Project Maths | Maths Counts 2018

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Maths Counts 2018 is over

What a brilliant two days of maths teaching and learning Maths Counts 2018 proved to be. Close to 500 people attended over the two days to celebrate the work of the hundreds of Irish maths teachers who participated in PDST’s Lesson-Study programme throughout 2017-2018. Some highlights of the event included:

Live lesson by international expert in teaching through problem solving - Prof. Tad Watanabe
Keynote address by Prof. Watanabe celebrating the success of the Irish Lesson-Study programme and pointing the way to its future growth and development
Three live lessons by Irish maths teachers who participated in Lesson Study 2017-2018
24 interactive workshops by Irish Lesson-Study teachers
Poster Display comprising the work of 70 Lesson-Study research groups
Closing address by JCT Team Leader for Maths - Shane Flanagan
Live streaming of Prof. Watanabe’s lesson and keynote address
Exhibits by a variety of Irish Education companies

Thank you to everyone who attended. We will post all resources presented at the conference on this page in the coming days.

Lesson Study Library

Check out all the problem-solving lessons developed by teachers in our Lesson-Study Library below including 70 new lesson proposals developed over the course of 2017-2018.

Lesson Title	Description	Strand	Year Group	Level
It’s Show Time	In this lesson, students will …	Number	1st	OL
What’s your Angle?	Pupils will be presented with …	Geometry, Trigonometry	3rd	HL
Percentage Paradox	Structured problem solving lesson involving …	Number	1st	Common
A Pizza of the (Fr)Action	Students are given a problem …	Algebra	1st	Common
What about Parallelograms	Exploring properties of parallelograms using …	Geometry	1st	Common
Thinking Outside the Triangle	Using a given diagram to …	Geometry	1st	Common
The Volume of Money	Through discovery, students derive the …	Number	2nd	HL
The X Factor	Exploring different ways to represent …	Algebra	1st	Common
The Power that Lies Beneath	Using Assessment for learning techniques …	Number	2nd	HL
The Array Model	Using the Array Model to …	Algebra	2nd	HL
Straight to the nth Game	Using a problem question to …	Algebra	1st	Common
Show Me the Money	Discovering the different measures of …	Statistics	2nd	OL
Scrutinizing the Difference between Two Squares	This proposal uses the concepts …	Algebra	TY	Common
Run Johnny Run, Maths To The Rescue	Using prior knowledge of triangles …	Trigonometry	2nd	HL
Point Of Pick-Up	Using prior knowledge of algebra, …	Geometry	5th	OL
Place Your Pix	Using the problem of placing …	Algebra	2nd	OL
Matchstick Challenge	This lesson is based on …	Number	1st	Common
		Probability, Statistics	1st	OL
In The Air	Using a word problem to …	Functions	5th	Common
How Big Is Pi?	Using varying circles to discover …	Geometry	1st	Common
Getting To The Problem Of The Root	Identifying relationships between quadratic equations, …	Functions	2nd	HL
Get Unsnookered	Using a mix of Geometry, …	Geometry, Trigonometry	5th	HL
Forthnightly Maths	In a computer game context, …	Functions	6th	OL
Express My Point	Students will be introduced to …	Algebra	1st	Common
Equating Fortnite-ly	Using word problems in algebra …	Algebra	1st	Common
Disco Taxi	Using a word problem to …	Functions	2nd	Common
Circling Longitude	A real life scenario of …	Geometry	5th	OL
Car Savings Conundrum	Students act as a financial …	Number	3rd	FL
Basket Case	Introducing simultaneous equations through word …	Algebra, Functions	2nd	Common
All Aboard Quadratic Airlines	This lesson provokes students understanding …	Functions	3rd	HL
A Journey in Finance	Modelling a financial problem using …	Number	6th	HL
2 or not 2x that is the question	This lesson provides a physical …	Algebra	2nd	OL
A Step in the Right Direction	This lesson introduces students to …	Trigonometry	2nd	HL
Who is being Irrational?	After calculating some distances using …	Number	2nd	HL
When Area is 64	Students are presented with an …	Functions	2nd	Common
What’s your Angle?	Through exploring relationships in triangles, …	Geometry	1st	Common
Untangles the Angles	Using various methods students will …	Geometry	1st	Common
Unpacking 3D Shapes	Students will examine a square …	Geometry, Trigonometry	5th	HL
Transversals are Copycats	Given a diagram with three …	Geometry	6th	HL
Top of the Vlogs	Students will present two sets …	Probability, Statistics	2nd	Common
Time for Telly	Students will learn to deal …	Number	3rd	FL
