PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) carried out by a consortium overseen by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) is the largest international test of students' skills in the world including mathematics as one of the basics of teaching level assessment where Poland is on the 18th position among the countries studied and needs innovation to improve this position. According to the report "Teaching Mathematics in Primary School" of the Educational Research Institute in Warsaw, although the syllabus is an important condition for high quality mathematics teaching, it is not sufficient and the substantive and methodical skills of teachers and the quality of teaching aids play an equally important role. This research also revealed the lack of comfortable mastering mathematics teaching methods among teachers and the adoption of concepts compatible in every detail with a textbook without a creative approach to the use of mathematics in the students’ daily life. In response to this situation, within the project "MathemaTIKs for Primary School teachers" we will develop innovative tools and methods to facilitate the teaching of mathematics in a motivational manner, allowing to balance the development of accounting and algorithmic skills with developing creative reasoning skills not only in our country, but also at the level of the entire European community. In order to achieve this, three members of our Strategic Partnership, Polish Primary School Klasyk in Puławy, Latvian Primary School Skibes and Spanish non-governmental organisation PASOS will conduct research and training in teaching methods and best practices promoting effective education in our countries and facilitating the achievement of intellectual outputs (book, short didactic films and e-learning platform). The study visits will take place in Poland, Latvia and Spain, and the intellectual outputs will document the results of our work and ensure the availability of developed methods and tools for all interested teachers. In order to properly implement the "MathemaTIKs" project, we have also planned 3 international project meetings: Kick off, an intermediate meeting and an evaluation meeting, and three multiplier events, one in each of the partner countries. We expect that the project will help to improve the quality of mathematics teachers' work in primary schools, and, therefore, the process of acquiring knowledge among the students. Teachers participating directly in the project will increase their ability to carry out research, introduce innovation, create teaching materials and improve their language skills which will also improve their ability to work in an international environment. Through an invitation to participate in the study visits issued to other educational institutions and local and regional organisms, the Strategic Partnership will strengthen its international network of contacts which will allow the project to have an increased impact and enrich it significantly. Our European activity will also improve and result in the promotion of further development and implementation of Erasmus + projects aimed at introducing innovative improvements in the teaching system.
Through the implementation of the project we wanted : -teachers of both partner schools and institutions, as well as teachers who indirectly benefited from the effects of the project gained knowledge about the best practices and methods of teaching mathematics in partner schools -have created, verified and validated by teachers a new teaching tool that enables teachers of elementary school students to transfer mathematical knowledge and skills in a highly effective, stimulating and rewarding way. -provide teaching methods and tools to elementary school math teachers through a remote mode of knowledge transfer.
It is well known that knowledge of mathematics is an essential tool for understanding and finding one's way in the surrounding reality. Students are facing constant technological changes. Existing methods of teaching mathematics are outdated and ineffective. Elementary school math teachers need modern and innovative working methods and tools. We have noticed gaps in both the creation and use of innovative mathematics teaching methods and innovative tools. The project addresses these deficiencies, as a result of which elementary school math teachers will acquire the skills to create their own materials, tools and teaching methods. As a result, students will be effectively motivated to learn mathematics, learn the practical aspect of mathematics, gain solid knowledge and skills which will ultimately allow them to achieve the best possible learning results not only in elementary school, but also at further stages of education.