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Now it's even easier to find what you want in Mathematics Centre. We have added a Google-based search engine to the home page and it's fast and accurate. Search results show in a new Google tab beside the Mathematics Centre tab. If you do multiple searches in the same session results will 'stack' as pages in the Google tab. Try it out. We think it's going to add even more functionality and purpose to our world of alternatives to text-based learning. See Link List below.

In the October issue we highlighted contributions to our site from several teachers in the Canberra Goulburn Diocese of the Catholic Education Office. These resulted from a six day professional development program provided by Mathematics Centre. Organised by Gina Galluzzo, Senior Officer, and her team Madonna Pianegonda and Fiona Pettit, the objective was to encourage and support teachers to shift their practice towards Learning to Work Like a Mathematician. Comments such as the following extracted from Reflections written on Day 5, suggest significant success:

• It was from that first lesson that I decided I'd never look back. My practice has changed immensely! ... My low level students are now loving maths because they can get involved and can achieve! And my high flyers remain engaged because they can take the activity as far as they want to! ... I have changed my practice because it works!

• My teaching practice has changed in a number of ways. I use better questioning techniques and encourage students to persist for longer to find alternative solutions. ... My classroom is now much more collaborative. The richer tasks provide more opportunities for discussion and joint problem solving. ... I feel genuinely confident that I am covering the requirements of Australian Curriculum Proficiency Standards naturally with WLAM activities without being forced.

• I'm now more aware that I need to speak less and let the children make discoveries more. ... The children's level of engagement is higher, language development is stronger, greater risk taking by more tentative kiddies, natural evolution of peer tutoring.

• The best evidence I have of change is my enjoyment of teaching maths and also my students response to maths lessons. They are all keen to participate and love maths lessons.

How many 2-Trisquare shapes are there? How do you know when you have found them all?   C'mon guys. It's 4 o'clock and going dark outside. You started at 8:30 this morning with half a day on fractions followed by half a day on algebra. And you don't want to go home?!?

Teachers at work during recent workshops in Sweden. What features are likely to encourage learning?