Making Sense of Number: Exploring Models and Representations in the Primary Classroom - ECT Professional Learning

Target audience:  Primary Early Career Teachers

ECTs registered with the EA for the academic year 2025-2026 will have received an access code to enable them to apply for this event.  

About this event

This practical and engaging TPL is designed to support early career primary teachers in building strong foundations in mathematics. With a focus on number, number relationships, and calculation, the course explores how children make sense of mathematics through pattern, structure, and representation. Grounded in the concrete-pictorial-abstract (CPA) approach, participants will learn how to make abstract ideas more accessible and meaningful. Throughout the day, teachers will gain confidence in using a variety of mathematical manipulatives and models - including Numicon, ten-frames, rectangular arrays, and bar models - to support conceptual understanding, build fluency, and promote reasoning in the classroom.

Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Use structured representations to support children’s understanding of key number concepts.
• Design activities that build number sense by encouraging children to explore pattern, structure, and relationships.
• Enable children to make connections between concrete experiences, visual models, mathematical language, and symbolic notation.
• Support children in using mathematical models to represent and solve problems involving the four operations and fractions.
• Promote mathematical reasoning by encouraging children to explain and justify their thinking.
• Reflect on their own classroom practice and plan for the implementation of evidence-informed strategies aligned with the Northern Ireland Curriculum and GTCNI competences.

Time

9.30 am - 3.00 pm

This in-person professional development opportunity is available on two different dates and locations.  You need only select one date from the options available.

Substitute cover is available for the release of ECTs working in schools (excludes Independent Schools).  Monies in relation to sub cover will be issued to schools after teacher has attended event.  Schools advised to code to Miscellaneous School Charge/Cost on NISTR.  

Please ensure you enter your email address correctly when registering.

Event Closing Dates:  One week before the date of each event listed.

This professional learning opportunity aims to support the development of the following GTCNI competences:

GTCNI Competence No 3

Teachers will have developed a knowledge and understanding of the learning area/subject(s) they teach, including the centrality of strategies and initiatives to improve literacy, numeracy and thinking skills, keeping curricular, subject and pedagogical knowledge up-to-date through reflection, self-study and collaboration with colleagues.

GTCNI Competence No 4

Teachers will have developed a knowledge and understanding of how the learning area/subject(s) they teach contribute to the Northern Ireland Curriculum and be aware of curriculum requirements in preceding and subsequent key stages.

GTCNI Competence No 5

Teachers will have developed a knowledge and understanding of curriculum development processes, including planning, implementation and evaluation.

GTCNI Competence No 6

Teachers will have developed a knowledge and understanding of the factors that promote and hinder effective learning, and be aware of the need to provide for the holistic development of the child.