The article is devoted to the relevance and content of functional literacy in education and to one of the areas of functional literacy — mathematical functional literacy. The features of functional literacy components are substantiated. First of all, a person’s ability to adapt to the environment. Methodological innovations for the formation of mathematical functional literacy in the current conditions of the development of national education, taking into account international studies, are presented. The types and examples of tasks in mathematics, math excursion topics for systematic and focused formation of mathematical functional literacy are considered (on the example of primary general education). Taking into account the substantive aspects of mathematics and the goals of functioning in a changing world will make it possible to achieve the mathematical functional literacy of younger students. The teacher’s use of new teaching methods, forms and technologies, life and learning situations, mathematical excursions, education of thought, and reference books in mathematics will make it possible to increase the level of methodological literacy of teachers and ensure their confident methodological behavior in the preparation of modern lessons.

Keywords: functional literacy in education, mathematical literacy, PISA, solving problems in life, mathematical excursions, teaching methods, education of thought, methodical innovations.