Literacy demands in Mathematics Syllabus

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Literacy demands in Mathematics Syllabus In critically analyzing the literacy demands of the NSW years 7-10 mathematics syllabus, it is important to understand the contemporary notions of literacy, explore the implicit and explicit nature of such literacy demands in the syllabus, and possible ways of extending this knowledge in a meaningful way. It is also important to discuss how it affects in the learning of mathematics. The Mathematics syllabus should be explicit solely in its demands however due to the various facets of student-learning capabilities, student-prior knowledge, and immensity of the syllabus content, it is also implicit. However, due to the various facets of student-learning capabilities, student-prior knowledge, and immensity of the syllabus content, it is also implicit. The traditional concept of being literate meant being adept in reading and writing text and using language to read, write, listen and speak. As the world grows closer in terms of communication, the complexity of diversity of languages, the many ways of how people communicate today, there has been a shift towards a modern notion that literacy occupies multiple dimensions (Lankshear, Snyder and Green, 2000). Hence we cannot just see literacy in the traditional terms but to expand it to recognize that there are multiple facets of literacy. Due to globalization, the dynamic nature of technology, the ever so fast evolution of society and the idea of multiple literacies have brought about many complex contemporary definitions of literacy. “Literacy is the flexible and sustainable mastery of a repertoire of practices with the texts of traditional and new communications technologies via spoken language, print and multimedia” (Luke and Freebody, 2000, p. 9). It is also about developing “knowledge and understanding, to achieve personal growth and to function effectively in our
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