School Summary Improvement Plan in Numeracy for School Community Cork Educate Together National School, Grattan Street, Cork. Roll Number: 19906G

Transcription

1 School Summary Improvement Plan in Numeracy for School Community Cork Educate Together National School, Grattan Street, Cork. Roll Number: 19906G Timeframe for Action: May 2014 to May 2016

2 Summary of Main strengths in Numeracy as identified by the SSE School Plan: School Mathematics plan was reviewed in 2011/2012 Teachers planning is based on the Maths curriculum and the school Maths plan, and whole staff collaboration. A wide range of appropriate materials and resources are in classrooms. Numicon was recently purchased for use with all classes. Mental Maths is encouraged and constitutes an important part of each lesson. Estimation and prediction is considered an essential maths skill and is referred to in both Maths and Science. Teachers differentiate their lessons to cater for children with different needs. Standardised assessments and other assessment tools are utilised: These assessments are used to inform teaching, learning and differentiation in the classroom. Talk & Discussion give pupils opportunities to explain answers for part of Maths lessons. There is an agreed whole school policy on Maths Language and Strategies. There is an agreed approach to numeral formation and presentation of written work. IT is used to support Numeracy. Our staff is constantly taking the initiative regarding ongoing professional development. Three of our teachers have just concluded the Mata sa Rang Maths Recovery course this year. As a staff we have invited facilitators to the school to inform us on good practice in Maths. Our school has been awarded the Award for Science and Maths Excellence since Areas prioritised for improvement with regard to Numeracy A) Use of Conceptual Strategies in Mental Calculation B) Problem Solving C) Maths Environment D) Involving Parents E) Concrete materials and Textbooks F) IT Resources

3 Area of Focus and Targets for Learning in Numeracy Actions Year 1: out Sigma _T results will be analysed: Target: Sigma- T results will be analysed. Target: Pupil Questionnaire on children s attitudes towards maths. Sigma- T 2013 results analysed and compared to the national norms. Sigma- T 2014 results analysed to establish a baseline for ability in problem solving through- out the school. Questionnaire to be administered to pupils from 2nd to 6th classes. Use of Conceptual Strategies in Mental Calculation Target: Professional Development of the Staff prior to and during the implementation of our new Maths strategies Target: Explore with the whole staff the Use of Conceptual Strategies in Mental Calculation as described In the PDST Mental Maths Handbook and at Mata sa rang workshops. Target: To adapt these strategies throughout the school. Target: Junior classes will be familiar with finger patterns, 5 frame and 10 frames and some strategies from the PDST Mental Maths Handbook. Target: All classes will be conversant with the class appropriate Mental Maths strategies for Addition and Subtraction as outlined in the PDST Mental Maths Handbook. 3 members of the learning support team will attend Mata sa Rang Workshops. Learning Support team will explain importance of developing facility with strategies such as Forward and Backward number word sequences, mental strategies for addition and subtraction, and an increasing emphasis on estimation. We will decide to adopt these methods in September 2014 The strategies suggested in the PDST Mental Maths Handbook will also be shared and adopted by the whole school.

4 Area of Focus and Targets for Learning in Numeracy Actions Year 1: out Problem Solving Strategies and Procedures to support pupils problem solving needs to be agreed at whole school level. Target: To arrive at a whole school consensus on particular problem solving strategies. Target: The average score for problem solving will improve by 2 ½ % in all classes 1 st to 6 th. Involving Parents Increased Parental involvement will be encouraged through meetings and other home- school communication. Target: Parents will report being more confident/able to help their children with Maths homework Targets: Parents will feel comfortable with the Mental Maths Calculations and problem solving strategies being implemented throughout the school Target: Parents can access information on the mathematical language and methods being used in the school. Adopt a whole school approach to problem solving. We will decide on RUDE as the problem solving procedure to be used at each class level. RUDE = Read, Underline, Draw, Estimate and then solve. Other strategies will also be explored and adapted where deemed appropriate to the class level. Strategies such as Make a model, Draw a picture/rude, Find a pattern / Lists Guess and Check, Work Backwards, Number sentences, Logical Reasoning.

