About me
I’m James Russo, a Senior Lecturer in Mathematics Education in Monash University’s Faculty of Education, based in Melbourne, Victoria. I’m interested in how primary mathematics can be made more intellectually ambitious, inclusive and enjoyable—for students and teachers.
I began my career as a research analyst and social policy consultant before retraining as a primary school teacher. While teaching at Belgrave South Primary School, I developed and trialled the SURF mental computation framework from 2014 to 2016. I subsequently worked in a specialist mathematics role at Wilandra Rise Primary School. Those classroom experiences continue to shape how I approach research and teacher education. I now work at Monash and continue to spend time in primary classrooms through research and professional-learning collaborations.
Mathematical games are currently the main focus of my research. I am especially interested in how teachers select, design, adapt and use games in classrooms, and how those choices shape students’ mathematical reasoning, participation and enjoyment. This work sits within a broader interest in learning design: how the design of tasks, the organisation of lessons and the sequencing of learning experiences influence what students notice, feel and learn. My research also encompasses challenging tasks, narrative-rich problems, mental computation, representations, collaboration and differentiation.
A connected strand of my research examines teacher affect and pedagogical decision-making—how teachers’ emotions, enjoyment, beliefs and perceptions of students shape the choices they make. I also examine student affect, including enjoyment, motivation, confidence and persistence, and how teacher and student experiences interact. I understand mathematics lessons as something teachers and students build together: a social, emotional and instructional classroom community.
I care strongly about translating research into forms that teachers can readily use. This work includes the SURF framework, ABC Education’s GOAT Maths games, teacher resources and professional learning with teachers and school leaders. Across all of my work, I am pursuing three connected goals: effective student-centred pedagogies in primary classrooms, inclusive and well-targeted differentiation, and mathematics that is enjoyable to learn and teach.
Contact details
For enquiries: james.russo@monash.edu