Search Results for 'Frank Murphy'

One of the keys to success in maths is having a solid fluency in the foundational maths skills that are taught in primary school. Too often, students do not get sufficient practice at the different basic skills and so lack confidence needed to tackle the more complex ideas that appear in secondary mathematics and beyond. Students lack the necessary fluency and feel that they are “no good at maths”. 

A primary school student went to First Class Learning struggling with maths and was not confident in his abilities. After an initial assessment, an individualised programme was devised to suit his needs and ability. The FCL programme is designed to ensure the concepts are thoroughly explored. Fluency is essential at each step before moving on to the next maths skill. After 18 months’ work, this student had progressed from a lower D to an A level grade. His confidence was restored and he was ready to tackle maths concepts that were new to him.

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny officially opened the newly extended and refurbished Ballina District Hospital last Monday, December 1 which was completed at a cost of over €1m of which €250,000 was provided by the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation.

Algebra can become a real challenge to students in early secondary school. It builds on and extends the arithmetic that students have met in primary school. However it represents a shift from computational maths — calculating with numbers — to a more abstract world where letters are introduced in place of numbers. Students have to get to grips with the idea of negative numbers, exponents and variables. There are orders of operation and associated rules — not following them leads to the wrong answer. This leads to frustration. Despair follows in short order.

Eight new players, including the province’s biggest addition Mils Muliaina, signals Pat Lam’s first full squad selection since taking over the reins from Eric Elwood.

The Health Service Executive announced yesterday that planning permission has been approved for two new primary care centres in Westport and Claremorris. The tender process by the National Development Finance Agency is under way. The primary care centres will be located at Kilcolman Road, Claremorris, and Toberhill, Westport. These centres are part of the overall HSE plan to develop primary care services in local towns.

Connacht complete their 2013/4 season with a difficult visit to Liberty Stadium on Saturday (6.30pm) where they face an Ospreys outfit smarting from its failure to qualify for the semi-finals.

Connacht's biggest signing of former All Black Mils Muliaina is a huge step in Connacht's growing development, insists coach Pat Lam.

Learning maths is like climbing a stairs — you proceed one step at a time. If a step is broken or weak then it is difficult to advance any further. That is why it is vital that children learn the fundamental maths concepts and skills, especially the four operations — addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Children who are not 100 per cent fluent in these four basic operations cannot proceed successfully onto fractions, decimals, and percentages and then further onto pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. Like the stairs, we proceed from one step to the next and each step needs to be completely secure in order to ensure a successful journey.