1. Reflections on Practice
Maths Counts 2016
Reflections on Practice

2. Polly’s Picture Problem
School
Errigal College,
Letterkenny,
Co. Donegal.
Teachers Involved
Janet Mc Geever
Eimear Logue

3. Details of our lesson 5th Year Ordinary Level 35 minutes
2nd March 2016
Previous Lesson
Finding the terms of arithmetic patterns
Research Lesson
Exploring the sum of the terms of an arithmetic sequence.
Planned Next Lesson
Introduce Sn formula

4. Our Question

5. Student Learning Goals
To develop an understanding of arithmetic sequences and series.
To connect and review the concepts that we have studied already.
To emphasise that a problem can have several equally valid solutions.

6. Plan for Peer Observation
Data was recorded on observation sheet
Students’ methodologies were ranked from most basic to most sophisticated.
Photos were taken of students work.

7. Unexpected Findings
2 out of 9 students found the sum of the first 10 terms then multiplied this by 3 in the hope that would give them the sum of the first 30 terms.
A student considered ‘weak’ by the class teacher made a summation table for the first 10 terms. We did not expect this.

8. Unexpected Findings Reluctance
Some students were very reluctant to come up to the board to verbalise their thinking and solutions. This may have been down to the presence of other adults in the room.

9. Evidence of Student Learning

10. Evidence of Student Learning
Example of self correction

11. Evidence of Student Learning

12. Evidence of Student Learning

13. Evidence of Student Learning

14. Evidence of Student Learning

15. Recommendations
Make a summation table for 30 terms as many students feel that 3(S10) = S30
The prior knowledge that the students came up with at the beginning of the lesson was key to approaching this task. I strongly encourage the revision of prior knowledge at the beginning of every class.

16. Any Questions?

17. Sources Used Active Maths Textbook Text and Tests Textbook
Past Examination Papers
Google Searches on Multiple Approach Problem Solving in Geometry
Patterns Teaching and Learning Plans on

18. Maths Counts 2016
Thank You!