How do you feel about maths? That simple yet powerful question set the tone for teacher Gelsa Dagostino’s Lighthouse Maths journey.
Gelsa Dagostino introduces teachers to the Lighthouse Maths program in 2025.
Delivered by Scitech, in partnership with Chevron Australia, Lighthouse Maths is helping teachers boost their skills and confidence in using problem-solving and reasoning techniques to teach maths.
As the 2025 cohort of primary school teachers progress their second term, Lighthouse Maths Coach Gelsa Dagostino reflected on her first encounter with the program as a participant in 2023.
“We were asked a simple yet powerful question: ‘How do you feel about maths?’” Gelsa said.
“As someone who has always loved maths, I felt confident, but the room was filled with teachers from diverse backgrounds, each with their own relationship with the subject.
“The unifying factor was that most of us had never taught problem-solving the way Lighthouse Maths was about to show us.”
After completing the 12-month program, Gelsa returned in 2024 and 2025 as a Lighthouse Maths Coach. In this role, Gelsa and her fellow coaches lead workshops and coaching sessions, providing support and guidance to participating teachers.
Gelsa explained that the Lighthouse Maths approach is about encouraging students to explore multiple strategies to solve problems.
“We kicked off the 2024 launch session with a maths challenge for the teachers,” Gelsa said.
“There was a tower of dice on each table and the question was posed: ‘How can we add up all the dice without seeing the hidden numbers?’”
“The teachers reacted just as students would – some grabbed pens and jotted down strategies, others engaged in discussions, and a few observed quietly.
“By the end of the session, the nervous energy had shifted to enthusiasm, and the new cohort of teachers were ready to dive into the program.”
Gelsa emphasised that Lighthouse Maths is about more than just professional learning — it’s about building a community.
“More than just a professional learning program, it is creating a connected network of educators — teachers who are not only improving their own problem-solving skills but also empowering their students to become confident mathematical thinkers.”
Learn more about Lighthouse Maths.
Lighthouse Maths coaches Graham Rees, Gelsa Dagostino, Aoife Cooksley and Anthea Borg.
Scitech is a not-for-profit organisation proudly supported by the Western Australian Government through the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification
Upon clicking the "Book Now" or "Buy Gift Card" buttons a new window will open prompting contact information and payment details.
