Learn Math So Easy: January 2001

Wednesday, January 31, 2001

Five For Five

My friend Ceri lately told me nearly something she does inward her maths lessons. It plant actually good for pupils who lack confidence inward maths. I asked her permission to portion it here. It's uncomplicated only effective. She calls it 'Five for Five'. I'm certain at that topographic point are teachers all over the the world doing something similar. Here's Ceri's version:

Start past times producing a laid of 5 mixed theme questions for the week. It's of import that these are tailor-made for your class. You could download something generic, only it doesn't accept much longer to write the questions yourself 1 time a week. The wages of writing the questions yourself is that you lot tin laissez passer on the sack select 5 topics that are relevant to your class, for illustration something they struggled amongst on a recent assessment, or something they learnt for the get-go fourth dimension a few weeks ago. Writing the questions yourself likewise way you lot tin laissez passer on the sack lavatory acquire the difficulty flat right.

Here's an illustration of a typical laid of questions:

Ceri follows the schedule described below (of course of report this tin laissez passer on the sack hold upward adapted if you lot don't come across the degree 5 times a week).

Monday

Ceri gives her degree the 5 questions at the start of the lesson. They receive got a become on their own, only Ceri knows (because she wrote the questions) that they volition struggle. Ceri too thus spends a expert amount of fourth dimension - one-half the lesson if necessary - going through the questions. Her pupils annotate their questions amongst detailed notes.

Tuesday

Ceri gives her degree the same 5 questions amongst dissimilar numbers. Pupils consummate the questions on their ain only are allowed to hold off at their operate from previous day. Ceri spends a shorter amount of fourth dimension going through the questions afterwards.

Wednesday

Ceri gives her degree the same 5 questions only 1 time to a greater extent than amongst dissimilar numbers. Again, they tin laissez passer on the sack cite to their notes too answers from the previous lesson. This is at 1 time a fairly quick starter activity. Often they tin laissez passer on the sack produce it inward 5 minutes ('five for 5 inward five') only at that topographic point is no fourth dimension limit. There's something else for pupils to acquire on amongst until everyone is ready.

Thursday

Same again. By at 1 time they should hold upward getting them all right.

Friday

Same 5 questions, dissimilar numbers, only this fourth dimension they start the lesson past times completing the questions on their ain in examination conditions without looking at their notes. Even without their notes, it's rattling probable they volition at 1 time acquire them all right.

Success is rattling motivating for pupils who grapple inward maths. Going from zip marks on Mon to total marks on Fri is rattling powerful for transforming a pupil's mental attitude too confidence.

Let me know if you lot effort it.

Thanks to Ceri for letting me portion this!

Tuesday, January 30, 2001

5 Maths Gems #102

Welcome to my 102^nd gems post. This is where I portion roughly of the latest news, ideas together with resources for maths teachers.

1. Grade Boundaries together with Exam Dates
You mightiness cause got already seen Jonathan Hall's (@StudyMaths) GCSE flat boundaries page. I detect this page surprisingly useful! He has straight off updated it with the Nov 2018 flat boundaries.

Also, don't forget nearly the Exam Countdown page which is actually useful for speedily checking examination dates.

2. Algebra Resources
Thanks to Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove) for sharing a laid of free algebra resources from Region xviii ESC (@Region18ESC). Examples include:

3. Core Maths Links
Catherine van Saarloos (@CoreMathsCat) has created a regularly updated list of links for Core Maths teachers. I know that many Core Maths teachers combat with the lack of teaching resources together with the time it takes to gear upwardly lessons, then hopefully this volition live helpful.

4. Joint Maths/Science CPD
For years I cause got been pregnant to practise a CPD session relating to the crossover topics inwards maths together with science. Thankfully Teresa Robinson (Five for Five', a teaching thought that industrial plant actually good with students who lack confidence inwards maths. I was likewise interviewed for the Cambridge Maths blog: Seven Questions with Jo Morgan.

I added a novel page to my blog: 'Online Historical Maths Textbooks' which lists links to costless online maths textbooks from the 16th century to the 20th century. It mightiness live helpful for researchers, or for people similar me who only cause got an involvement inwards the history of maths education. In addition, I added a pose out of novel events to my conferences page where you lot tin run into upcoming maths didactics events inwards the UK. Both pages tin live accessed at whatever fourth dimension from the 'Extras' card on the correct manus side of my weblog (if you're viewing on a mobile, you lot cause got to scroll downwards together with select 'View spider web version' to run into this menu).

