In October 2021 and May 2022, all students at Tait from Kindergarten to Grade 7 were given a survey about their thoughts and opinions as a math learner. The survey asked students to share their personal view of themselves as a math learner from 4 questions:

1. I like Learning Math

2. When I am Stuck on a Question I Keep Trying

3. I Understand / Think it is OK to Make Mistakes and Learn From Them

4. I Can Share My Thinking and Feel Confident as a Math Learner

Teachers are always observing and noticing the development of skills in our students and the changes in their confidence when learning. Using the 'Spirals of Inquiry' process, this technique is called Scanning. While Scanning our students during math activities, teachers at Tait developed a Hunch: Students progressing through primary grades (kindergarten, Gr. 1, Gr. 2, Gr. 3) move from a positive Growth Mindset in their primary years towards a negative Fixed Mindset in their intermediate years (Gr. 4, Gr. 5, Gr. 6, Gr. 7). Our initial October survey provided evidence that our Hunch may be correct. Overall, the October Survey showed students in primary grades liked math more, had more resiliency when completing math activities and were more confident than students in intermediate grades.

Teachers at Tait decided to see if they could have a positive impact on the individual math beliefs of students across all grades, but particularly students in intermediate grades. Teachers decided to look at different, more engaging ways to teach math lessons - lessons that would allow all students to grow as math learners, particularly in the areas of improving mental math strategies and computational fluency.

In May 2022, after 6 months of innovative and engaging math lessons, students completed the same survey. Data from the survey has shown there have been some changes in the way students in all grades see themselves as a math learner. Collectively, intermediate students reported they are more confident as a math learner, shifting their mindset from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset.