For much of my life, I viewed mathematics as something separate from daily life. It felt like a series of isolated equations rather than a tool for problem solving or decision making. Through my professional and personal experiences, however, I learned that numeracy is essential for planning, recognizing patterns, forecasting needs, and communicating information clearly. What changed my understanding was not memorizing formulas, but repeatedly applying numerical reasoning in real situations where accuracy and clarity made a meaningful difference. I learned how to shift from simply “doing calculations” to using numbers as a way to guide choices, identify gaps, and justify decisions.
During my role as a Social Work Technician, I began collecting snack donations for students who regularly came to school without food. What began as a small initiative quickly grew into a program that required structure, accountability, and ongoing tracking. I learned to use spreadsheets to record quantities of food, track monetary donations, calculate totals, and monitor what supplies needed to be purchased (evidence 8.1). As the program expanded, I developed skills in using averages, percentages, and running balances to forecast future needs. I learned how organizing numerical information allowed me to make decisions more confidently and quickly, because I could see patterns instead of guessing. This experience taught me that numeracy is a practical tool for resource management, time efficiency, and equitable distribution of support.
I also learned to use numerical data to evaluate the effectiveness of my Nurturing Support Centre by tracking daily and weekly student usage (evidence 8.2). Through this process, I learned data handling skills such as recording attendance patterns, using proportions to compare grade levels, and creating charts and graphs to make information easier to interpret. When I noticed recurring spikes in certain grades or periods of the day, I learned to analyze these trends to make informed decisions. For example, when I saw higher usage in one grade during the last period, I planned in class interventions at that time to prevent crisis moments before they occurred. Through this, I learned that data is not only descriptive. When used intentionally, it becomes a tool for prevention, planning, and communication. Presenting a clear one-page graph often helped administrators understand concerns faster and more effectively than long written explanations.
When an opportunity arose to apply for a sensory tools grant, I learned how to use mathematics to justify the request and forecast how funds would be used (evidence 8.3). Putting together the application required me to estimate costs of items, measure the value for the money spent, and create a financial forecast so I could justify the request. I compared unit costs across applicable vendors and calculated totals with tax and shipping to show impact per dollar. This taught me how numeracy supports advocacy, as I learned how laying out numbers clearly can strengthen a proposal, demonstrate need, and show the anticipated impact before any money is spent. Through this experience, I recognized how numerical reasoning can increase credibility and ensure decisions are grounded in evidence rather than assumptions.
My understanding of numeracy also expanded through personal experiences. For example, while preparing the budget for my honeymoon, I learned how to estimate travel and lodging costs, track spending, update projections, and adjust plans as prices changed. This helped me understand budgeting as a multi step process that relies on ongoing evaluation rather than a one-time calculation. This reinforced my learning that numeracy requires adaptability, continuous interpretation, and the ability to reassign resources when circumstances shift.
Another unexpected place where my numeracy skills developed was in learning piano. Recognizing patterns in rhythm, intervals, and repeating structures strengthened my ability to identify sequences and relationships, which are foundational numeracy skills. Learning music taught me how pattern recognition deepens analytical reasoning, and it helped me understand that numeracy extends into areas of creativity and problem solving, not only technical calculations.
Across these experiences, I learned that numeracy is a practical and flexible skill that supports decision making, communication, and long-term planning. Whether managing donations, analyzing program data, preparing a budget, or recognizing patterns in music, I learned to work with numbers in ways that are purposeful and meaningful. Most importantly, I learned how numerical information can guide decisions, explain the reasoning behind my choices, and support evidence-based solutions that benefit students and the wider school community.
Evidence Relevant to Numeracy
evidence 8.1 – Snack Donation Tracker
evidence 8.2 – NEST Usage Statistics
evidence 8.3 – Sensory Tools Grant Application