated by language. The teacher also incorporates drawing into the activity, inspired by sand-drawings, to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and collaboration.

Humpty Doo Primary School is a Northern Territory Government primary school situated 40km South-East of Darwin. The school has a student population that reflects the multicultural diversity of the surrounding community with a large number of families who speak English as a Second Language. 25% of students identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and a further 30% of the students have Vietnamese, Thai, Filipino, Japanese, Indonesian, Cambodian, Spanish, Dutch or Chinese cultural backgrounds. Humpty Doo Primary School has a priority to develop the social-emotional wellness and inclusion of all members within the school community. To support this priority, the school is committed to being an active KidsMatter school and Tribes Learning Community. Staff work collaboratively in teaching and learning hubs to develop curriculum programs responsive to the Australian Curriculum with a current focus on literacy improvement and the implementation of Visible Learning approaches.