Did you lot listen the reckoner news? The Casio fx-83GT together with fx-85GT (currently used past times the vast bulk of secondary maths pupils) cause got been discontinued. They'll exclusively live inwards shops piece stocks last. So if i of your electrical current Year 11s loses their reckoner earlier this year's GCSE exams you lot can't guarantee they'll acquire an identical replacement. The calculators you'll likely live telling all your incoming Year 7s to purchase inwards September are the Casio fx-83GTX together with fx-85GTX, which await similar the H5N1 flat Classwiz but cause got less functionality. These aren't all the same available on the high street but volition live soon. As always, Adam Creen's blog is the house to become for reckoner availability together with pricing.

Last week I did a duo of Twitter polls on hours of maths lesson. In illustration you lot were wondering how your schoolhouse compares to others, hither are the results:

I am delighted to portion the tidings that from July 2019 I volition live Assistant Principal at Harris Academy Sutton. I am then excited nearly working at such an incredible school. This scientific discipline specialist schoolhouse is component subdivision of the London Cancer Hub (sharing a site with the Institute of Cancer Research together with the Royal Marsden Hospital) together with is moving to an amazing novel edifice inwards September. The schoolhouse volition exclusively cause got Year 7 together with 8 adjacent year, which presents a wonderful chance for a instructor looking to prepare their pedagogy without all the examination pressure level that comes with Year 11. We volition practise proper maths teaching, inwards depth, together with our pocket-sized squad volition live totally teaching together with learning focused. I can't wait. We are currently recruiting for both maths teachers together with a Director of Maths. Please come upwardly together with bring together my team! Email me (resourceaholic@gmail.com) or DM me on Twitter to discuss.

I did iii presentations final calendar week - I spoke to Harris NQTs nearly methods, I presented on Large Data Set at the London H5N1 flat Pedagogy Maths Hub piece of occupation group, together with I did my Indices inwards Depth session at the London MA/ATM Branch with my Twitter buddy Ed Southall. I'll live presenting at a pose out of conferences over the adjacent few months - if you're at one, delight practise come upwardly together with state hello.

Have you lot booked your ticket to #mathsconf18 yet? It's inwards Bristol on ninth March together with it's guaranteed to live a non bad day. I'm presenting on unit of measurement conversions, which sounds actually irksome but I hope it volition live worth coming along. Trust me!

I'll locomote out you lot with this non bad tweet from @kyledevans. Have a lovely week!

Pythagorean humour. Not to scale. pic.twitter.com/2tnMqb3FZr
— Kyle D Evans (@kyledevans) 9 Jan 2019

Monday, January 29, 2001

5 Maths Gems #103

Welcome to my 103^rd gems post. This is where I percentage but about of the latest news, ideas in addition to resources for maths teachers.

1. Surds
I dearest teaching surds! Here's a prissy surds chore from Peter Drysdale‏ (@pwdrysdale). It's a multiplication tabular array alongside lots of blanks to create amount in.

2. Puzzles
If you're a fan of geometry puzzles, cheque out Ed Southall's Instagram page where he has collated all his puzzles inward ane place, in addition to continues to percentage novel puzzles on a regular basis.

And spell you're on Instagram looking at his puzzles, don't forget to follow my Instagram account too!

3. Boss Maths Non-Examples
I get-go blogged nearly Boss Maths (Gems 89. When using their site of late I noticed but about features inward their lessons that I'd non seen before. The examples in addition to non-examples are actually useful for clarifying definitions in addition to concepts.

Here's an extract from their Circumference of a Circle lesson:

And but about other extract from their Recognising in addition to using Fibonacci type sequences lesson:

4. Hooks
Julia Smith (@tessmaths) has been collecting mathematical hooks for lessons. You tin discovery them inward this padlet. Hooks are items of involvement which mightiness spark give-and-take or could last used to innovate a theme inward the maths classroom. Some of them mightiness function good for shape fourth dimension give-and-take too.

5. February Half Term Maths Challenges
Thanks to Lisa Baggaley (Gems 37.

MEM has been running take-home competitions inward Feb one-half term since the belatedly 1970s. Together, these competitions attract nearly 2,000 entries annually, alongside Challenge aimed at Years vii in addition to 8, in addition to Senior Challenge aimed at Years ix in addition to 10. H5N1 3rd competition, Open Challenge for students aged eighteen in addition to under, is organised past times Liverpool Mathematical Society.

If you lot desire your students to enter, you lot tin discovery the questions in addition to instructions here.

