Teachers' Day - 25 November 2025
Victoria University of Wellington is delighted to host a special Mathematics and Statistics Teachers’ Day in 2025! This event is designed to bring together maths and stats teachers from across the Wellington region for a day of professional development, collaboration, and inspiration. Join us for a free, full-day programme held at our Kelburn Campus, featuring engaging sessions, networking opportunities, and practical teaching insights. Date: Tuesday, 25 November 2025Location: Kelburn Campus, Victoria University of Wellington
(See our campus map for directions.) Time: All participants should report to The Hub upon arrival. Catering: Morning tea and lunch will be provided. Registrations close: Sunday, 9 November 2025 (Registration is closed) You can register here. Parking: Parking around the university is limited. The closest options (available on a first-come, first-served basis) are located on Waiteata Road, Salamanca Road, Kelburn Parade, and Landcross Street. Some of these are coupon parking areas, and you will need the PayMyPark app to purchase a parking coupon. Contact:
If you have any questions, please contact Tanya Gvozdeva at tanya.gvozdeva@vuw.ac.nz.
Schedule for the Day:
Will be added soon| Time | Activity | Location |
| 9.15-9.30 am | Registration | the Hub |
| 9.30-9.35 am | School of Mathematics and Statistics Introduction (Richard Arnold) | |
| 9.35-10.30 am | Keynote (Pania Te Maro) | KKLT301 |
| 10.30-10.50 am | Morning tea | Kirk foyer outside KKLT301 |
| 10.50am-12pm | Workshops | |
| AI Tools For Teachers - Reducing Workload & Sparking Creativity (Peter Duncan) | MY302 | |
| Crash course in first year Maths and Stats (David Cox, Steven Archer, Tanya Gvozdeva) | MY301 | |
| Weaving together mātauranga Māori and mātauranga maths (Pania Te Maro) | MY108 | |
| Extension maths in primary schools (Andrew Graham) | KK204 | |
| Roll the dice... a little bit of rational number fun (Julie Roberts) | KK203 | |
| Using Examples from the History of Probability to Support Strong Probability Teaching and Learning (Robin Averill) | KK202 | |
| Teaching and learning through the mathematics and statistics processes (Dr Cami Sawyer, Kylie Begg) | MY107 | |
| 12-12.30 pm | Victoria University information session | KKLT301 |
| 12.30-1.30 pm | Lunch | Kirk foyer outside KKLT301 |
| 1.30-2.40 pm | Workshops | |
| AI Tools For Teachers - Reducing Workload & Sparking Creativity (Peter Duncan) | MY302 | |
| Crash course in first year Maths and Stats (David Cox, Steven Archer, Tanya Gvozdeva) | MY301 | |
| Weaving together mātauranga Māori and mātauranga maths (Pania Te Maro) | MY108 | |
| Teachers Discuss the New Curriculum (WMA Executive) | KKLT301 | |
| PAT Pāngarau / PAT Mathematics (Julie Roberts) | KK203 | |
| Using Examples from the History of Probability to Support Strong Probability Teaching and Learning (Robin Averill) | KK202 | |
| Accelerating progress: supporting students to learn year level content (Dr Cami Sawyer, Kylie Begg) | MY107 | |
| 2.40-3pm | Closing talk | KKLT301 |
Short abstracts:
Peter Duncan, AI Tools For Teachers - Reducing Workload & Sparking Creativity
- The talk focuses on using generative AI to reduce teacher workload.
- It aims to spark creativity in learning experiences for Kiwi teachers.
- The session covers prompt engineering, AI tools, and workflows.
- It also highlights a prompt library tailored to the NZ curriculum.
- The presentation emphasises ethical implementation and next steps for schools.
Robin Averill, Using Examples from the History of Probability to Support Strong Probability Teaching and Learning
In this workshop we will explore ideas and examples from the history of probability understanding. We will try out some historical problems and consider where and how they can fit in our probability teaching. We will reflect on some early probability errors and how using these can help students avoid common probability misconceptions. Workshop examples are drawn from a chapter under development for the new book on teaching probability, available at https://new.censusatschool.org.nz/teaching-probability-book/
SLIDES: Robin Averill_ Using Examples from the History of Probability to Support Strong Probability Teaching and Learning.docxJulie Roberts, Roll the dice… a little bit of rational number fun
This workshop was presented at NZAMT conference in July. Let’s explore and have a play in the rational number space (Years 4 – 8 but tasks can be extended). Tasks will include games, conversation starters like discuss defend and conjectures, and ways to use equipment to support ākonga justifying and explaining their understanding and make connections between concepts.
