The Primary Maths Instruction Framework: From Acquisition to Adaptation

4 Day Online Course

Teach primary maths with clarity and confidence

Teach primary maths with clarity and confidence. Learn a complete instructional framework that helps teachers make stronger decisions in every lesson and build more consistent maths instruction across the school.

Why this professional learning matters

Many teachers work incredibly hard yet still feel unsure about the best next step during a lesson. Leaders want consistent practice across classrooms but often see mixed approaches and mixed results. Teachers want students to understand new ideas yet often feel frustrated when learning does not stick.

Most teachers have never been shown a clear structure for how to teach maths in a way that aligns with how learning happens.

This workshop gives you that structure.

What you will learn

You will leave with a practical framework that guides what to do and when to do it so your lessons feel more intentional and more effective.

You will learn how to

• Navigate the Instructional Hierarchy: Use the Instructional Hierarchy as your roadmap to match teaching strategies to every student's stage of learning.

• Master the Gradual Release: Learn practical mechanics for explicit modeling, guided practice, and independent execution so all students succeed.

• Unlock Working Memory Through Fluency: Run short, high-frequency routines that free up working memory and solve common classroom hurdles.

• Balance Concepts and Procedures: Learn how to teach both conceptual and procedural understanding with clarity.

• Empower Independent Problem Solvers: Use schema-based instruction. attack strategies and Talk Aloud Problem-Solving (TAPS) to help every student tackle complex word problems.

• Maximise Daily Reviews: Understand what the key mechanisms are that ensure students experience desirable difficulties during retrieval practice.

• Use Consistent Routines: Establish predictable structures that reduce confusion and support positive classroom behaviour.

Everything is practical and informed by evidence.

How

Previous versions of this course went for two or three days, but feedback from participants was that they needed more time between sessions to implement and test strategies! So, this course has been expanded into a four-day professional learning series spread across Terms 1 and 2. This gives participants genuine runway to try out explicit instruction and fluency routines in their classrooms, troubleshoot hurdles and refine their practice.

By the end of each day, participants will leave with an actionable plan to implement. A comprehensive workbook will be provided to support your learning across the program.

Who should attend

This training is ideal for teachers and leaders who want greater clarity and consistency in their maths instruction, regardless of the resources and programs your school uses.

It is perfect for:

• Classroom teachers who want reliable methods to improve student success

• Maths leaders who want a shared approach across their team

• Assistant principals and instructional coaches who guide teaching practice

• Schools seeking stronger outcomes through coherent instruction

If you want to make better decisions during maths lessons this workshop is for you.

The transformation you can expect

After each workshop you will know exactly how to start a lesson, how to model with clarity, how to support students through practice and how to guide them toward mastery.

• You will feel more confident and less frustrated.

• Your students will show stronger understanding, fewer errors and better recall.

• Your team will share a common language for teaching maths, which strengthens coherence across the school.

This is the path to becoming a more confident and more effective maths teacher or leader.

When

9am-3pm (break 1: 11am-11.30am and break 2: 1.30pm-2pm) AEDT

• Day 1: Thursday 18 February 2027

• Day 2: Thursday 11 March 2027

• Day 3: Thursday 6 May 2027

• Day 4: Thursday 27 May 2027

Where

100% Online (Live via Zoom) — This format increases accessibility. While we’ll miss the positive energy from in-person sessions, participants will still have ample opportunities to collaborate and network from the comfort of their home or office.

You will be sent the Zoom link prior to the first day.

Overview of the four days

• Session 1 (Thursday 18 February): Intro to the instructional hierarchy (Haring & Eaton 1978), the key principles of how learning happens in maths and the foundations of explicit instruction.

• Session 2 (Thursday 11 March): Unpacks how to teach new content effectively through the gradual release of responsibility model and how to design for learning based on the different types of learning (Tiemann & Markle, 1991).

• Session 3 (Thursday 6 May): Dives into fluency-building routines and how foundational automaticity enables generalisation across varied contexts. how to structure Daily Reviews effectively while avoiding common pitfalls.

