Numeracy and basic mathematics are cross-curricular skills

Basic numeracy and mathematical skills are a foundation for success in so many different aspects of everyday life and work. The European Commission prioritises strengthening basic numeracy skills across all age groups, recognising their importance for everyday life, academic success and employability.  

Maths education using hands-on tools, real-world examples and useful technologies to teach numeracy skills in a cross-curricular way can make learning mathematics more accessible and engaging, especially for those who struggle with it.   

Supporting basic skills development across subject areas  

Teachers can reinforce foundational maths knowledge by embedding numeracy skills into different subjects, reinforcing real-world applications.  

In primary education, this may involve including numbers in different classroom activities, and focusing on hands-on practices (counting objects, measuring amounts) and playful activities (games and puzzles, rhymes and songs) to associate maths and numbers with fun.  

In secondary education, where subjects are taught separately, teachers of different subjects can build up pupils’ basic maths and analytical skills, particularly through gamification and the use of digital tools and real-world examples.  

• Science education may use data and graph analysis, measurement accuracy, or detailed explanation of the equations that underpin important scientific ideas (E=mc2).  
• Geography lessons might use mapping, scales, statistics or population growth trends.  
• Socio-economic lessons might incorporate financial systems, statistics and percentages, or profit and loss, as well as demographic data.  
• In the arts and engineering, teachers might use patterns, coding, geometry, algorithmic thinking or spatial relationships.  
• Language educators can support math learning through logical reasoning, storytelling and identifying and quantifying patterns. 

Professional development via training and sharing good practice  

Mathematics teachers face different challenges, such as how to counter maths anxiety and build confidence, how to engage pupils with different learning styles and how to keep up with evolving curriculum and technological developments.  

Professional development programmes tailored to maths teachers in the form of workshops, online courses and certification programmes can address topics such as problem-solving, differentiated instruction and assessment techniques.  

Here are some suggestions: 

• The course catalogue on the European School Education Platform includes a vast range of on-site courses, offered by external course providers, that can be incorporated into schools’ Erasmus+ Key Action 1 projects.  
• The eTwinning group on Mathematics, Science and other STEM topics is a forum to collaborate with fellow STEM teachers working on eTwinning projects. 
• The Scientix community for science and maths teachers supports the exchange of experiences, lesson plans and effective teaching strategies across Europe. The platform offers online courses, networking events and webinars to share insights on overcoming challenges and integrating new methodologies into teaching. 
• The Mathigon platform offers diverse resources, courses, activities and lesson plans free of charge adaptable to different teaching conditions.