The Trapezoidal Rule	Students will engage with a …	Geometry, Number, Trigonometry	TY	Common
The Story of Two Drones	Students will be asked to …	Geometry, Trigonometry	5th	OL
The Story of the Gannet	Students will describe the story …	Functions	2nd	HL
The Integers Cup	Students will develop understanding of …	Number	1st	Common
The Great Wall of Nenagh	Problem solving approach to link …	Algebra, Functions, Number	2nd	HL
The Grand Rational	Students are given an algebraic …	Functions	5th	HL
The Ex Factor	Through a problem-solving approach, students …	Geometry	2nd	HL
The Balancing Act	Introducing Simultaneous Equations through problem …	Algebra	2nd	OL
The Formula Speaks Volumes	Students will explore the volume …	Number	2nd	HL
The Flow of Money	Students will try to solve …	Number	2nd	HL
Takeaway Translation	In this lesson students will …	Algebra	2nd	Common
Subway Substitution	Students are presented with a …	Algebra	1st	Common
Snowflakes	Students will be challenged to …	Algebra	3rd	HL
Simultaneously solving for two variables	Students will be given two …	Algebra	2nd	Common
Similar Triangle Wrangle	Students will be using dotted …	Geometry, Trigonometry	2nd	Common
Shootin’ Hoops	Students will be provided with …	Algebra, Number	TY	Common
Sharing the Unknown	Students will understand the need …	Algebra, Number	2nd	HL
Run Circles Around Pythagoras	Students will be asked to …	Geometry, Trigonometry	5th	OL
Pump Up The Volume	Students will use various strategies …	Geometry, Number	2nd	OL
The Power of Algebra	Students will be presented with …	Algebra	2nd	HL
Plane Clothes	Students solve a problem on …	Geometry, Number, Trigonometry	2nd	HL
Percentages Predicament	Students tackle a percentage increase …	Number	2nd	Common
Paving Patterns	Students are encouraged to examine …	Algebra, Functions, Number	3rd	HL
Patterns in Polygons	Students use their prior knowledge …	Geometry, Number	2nd	HL
Partying with Indices	Through an exponential growth problem …	Number	2nd	HL
Paper Ratio	Students will be given A3, …	Number	2nd	Common
Murling	Students will work with a …	Algebra, Functions	2nd	Common
Multiplying Messi’s Millions	In this lesson students will …	Number	1st	Common
Monkey Puzzle	Students develop an understanding of …	Number	2nd	Common
Meet You Halfway	Students are given a photograph …	Geometry	2nd	Common
Make-Up Money	Students will solve a problem …	Algebra, Functions, Number	2nd	HL
M.M.A. Mixed Mathematical Approaches	Students will formulate the area …	Probability, Statistics	TY	Common
Kevin’s Cash Connundrum	Students will show in many …	Algebra	1st	Common
Katie versus Conor - Who will win?	Students explore probability and relative …	Probability, Statistics	2nd	Common
Justifying your Thinking	Students are challenged to explain …	Number	3rd	Common
It’s Thirsty Work	Students will learn to interpret …	Number	2nd	HL
It’s a Matter of Principles	Students investigate the rate of …	Functions	5th	HL
It’s Moore of a Process	Students investigate Moore’s Law in …	Functions, Number	5th	HL
How much is the special Offer?	Students will be presented with …	Algebra	2nd	Common
Heavenly Slopes	Students will engage in structured …	Geometry, Trigonometry	5th	OL
Going underground on a Roller Coaster	Students are introduced to quadratic …	Algebra, Functions	2nd	Common
Fractions meet Algebra	Students will learn to apply …	Algebra, Number	2nd	HL
Elf on the Shelf	Students will use their knowledge …	Geometry, Trigonometry	3rd	HL
Diving for Roots	Students are introduced to quadratic …	Algebra, Functions	2nd	HL
Dining Out - Who Gets your Money	“In this lesson students will …	Number	3rd	HL
Cuir Cruth Air	Trí a bheith ag plé …	Geometry, Number, Trigonometry	2nd	Common
Cover the Distance Faster	Students apply their knowledge and …	Geometry, Trigonometry	2nd	HL
Count like an Egyptian	Students are given a problem …	Algebra	2nd	OL
Box Bonanza	Students work on the problem …	Algebra	1st	Common
Baby it’s cold outside	The aim of this lesson …	Algebra, Functions	5th	HL
Are we there yet?	Students are encouraged to solve …	Geometry, Trigonometry	2nd	HL
Are you up for the Match?	The aim is for the …	Probability	1st	Common
Are Circles Pointless	In this lesson students will …	Geometry, Trigonometry	5th	HL
Getting Value for Money	Students will try to solve …	Number	2nd	Common
Angles to find the Treasure	The students will be given …	Geometry, Trigonometry	3rd	HL
2D or not 2D?	The lesson focuses on students …	Geometry, Trigonometry	2nd	HL
2D to 3D… That is the Question?	Students will be presented with …	Algebra, Functions, Geometry, Number, Probability, Statistics, Trigonometry	5th	OL
