Mathematics is Primary
An NCETM regionally funded project.
Keith Noble.
PooleGrammar School.
This project is a collaboration between three schools; PooleGrammar School, FerndownMiddle School and BranksomeHeathMiddle School with the following aims:
- To improve pupils’ problem solving ability at Key Stages 2 and 3 and their expertise at explaining the logical reasoning behind their answers.
- To support collaboration between primary and secondary teachers of mathematics who want to reflect on their practice and learn from each other.
- To take full advantage of the NCETM portal as a tool to support collaboration, reflective practice and continuous professional development.
The project leaders are Liz Kelly (Head of Mathematics at FerndownMiddle School), Heidi Connop (Head of Mathematics at BranksomeHeathMiddle School) and Keith Noble (Head of Mathematics at PooleGrammar School). A project group of ten teachers is envisaged.
The project will take the form of a series of meetings, involving staff from each school, plus follow up work in each of the schools. The group will meet between September 2008 and 30th January 2009 (once in September 2008, once in November 2008 and once in January 2009) with each meeting having a clear mathematical as well as teaching and learning focus. The focus of the first meeting will be “Teaching proof at KS2”.
The guiding principle for each meeting will be that the teachers will develop something new to take back to the class room which they will try out and evaluate.
Use will be made of a range of tools on the NCETM portal (notably the self-evaluation tool, the Mathemapedia and the learning journal) to aid self-evaluation, exploration and development of ideas and reflection.
An initial preparatory meeting was held during the Summer term 2008 where the use of NCETM tools was demonstrated and discussed. The self evaluation tool will be used as the basis of a group task at the first meeting in the Autumn term to determine the group’s specific needs and to highlight possible points of interest for subsequent work.
All participants will register with the NCETM and an online community will be set up on the NCETM portal to facilitate reflection, action planning and the sharing of any documents related to the group’s work together. The closing activity of each meeting will consist of some individual thinking time to contribute a short summary in our online community of what the meeting provided from a personal point of view and what each teacher intends to try out in class before the next meeting.
Regional Coordinator’s Note:
If you are interested in applying for a regional grant please get in touch with me () and I will do all I can to support you and help you get going.