1. Reflecting on Teaching and Learning Mathematics Seán Delaney Coláiste Mhuire Day 2

2. Day 2 Overview Review of Day 1 Comment Cards Children and Mathematics Individual differences in learning mathematics Introduction to Place Value

3. Review of Day 1 Journal ‘fastwrite’: What do you remember from yesterday’s session? Retreat Teachers’ experiences and expertise rarely passed on “Teaching the books and not the children” Professional empowerment v. parents’ requirements Wiles video(mistakes, vocation, ‘Connecting the unconnected’) ‘Wait’ time How to use equipment? 100 th day http://www.smn.co.jp/e/key/0121k01e.html

4. Comment Cards Pace a bit slow. Need to be a bit more focused sometimes. Very good introduction. Food for thought etc. Really practical planning and class/group/individual practice would be good. Course was well conducted, organised and enjoyable so far, with very interesting contributions and communication between participants. Can we have a list at the end of the week of any books, resources, websites etc. mentioned? www.mie.ie/staff/sdelaney

5. Warm-up Activity Place value Bingo Follow-Me games Subitising and ten-boxes

6. Children and Mathematics JOURNAL ENTRY Think of a pupil in you class this year who might have prompted you to take this course. What do children find most difficult in mathematics? What mistakes do children make most often?

7. Children as Mathematicians Define an odd number/ even number Conjecture (Formation of conclusions from incomplete evidence; guess) 7 minutes into the class. A boy (Benny) has just observed that even numbers can be made from even numbers e.g. 2+2=4. Video What 3 definitions of even numbers are used? Justify (say for the principal) the time spent on allowing the discussion to continue.

8. Individual Differences in Learning Mathematics What kind of tasks do pupils have to do in mathematics class?

9. Sources of Differences in Mathematics Classes Conceptual processing (Concrete to abstract; rules) Language (Reading questions; class discussions; maths vocabulary) Visual-spatial processing (3-D shapes; aligning numbers) Organisation (Steps in a procedure; recording data) Memory (Recalling previous information; remembering steps) Attention (Listening to other children’s explanations; sitting still) Psycho-social (working in groups; playing games) Fine-motor (Writing; cutting and folding)

10. Looking forward to Day 3… Bring in samples of children’s work for analysis Please complete comment cards Enjoy the weekend!