As we explore each task, we will make connections with the mathematical processes (Dos) and how you can support ākonga to develop these skills to support their learning and how the processes can support you as a kaiako in your role as an adaptive practitioner.
SLIDES: NZAMT Fractions Phases 2 - 3.pdf
Julie Roberts, PAT Pāngarau | PAT Mathematics
PAT Pāngarau | PAT Mathematics assessments have a wealth of information to support teaching and learning, along with reflect on classroom practice and programmes. This workshop will explore the formative value of using the information in the PAT Pāngarau reports. Come and learn how to discover the story in your data, ways to effectively filter, and how to use this information to support teaching and learning.
In Term 1 NZCER introduced new filters in the item report, particularly to support adaptive item reporting. These filters are allowing teachers to filter the item report in different ways to identify trends, patterns and next steps. Come and learn some tips on effective use of the filters in the reports.
If your school uses PAT Pāngarau | PAT Mathematics, bring your laptop and password so you can explore your data in the workshop. If you want to learn about PATs, bring your laptop and you can explore a set of demo data.
SLIDES: NZAMT PAT Pangarau Analysis.pdf
Dr Cami Sawyer, Kylie Begg, Teaching and learning through the mathematics and statistics processes
The mathematical and statistical processes are fundamental to all learning experiences. They are how we learn concepts and procedures and understand the big ideas.
In this workshop we will learn more about each of the processes, and what they ‘look like’ in planning and in action. We will do some practical activities using new resources created to help teachers plan to engage students with the processes.
SLIDES: The maths and stats processes WMA.pptx
Dr Cami Sawyer, Kylie Begg, Accelerating progress: supporting students to learn year level content
Every classroom includes a diverse range of students with different prior experiences. There will be students who need targeted support to accelerate their learning and enable them to engage in the year level content. In this workshop we will explore the latest research and guidance about approaches schools and teachers can take to support every student.
SLIDES: Acceleration WMA final.pptx
WMA Executive, Teachers Discuss the New Curriculum
This will be an open, structured, session for teachers to discuss what they are noticing in the new curriculum on 19 October 2025. This is not a session to hear from the writers, or Ministry representatives – it is for to-be users of the curriculum to share what their thoughts are, and the actions they are taking to successfully implement the curriculum. Notes will be taken, and any pertinent questions/feedback, including any queries related to reporting expectations and assessment, sent through to the Ministry.
SLIDES: WMA Executive _ Karen Chow_ Teachers Discuss the New Curriculum.docx Padlet: tinyurl.com/wmacurriculumCrash course in first year Maths and Stats - David Cox, Steven Archer, Tanya Gvozdeva
- Some info about us, the School of Mathematics and Statistics (SMS), and where we fit in the university structure.
- See the eleven 100-level courses SMS teaches, how they fit together and where students join us in their learning journey.
- Some insights on how our majors work and how they fit in with other popular programmes.
- Throughout the workshop, you'll get to try problems our first year students tackle and be able to ask us about courses and programmes. We’ll discuss some potential differences between school and uni.
Pania Te Maro, Weaving together mātauranga Māori & mātauranga Maths
They say that we are what we eat. My generation were brought up on a diet of knowledge selected by those with the power to proffer their preferences to provide for their needs. We were also brought up with barrages of information that told us what was best for us. We never questioned that one way was the only way, and if we did it that way and got ticks and not crosses, we also got to believe that we were the best. Those tests were deceptive and drove us on to predetermined destinies. I’d like to share some Paul Lockhart and question why we never really got to do maths and what it felt like when I did.
After discussing a shift in making maths meaningful, relevant, enjoyable, something that when you could see it, you could enjoy it beyond the joy of getting good marks and being a good student. I’d like us to talk about the joy of seeing it, getting it, and wanting to set up education to let our mokopuna see it better, play with it, in it, beside it, and not having to give up who they inherently are. Not having to judge themselves according to carefully selected pieces of knowledge that indicate how worthy or worthless you, we, they are. To not judge at all, but to see when mokopuna can see something they didn’t see before through meaningful, multiple, simultaneous knowledge systems experiences of worlds and life.
Please contact Pania P.Temaro@massey.ac.nz) if you are interested in carving out a few days to work with her on developing resources/activities and planning for how to carry out equity for mātauranga Māori in mathematics.
SLIDES: Pania Te Maro_ Weaving together mātauranga maths and mātauranga Māori.pptx
