Maths4All, led by CASTel members situated in the DCU Institute of Education, was delighted to host an online TeachMeet on Wednesday 28th of September. A TeachMeet is an organised but informal meeting for practitioners and teachers to share good practice, practical innovations and personal insights. Presentations by practising primary teachers covered a wide range of pertinent topics. Sarah Byrne from St Vincent de Paul Infant School, Dublin 9 discussed the potential of using virtual manipulatives for maths and presented practical strategies to support teachers in engaging very young children with digital technologies. Both AnneMarie Griffin, Renmore School and Angela Langan, Maynooth Educate Together, addressed integrated approaches to teaching mathematics in the primary school. AnneMarie’s presentation shared ideas on how mathematics might be integrated with Art and Angela described her approach to enhancing children’s spatial skills through the incorporation of spatial enhancements within an integrated topic. Caroline Stone, St. Mary’s primary school, Edenderry shared her experience of teaching a mathematics lesson which investigated whether Barbie was realistic or not – a practical application of measurement concepts with the potential for links to social justice and the SPHE curriculum.The enthusiastic audience of primary teachers positively engaged with this wide range of topics, and a number have expressed their intention to present at future Maths4All TeachMeets.

We are looking forward to our upcoming webinar in conjunction with Clare Education Centre which will take place on the 19th of October. CASTeL member, Professor Hamsa Venkat will engage directly with teacher participants on the topic of; Open-ended tasks in primary maths: A bit of fun or useful for learning. Maths4all is funded by Science Foundation Ireland and this project is run in partnership with Clare Education Centre and the T-Rex platform.