In school support

The PP Maths team are available to provide school-based support to Mathematics departments throughout 2022-2023. This support focuses on developing teaching, learning and assessment practices towards developing students’ proficiency in Mathematics. 

The PDST Post Primary Maths Team  will continue to deliver high-quality support for the 2022 – 2023 school year. School visits are tailored to the context of the school. Sample areas of support are listed below. This list is not exhaustive or prescriptive.

Using GeoGebra to support teaching, learning and assessment GeoGebra is a free, dynamic, easy to use Maths software package. It used by teachers and students in classrooms all around the world to promote enquiry-based learning in Maths and to support a constructivist approach to learning. This school visit will explore the effective use of GeoGebra to support teaching learning and assessment in line with key policy. Areas of focus could include Examining current practice. Providing sample student activities. Design of rich tasks. Exploring the role of Maths in cross-curricular learning. Exploring the role of digital technologies in transition year. Planning for getting students started with GeoGebra. For more information about GeoGebra please visit our Digital Learning Page. Exploring Mathematical Content Choose a content area from the syllabus that you would like to explore and an advisor will facilitate a visit to plan for the teaching, learning and assessment of this content area. Areas of focus could include Making connections across the strands. Common approaches to teaching key concepts and skills. Problem solving. Sample student activities. Design of rich tasks. Planning for Transition Year Transition Year provides students with the opportunity to experience mathematics through a different lens, while at the same time developing deep conceptual content knowledge and mathematical thinking. This visit aims to develop skills such as spatial reasoning and problem solving by exploring different strands of mathematics in line with key policy. Areas of focus include Examining current practice. Providing sample student activities. Design of rich tasks. Planning for best practice in teaching, learning and assessment. Exploring the role of Maths in cross-curricular learning. Exploring the role of digital technologies in transition year. Transition from Primary to Post-Primary Transition from primary to post-primary is a crucial juncture in the lives of our Maths students. NCCA acknowledge that “Failure to recognise what and how students learn in primary school maths can lead to students becoming confused and believing it to be difficult” The school visit will explore how teachers can best support students through this transition to ensure continuity in curriculum provision and learning, while at the same time providing learning experiences that challenge and are age appropriate.  Areas of focus include: Investigating what happens in primary school Maths Assessing prior knowledge and identifying particular areas for attention Establishing a productive classroom culture Working with mixed ability first year class groups Planning for best practice in teaching, learning and assessment

Applying for School-Based Support

If you wish to apply for a school visit, you can do so at pdst.ie/schoolsupport. Please note that schools can submit only one application, however each application can include support in a number of subject / programme areas which must be approved by the school principal. You will need your school’s roll number and the following password: schoolsupport2021 to access the application form. If applying for support in Mathematics please tick the Mathematics checkbox and include details of the support required in the text box at the bottom of the form (see diagram). If your school has already applied for support in other areas, you will need to amend the existing application to include support for mathematics by emailing: schoolsupport@pdst.ie

Areas of support

Other popular areas of support may include:

• Teaching Geometry for Understanding
• Teaching Algebra through the Lens of Functions
• Developing common approaches for teaching key mathematical skills
• Developing a culture of problem solving in Mathematics
• Content-specific support (Probability and Statistics, Geometry and Trigonometry, Number, Algebra and Functions)

Our advisors can support your school through a single, half-day school visit or through PDST’s new sustained support model. Our school-support brochure describes this in more detail.

Please note that substitution cover is not provided for the purpose of school visits. It is advised to book early as in the case where we are oversubscribed, allocation will be on a first-come-first-served basis.

If you have any queries please email: postprimarymaths@pdst.ie