Prof. Takahashi’s Lesson Proposal	Through a series of problems, …	Geometry	1st, 2nd	Common
Introducing Differential Calculus	Developing an understanding of key …	Functions	6th	OL
The Polygon Predicament	Connecting multiple mathematical topics to …	Algebra, Functions, Geometry, Number, Probability	6th	HL
The Perfect Selfie	Using geometry and trigonometry to …	Geometry, Trigonometry	5th	HL
Developing Frieda’s Field	Developing the formula for the …	Geometry, Trigonometry	5th	OL
Enter the Matrix	Solving a multi-variable problem using …	Algebra	5th	OL
The General Term of a Quadratic Pattern	Using multiple strategies to develop …	Algebra, Functions	5th	OL
Heading for Trouble	Learning how to deal with …	Algebra	5th	OL
Navigating an Ash Cloud	Drawing on algebra, geometry and …	Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry	5th	HL
The Water Rocket	Analysing quadratic relationships using multiple …	Algebra, Functions, Number	5th	HL
What makes a Parallelogram	Using trigonometry & geometry to …	Geometry, Trigonometry	5th	OL
Tick Tock - Area of an Incircle	Use the properties of an …	Geometry, Trigonometry	5th	HL
Seeing through the Dab	Applying trigonometry to solve a …	Geometry, Trigonometry	TY	Common
Decoding De Moivre	Understanding the concepts of rotations …	Algebra, Number, Trigonometry	TY	Common
How many ways can you prove It?	Understanding the construction of the …	Geometry, Trigonometry	3rd	HL
Centre of a Rectangle	Students draw on many topics …	Geometry, Trigonometry	3rd, 5th	HL, OL
Comparing Percentages, Decimals & Fractions	Calculate the percentage and fraction …	Number	3rd	OL
Coordinate Geometry meets Synthetic Geometry	Using coordinate geometry, theorems, corollaries …	Geometry, Trigonometry	3rd	HL
Picture this Quadratic	Modelling images using quadratic functions …	Algebra, Functions	3rd	HL
Transformation Trickery	Applying knowledge of transformations for …	Geometry	3rd	HL
3D Cubes	Identifying right-angled triangles in 3D …	Geometry, Trigonometry	3rd	HL
Anyone for Pizza - Solving Simultaneous Equations	Modelling problems with simultaneous equations …	Algebra	2nd	HL
Coffee and Tea Simultaneously	Solving a two-variable problem using …	Algebra, Geometry	2nd	HL
An Average Problem	Understand the properties of different …	Statistics	2nd	HL
The Cookie Crumbles	Moving from area to volume …	Number	2nd	OL
Into the Next Dimension	Understanding the relationship between cross-sectional …	Number	2nd	OL
Equivalent Fractions	Students learn to compare fractions …	Number	2nd	OL
More Pizza for me	Using scaling to compare different …	Number	2nd	OL
Pragmatic Quadratic	Calculating the area of a …	Algebra, Functions	2nd	HL
Rich, Happy, Healthy or Famous	Using Census @ School data …	Statistics	2nd	Common
Roots and Shoots	Calculating the dimensions of a …	Algebra, Functions	2nd	HL
Tri to be Shady	Using many approaches to calculate …	Geometry, Number	2nd	HL
The Window Maker	Using two-variable problems to develop …	Algebra	2nd	HL
Grazing Gazelles	Discovering Pythagoras’s Theorem.	Geometry, Trigonometry	2nd	OL
Tin of Beans	Using the concept of cross-sectional …	Number	2nd	HL
Translating Words into Symbols	Using different operations to develop …	Algebra, Number, Probability	1st	Common
An Alternative Approach to Alternate Angles	Problem solving to demonstrate that …	Geometry	1st	Common
Are you Snookered?	Use axioms and theorems to …	Geometry	1st	Common
Perimeter of an Irregular Shape	Calculating perimeter of a shape …	Algebra, Number	1st	Common
Home and Away	Understanding distance-time graphs.	Algebra, Number	1st	Common
A Tough Climb	Understanding the concept of slope.	Geometry, Trigonometry	1st	Common
Mary’s Age	Applying linear equations to problems.	Algebra	1st	Common
Perfecting Percentages	Understanding the usefulness of percentages …	Number	1st	Common
Count the Sweets	Students apply algebraic reasoning to …	Algebra, Number	1st	Common
The Chocolate Challenge	Using equivalent fractions to decide …	Number	1st	Common
The Great Hall	Using linear relationships to develop …	Algebra	1st	Common
The Problem with Cats & Dogs	Learning to use Venn Diagrams …	Number	1st	Common
What’s your Angle?	Applying knowledge of axioms and …	Geometry	1st	Common
Working with Fred Pattern-Son	Using a visual pattern to …	Algebra	1st	Common
Introducing Algebra & Word Equations	Applying algebraic reasoning to in-context …	Algebra	1st	Common
Let’s think about BIDMAS	Applying order of operations to …	Number	1st	Common
Dogs do Patterns	Using a real-life problem to …	Algebra, Number	1st	Common

