Creative Classrooms: Teaching Years 7–8 using AMSI’s new ICE-EM maths textbooks

Creative Classrooms: Teaching Years 7–8 using AMSI’s new ICE-EM maths textbooks

From MathsTalk by AMSI Schools by AMSI Schools

April 16, 2026 · 35 min · Episode 56

About this episode

Leanne McMahon discusses the creative use of textbooks in Years 7 and 8 mathematics education.

In this solo episode of MathsTalk, Leanne McMahon explores how to use Textbooks creatively in Years 7 and 8, where students are moving from primary habits into more abstract secondary mathematics. The episode focuses on building precise mathematical language, identifying common transition misconceptions, using textbook exercises for concept development rather than simple practice, and structuring mixed-ability lessons around the same core task so all students can engage with the same important mathematics. It also argues for the central role of conceptual understanding in a book-based curriculum, and for teachers being deeply familiar with the curriculum so they can adapt, extend and refine tasks with confidence. Resources mentioned in the episode include: AMSI ICE-EM textbooks will be published by Cambridge later in the year https://schools.amsi.org.au/ice-em-mathematics-textbooks/ Texas Instruments Australia for teacher resources and professional learning (https://education.ti.com/en-au/teachers?category=professional-development ) NRICH for rich tasks and problem-solving https://nrich.maths.org/ Compression https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMmaiaZZeW0 youcubed for open and…

People in this episode

Host: Leanne McMahon

Topics covered

  • creative use of textbooks
  • transition from primary to secondary mathematics
  • mathematical language
  • mixed-ability lessons
  • conceptual understanding
  • curriculum adaptation

Keywords

  • textbooks
  • mathematics education
  • Years 7 and 8
  • conceptual understanding
  • mixed-ability teaching
  • transition misconceptions
  • mathematical language

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Texas Instruments Australia, AMSI ICE-EM, Cambridge, NRICH, youcubed, GeoGebra, Open Middle, Illustrative Mathematics

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