​Numicon at ISD

Numicon is a flexible mathematical resource that demonstrates, in an easily accessible way, the underlying patterns and functions of our number system to our students. Numicon complements any pre-existing mathematical program as a concrete resource and can also be used as a curriculum itself. Additionally, Numicon makes the learning fun and engaging for the children and can break fixed mindsets about what maths should be. It can develop and enhance a child's capacity, confidence, creativity, and fluency in mathematical concepts.

Numicon is a constructivist theory practically applied. It has a proven success record in a variety of settings over time. Although initially designed for lower elementary mathematics, Numicon is a resource that has been proven useful and effective in uncovering understanding for some of the most sophisticated concepts in the upper elementary, and indeed also into the middle years of a senior school. Numicon has been found useful for a variety of essential numeracy ideas. These include but are not limited to number bonds, place value, odd and even, associative multiplicative facts, factors and multiples, fractional sets, decimals, and ratios.

Because of such utility, at ISD we have Numicon resources available in every elementary classroom. Numicon is used as a curriculum in our Prep classes , and in Grades 1 to 5, the resources are used frequently to enhance lessons from our constructivist maths program. Numicon has become an important part of our customised numeracy intervention program, both as a resource and for its activity ideas. This intervention has been successfully used in grade levels 3 through 7.

The wide and varied benefits of Numicon to our students at ISD have encouraged us to want to spread the message far and wide. We believe this resource will enhance the quality of conceptually based mathematics teaching for all who use it. To this end we are proud to offer semi-regular Central Professional Development courses introducing Numicon in a variety of settings, all designed to help children ‘make numbers real’.

The prime workshop leader for these Professional Development opportunities is David Lyttle, whose profile can be seen here. Click here for upcoming workshops.

Any questions? Contact David at lyttled@isdedu.de.