Operation Maths: the most teacher-friendly primary maths programme

Designed by a team of practically minded teachers, our aim was to make it as simple as possible for any teacher to use Operation Maths, while also reducing their planning and preparation work. This is why the content of the Operation Maths Teacher Resource Books (TRBs) is the most comprehensive currently available.

For the senior end:

Each topic dedicated section in the Teacher’s Resource Book (or TRB which is free to adopting schools) includes:

• An overview of the topic that doubles as a short term plan and includes learning outcomes, vocabulary, resources, differentiation, assessment, linkage, integration etc., etc. Simply photocopy this and use it both as a plan and as a way to record progress through each topic. All of these plans are also available to download as MS Word documents from www.edcolearning.ie
• A brief synopsis of potential difficulties that a class or individuals may have with the topic.
• A day-by-day breakdown (see opposite) of suggestions to teach the topic that is so comprehensive, the like of which has not been seen before. This includes daily suggestions for oral and mental starters, concrete activities, questions, games as well as guidance for the suitable pages to use from the books.
• Suggestions for further activities that will further enhance the children’s ability to understand the topic
• Detailed instructions for how to use the digital resources specific to that topic.

Also included in the senior end TRBs:

• Long term planning is in the introductory section of each TRB and not only is there a plan/grid with month-by-month suggestions of when to teach each topic for every class but, specifically for those teaching in multi-classes, there are versions of the plans that would suit a 3rd & 4th class combination and another for a 5th & 6th class combination.
• A starters bank containing a whole suite of oral and mental maths activities.
• A games bank with suggestions for simple, fun games, most of which are based on readily available resources such as dice, playing cards etc.
• Reinforcement photocopiables (a minimum of one per chapter) for the lower attainers (LAs) which provide opportunities for extra practice for those requiring it.
• Early finishers photocopiables (one per chapter) for the higher attainers (HAs) providing them with rich tasks to challenge them to think deeper and broader about the concept.
• Dear Family Letters: these slips, which can be sent home in a homework journal or copy, explain to the family about the topic and suggest how they might support the child at home.
• Target boards: designed for display on the class IWB, these are accompanied by questions specific to each class level and chapter.
• A range of other photocopiables and cut-outs which can be used to further enhance the children’s understanding of the topic at hand.

For the junior end:

For the junior end , the TRB each section covers a specific month and each month has an overarching theme eg Capacity,  which then connects the other activities even if then are from another strand unit. Each month section is then subdivided into fortnights to aid planning and then subdivided further into weeks eg January week 3.

Each of the monthly sections includes:

• Two fortnightly overviews of the topic(s) that doubles as a short term plan and includes learning outcomes, skills, vocabulary, resources, concrete materials,  differentiation, assessment, linkage, integration and home-school links. Simply photocopy this and use it both as a plan and as a way to record progress through each topic. All of these plans are also available to download as MS Word documents from www.edcolearning.ie
• A weekly breakdown (see below) of suggestions to teach the topic that includes suggestions for warm-ups (starters), activities, questions, games as well as guidance for the suitable pages to use from the books.

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• Suggestions for stations in the 1st & 2nd class books that will further enhance the children’s ability to understand the topic
• Suggestions for Aistear links in the infants books (see doc above).
• Detailed instructions for how to use the digital resources specific to that topic.

Also included in the junior end TRBs:

• Long term planning is covered with the yearly scheme in the introductory section of each TRB and outlines the strand units within each month and cross references this to the relevant pages within the pupils books.
• A reproduction of the curriculum objectives for the specific class level and details when each is covered during the year
• Early finishers photocopiables for the higher attainers (HAs) providing them with rich tasks to challenge them to think deeper and broader about the concept.
• A range of other photocopiables, games and cut-outs which can be used to further enhance the children’s understanding of the topic at hand.

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