Irish Maths Teachers Teaching Live

After breaking new ground in 2017 with live problem-solving lessons by Irish teachers, Maths Counts 2018 again showcased three live lessons developed through our Lesson Study programme. Teachers from Coláiste na Tóirbhirte, Ardee Community School and Coláiste Éamann Rís, Callan taught their research lessons live to groups of students from their own school - all for other teachers to see. It was brilliant to see the huge amount of planning come to fruition in an inspirational hour of teaching and learning. We hope that all teachers present enjoyed the chance to watch somebody else teach.

Professor Tad Watanabe’s Live Teaching and Keynote Address

Prof. Tad Watanabe wowed students and teachers alike with his problem-solving lessons on fractions. Tad brought the students of Ardee Community College on a fascinating journey, starting with comparing fractions, through to proving that there are an infinite number of fractions between any two fractions. In the course of the journey students grappled with the process of mathematical proof, all the time practising their skills for manipulating algebraic fractions and reasoning as to the properties of different fractions. After finishing his lessons, Tad attended the live lessons and interactive workshops delivered by our Irish Lesson-Study teachers and commented on the high standard of all the work he saw.

Interactive Workshops

We had 23 workshops presented by teachers at Maths Counts 2018, outlining their experience of using Lesson Study for their CPD and of teaching through structured problem solving. The quality of presentation was incredibly high and it was great to see teachers discussing their approaches to teaching each topic and the common problems students present with in the classroom. Every workshop concluded with a question and answer session where teachers got the opportunity to ask the presenter about participating in the Lesson-Study programme.

Teachers’ Poster Exhibition

The huge amount of work undertaken by teachers involved in the 2017-2018 Lesson-Study programme was highlighted by the extensively display of posters which outlined the work of each research group. Each group got the chance to take their posters with them back to their schools. Well done to everybody who presented a poster.

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