Adapting instrumental and relational descriptors to study comments on instructional explanations in early mathematics

It is with great pleasure that we present the proceedings from the Tenth Conference on Research in Mathematics Education in Ireland (MEI 10), which took place in Dublin City University during Maths Week in October 2025. Established in 2005, the MEI conference serves to promote and facilitate discussion on mathematics teaching and learning across the continuum from early childhood education through third level education and beyond. At this milestone of the 10th MEI conference, we acknowledge the significant contribution of the original founding members of MEI, for establishing, maintaining and growing this conference - an important contribution to the growth and quality of mathematics education research in Ireland. We are delighted that MEI has become recognised as a significant biennial event in the CASTeL calendar.