5 Area of Focus and Targets for Learning in Numeracy Actions Year 1: out Concrete materials and Textbooks Our resources will be inventoried and new resources will be purchased as finances permit. Target: To purchase resources that will help us deliver on our new initiatives. Target: Kits will be created containing all the materials a class teacher might need to allow the children to discover for themselves concepts in: Length, Weight, Time, Money, Capacity, Shape and Space. Make an inventory of all the concrete materials In the school Ask teachers for their own particular wish- list. Timetable the allocation of resources/ Kits to different classes from September. All classes will assess Problem Solving Materials prior to purchase. IT Resources All staff will contribute to the creation of a bank of web resources. Target: To collate Mathematical websites Maths Environment Increasing opportunities for pupils to engage with Maths within and outside the school building. Target: To introduce a MathsHour 45 minutes weekly for all classes. Target: Create Maths Trails and a Maths rich Environment. Target: To explore and discover highly motivating Maths games and Maths websites. Target: To Participate in Science, Maths and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) projects. Decide an effective way of sharing web- sites with each other. The Learning support team and the principal will devise a plan on how to implement a Team Teaching MathsHour for all classes from September on a weekly basis. This will enable us to target children at risk of underachievement as well as extending the children who are high achievers. Discuss and timetable a rotation for creation of Maths Trails around the school. Participation in MathsWorks a hands- on practical mathematical workshop. Participation in Discovery Primary Science and Maths Award.

6 Area of Focus Sigma _T results will be analysed: Actions Year 2 (2014/2015) Sigma- T 2015 results analysed to establish if an improvement has been achieved. Re- administer the attitudinal survey to pupils from 2nd to 6th Out Actions Year 3 (2015/2016) Review with a view to informing our future priorities. Out Use of Conceptual Strategies in Mental Calculation Problem Solving Involving Parents Learning support team and the Principal will implement Team teaching with all classes for MathsHour from September. Teachers to adopt Number Word Sequences strategies and Mental Calculation Strategies for addition and subtraction (From September.) All teachers will receive a copy of the PDST Mental Maths Handbook. Teachers to learn the new procedures and strategies them- selves in the first term. Staff will have a brainstorming session on real life application of problem solving and share their problem samples. Problem Solving folder to be developed with examples of activities for each class level. This folder will stay with the class Word Problems to be the main focus of MathsHour from October to Christmas. Establish problem solving as an integral part of mathematical lessons. Parent questionnaire to ascertain Parental attitudes towards Maths. Information workshop for parents on RUDE and other Problem solving strategies and Mental Calculation Strategies. Discuss activities in daily life that can be used at home to support each strand. Assess the children s attitudes to mental computations. Whole staff reflection on the effectiveness of targeting Mental Calculations in this way. Review as a staff the effectiveness of this approach, procedure and strategies. Review of the effectiveness of MathsHour for targeting Problem solving. Re- administer the attitudinal survey. Support parents via our school website.

7 Concrete materials and Textbooks Purchase resources that will help us deliver on our new initiatives and create kits for Length, Weight, Time, Money, Capacity, Shape and Space. Re- appraisal of the concrete materials used and how they could be improved on. IT Resources Maths Environment Implement a timetable for Measures being taught. Renewed emphasis on the use of concrete materials in the senior classes. Staff will post mathematical websites on Aladdin and Maths Team will collect them and create an in- house bank of IT sites for use with the whiteboards. A notice board will be dedicated to Maths and Science focusing on a different strand each month. Posters on Mathematical Language and Problem Solving strategies to be displayed in the classrooms and extended to the hallways. Maths Trails around the school. (Rotational basis.) Participation in VEX IQ Robotics Competition for 2014/15. Ongoing Participation In Discovery Primary Science and Maths Award. Source more problem solving materials. Review the timetable and its effectiveness. There will be a link created for parents on our web- page to the mathematical language, methodologies and problem solving strategies that we use. Review. Persons Responsible: All Teachers Review: Ongoing Staff evaluation at staff meetings. Success Criteria: More Children will have a positive attitude towards Maths. The average score for problem solving will improve by 2 ½ % in all classes 1 st to 6 th. Staff engagement with new methodologies and feedback Parental attitudes will be reported as more positive.