• Session 4 (Thursday 27 May): Unpacks advanced problem-solving, covering attack strategies, schema-based instruction, and how to ask questions that extend mathematical thinking.

Implementation & Coaching Package (Optional Add-On)

Want extra support to bridge the gap between theory and classroom reality? Upgrade your registration with the Implementation & Coaching Package.

Running as 30-minute after-school sessions spaced 1 to 2 weeks after each workshop day, these live sessions act as a dedicated professional coaching cycle.

They provide a structured space for you to:

• Take your new routines back to the classroom and test them out

• Reflect on real-world hurdles and implementation challenges

• Bring your specific questions back for live troubleshooting and expert guidance

For those game, you will also have the opportunity to submit a video of you teaching and receive feedback from Brendan!

How to add it: Simply select the Implementation & Coaching Ticket tier when registering to secure access to both the 4-day series and all 4 follow-up coaching sessions.

Testimonials

"Brendan’s PL is next level - one of the best yet. His ability to show both the ‘why’ & ‘how’ with the implementation of SOL in the Maths space with such purpose & clarity was actually refreshing. Our team left the PL with more of a ‘we can do this’ attitude. Thanks Brendan for bringing the love to learning."

Carolyn Mather, Eastbourne Primary School

"Brendan delivered an outstanding 3-day maths workshop that exceeded all expectations. His ability to break down complex concepts into clear, manageable steps made the content accessible and engaging for everyone involved. He created a supportive, interactive environment where questions were encouraged and confidence quickly grew. Brendan’s enthusiasm, deep knowledge, and practical teaching strategies made a real impact, and participants walked away not only with stronger maths skills but also a renewed sense of confidence. I would highly recommend his workshop to anyone looking for meaningful, high-quality professional learning."

Tina Wilkinson, Fairview PS

"The PL was so informative. It was practical and gave you strategies to take back to the classroom. Time was provided to discuss ideas and share. This was extremely beneficial." 

Sarah P, St Andrew's Catholic College

"This course was a fantastic, well-paced sequence of two online full day workshops that explored a variety of methods and strategies for productive learning in maths. Informed by the science of learning, Brendan’s workshops provided a range of useable teaching approaches to support maths learning from acquisition to fluency in mathematics. The combination of expert presentation and time to work with colleagues was engaging and productive. So many great resources to explore now too! Thanks for providing the direction our school needs in mathematics, Brendan. 

Liz Williams, Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School

"These sessions helped me to understand the bigger picture of effective maths teaching. I loved the practical ideas and ways that you can refine what you may already be doing."

Scott, Botanic Ridge Primary School

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers​

• 1.1 Physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students

• 1.2 Understand how students learn

• 1.3 Students with diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds

• 1.5 Differentiate teaching to meet the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilities

• 1.6 Strategies to support full participation of students with disability

• 2.1 Content and teaching strategies of the teaching area
  2.3 Curriculum, assessment and reporting

• 2.5 Literacy and numeracy strategies

• 3.3 Use teaching strategies

• 3.5 Use effective classroom communication

• 5.1 Assess student learning

• 5.4 Interpret student data

• 6.2 Engage in professional learning and improve practice

• 6.3 Engage with colleagues and improve practice

About Brendan

Brendan Lee is an experienced primary school leader and educational consultant based in NSW, dedicated to bridging the gap between educational research and classroom practice. His passion for improving education was sparked when he delved into research and realised the challenge teachers face in accessing clear, actionable insights—especially in teaching maths. While the science of reading was well-documented, the path to effective maths instruction was less defined. Determined to address this, Brendan embarked on a journey to uncover the science of maths, discovering key principles that can transform teaching practices. 

Now, Brendan shares his findings to save other educators the time and effort of combing through research. He has collaborated with organisations such as AERO, CIS, Grattan Institute, Think Forward Educators and was on the Board for Ochre Education. He now travels across Australia and New Zealand offering professional learning for teachers, writing insightful Substack articles and hosting the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast, where he continues to champion evidence-based education.