Mathematics Symposium 2026
Overview
This full-day event brings together school and system leaders and teachers from government, Catholic and independent sectors to collaborate, learn and stretch their thinking to improve student outcomes in mathematics and numeracy.
The agenda will focus on explicit teaching and equip schools with the knowledge and tools needed to successfully implement the VTLM 2.0 and excel in 2026 and beyond.
What you’ll learn
- Apply explicit teaching techniques. Connect instructional theory to daily classroom practice to boost student mathematics and numeracy outcomes.
- Master evidence-based retrieval strategies. Use spacing and interleaving to help students retain complex mathematical concepts longer.
- Drive effective school-wide implementation. Use evaluative thinking to prioritise high-impact actions and phase out less effective practices across your school.
- Lead curriculum-aligned practice shifts. Navigate the VTLM 2.0 to build collective efficacy to improve student results.
Expert facilitators
Toni Hatten-Roberts
A leader in the Science of Learning, Toni specialises in bridging educational theory and classroom practice through explicit and direct instruction focusing on curriculum development and instructional design. Her expertise earned her the 2016 Educator of the Year award from the National Institute for Direct Instruction (USA) and the Schools Plus Teacher of the Year Award for Teaching Fellows (2022).
With an Honours degree in Cognitive Psychology, Toni’s research on verbal rehearsal has been presented internationally. She authored the Centre for Independent Studies publication The Need for Speed: Why Fluency Counts for Maths Learning (2023) and contributed to Nathaniel Swain’s Harnessing the Science of Learning (2024). Toni is the co-founder of Mastery Schools Australia, Director of COGlearn, and co-developed the Explicit Mathematics Program advancing innovative educational practices in mathematics for all students.
David Morkunas
David Morkunas is a former Learning Specialist and the Lead Author for the Explicit Mathematics Program, a comprehensive set of primary school maths resources that leverage the Science of Learning. He spent his formative years teaching where he developed an engaging, evidence-based and effective approach to maths that helped drive whole-school improvement.
When not writing lessons, David works regularly with schools around Australia to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics. He is nationally renowned for his work on the power of daily reviews and has appeared on local and international podcasts to discuss quality instruction. You can read about David’s approach in Chapter 8 of Harnessing the Science of Learning by Dr. Nathaniel Swain, which he cowrote with Toni Hatten-Roberts.
Michael Rosenbrock
Michael is an Education Consultant, experienced Subject Matter Expert and former Assistant Principal. He is widely recognised for his dedication to evidence-based education, particularly through his past work with Evidence for Learning (E4L). An accomplished facilitator and advisor, Michael works with schools, government, not-for profits and corporate partners across sectors and jurisdictions in Australia. His initiatives reflect a commitment to evidence-based interventions that enhance student engagement, metacognitive skills, and effective feedback practices - particularly within mathematics and science. His educational philosophy focuses on improving outcomes by applying rigorous, data-driven approaches and supporting underprivileged or disadvantaged communities, particularly students in rural and remote areas.
Who should attend
Roles
The Symposium is designed for:
- teacher leaders and leading teachers
- mathematics teachers
- principals
- assistant principals
- SEILs and EILs.
School sectors
This program is available to the following school sectors:
- Victorian Government
- Catholic
- independent.
Structure
This event is hosted in Melbourne with keynote presentations live streamed to Academy sites across the state. Interactive workshops aligned to the presentations will be facilitated by Academy presenters at each regional centre.
Register at your nearest Academy site to connect with your local education community and participate in the scheduled activities.
Keynotes
Toni Hatten-Roberts - What is explicit teaching in Maths?
Toni will explore key elements of explicit teaching including changes in teaching practices in mathematics that coincide with the VTLM 2.0, the Mathematics Position Statement, and MACS Vision for Instruction. This session will support participants to connect the theory of explicit maths teaching with practical, classroom application.
Dave Morkunas - Interleaving, spacing and retrieval
Dave will explore the theory behind spacing and retrieval practices. Through demonstrations, he will provide practical examples and non-examples of interleaving, spacing and retrieval within a classroom, and how they link with explicit teaching.
Michael Rosenbrock - Implementation and de-implementation
Michael will focus on translating ideas into action through effective implementation in mathematics and briefly unpack a model of evidence-informed practice and explain how it can guide implementation. He will also explore the role of evaluative thinking, including de-implementation, in ensuring that finite resources are used wisely. The session will conclude by focusing on practical implementation in mathematics, examining how different lenses on practice, such as lethal mutations, catalysts and dosage, can support fidelity as we monitor and adapt along the way.
Learning outcomes
You will:
- develop knowledge of the key components of comprehensive and explicit Mathematics instruction across both the primary and secondary years
- develop an understanding of changes in practice contributing to outstanding improvement across Victorian Schools
- develop an action plan to lead implementation in your school.
Fees and financial support
| Government school | Non-government school | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee per participant | $100 (excl. GST) | $150 (excl. GST) |