Update
On Midweek 13th Feb in that location is a costless DfE-funded maths conference inward Northampton for 200 master copy in addition to secondary teachers. There volition last a keynote from Andrew Jeffrey, in addition to hence secondary teachers volition attend 3 workshops in addition to a TeachMeet. The workshops are: Chris Reilly on Challenging Topics at GCSE, Peter Mattock on Mathematical Thinking in addition to me on preparing Year 11s for GCSE exams. There are even hence a few secondary spaces available hence book now if you lot desire to come.

Finally, produce cheque out the awesome maths videos in addition to animations on the website www.etudes.ru. There's loads of cool materials on this website. I especially similar the video on Reuleaux Traingles. Thanks to WTungsteno (@74WTungsteno) for sharing. Here's an extract from a video on Pi which would function good inward a get-go lesson on circumference:

Sunday, January 28, 2001

Memorising Facts

I took over a yoke of Year eleven groups inwards Dec in addition to was actually surprised past times how few GCSE facts in addition to formulae they knew. When nosotros reviewed their mock essay I noticed that they'd all got a query incorrect where they were asked to uncovering the perimeter of a semi-circle. It turned out that none of them could recall the formula for circumference, hence were unable to fifty-fifty score the start grade on this 3 grade question.

In shape nosotros create loads of operate on job solving, reasoning, essay technique in addition to everything else, but I realised that if they don't know the basics in addition to then it's actually difficult to displace forward. Of class knowing things inwards isolation isn't helpful at all. Once they've memorised their facts in addition to then they demand to know what to create alongside them. The application is the difficult part. But if nosotros tin terminate acquire the facts in addition to formulae sorted, this gives us an chance to focus on the existent challenges at hand.

Gaps inwards commutation factual noesis are pretty mutual at maths GCSE. Examiner feedback for Edexcel shows, for example, that students fighting to recall the publish of grams inwards a kilogram. It's such a shame for them to lose marks on things similar this. We create hence much operate alongside them over the years on developing their conceptual agreement in addition to reasoning skills, but 1 of the few things nosotros actually demand them to create on their own inwards the stitch to their GCSE exams is commit facts to memory. That's only how GCSEs operate - at that spot is an chemical constituent of memorisation inwards every subject. In maths that includes unit of measurement conversions, surface area formulae, trigonometric ratios, polygon properties, angle facts, circle theorems in addition to more.

In an movement to create this I started giving my students noesis quizzes inwards class. Each lesson I gave them 1 quiz they'd done inwards a previous lesson in addition to 1 quiz they'd non seen before. At start they knew barely whatever answers. But after trying the same quiz 3 or 4 times, they started to retrieve things. And they loved that. Suddenly they were able to access a lot to a greater extent than problems inwards lessons. Success is motivating, in addition to it actually has started to cause got a big acquit on on their confidence at this vital time.

*******

In an ideal basis our Year eleven students would become dwelling household for the Easter holidays in addition to revise all their subjects, committing facts to retentiveness in addition to practising essay papers. What oft happens is that they look at a revision direct or a laid upwards of revision cards or an app, in addition to promise everything volition only stick inwards their heads. When I was at academy I made myself sets of questions in addition to photocopied them, completing my quizzes in 1 lawsuit to a greater extent than in addition to in 1 lawsuit to a greater extent than until I got total marks every time. Ideally our students would create something similar at GCSE in addition to Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 level. But although nosotros tin terminate advise them to create so, they oft don't create it. So this is where I'm going to attempt to help...

I cause got set all my quizzes into books which straight off shape purpose of the novel 'Knowledge Quiz' series. They cause got only gone to impress hence volition last on sale from 1st March. The books comprise multiple copies of the same quiz hence students tin terminate tear out a quiz, cause got a go, banking concern tally the answers, in addition to and then attempt in 1 lawsuit to a greater extent than inwards a few days. After completing the same quiz a few times in addition to memorising the facts, in addition to they tin terminate come upwards dorsum in addition to attempt in 1 lawsuit to a greater extent than a calendar month later.

The books volition last £8 to purchase from Amazon, but they volition last discounted to £5 if schools mass purchase straight from John Catt. I envisage that to a greater extent than or less schools volition purchase copies for their students to cause got dwelling household over Easter, in addition to to a greater extent than or less schools powerfulness purchase copies for each pupil to occupation inwards shape (saving the instructor a lot of fourth dimension in addition to photocopying budget!).

Either way, I'm hopeful that this volition unopen the huge gap inwards factual noesis in addition to allow us to focus on the of import stuff.

These books encompass the bulk of facts in addition to formulae required at GCSE. I am non suggesting that maths is a discipline that only comes downward to facts in addition to formulae (of class not!) in addition to neither am I suggesting that this is the alone essay grooming a pupil needs to create (of class not!) - this is only a uncomplicated resources to assist students memorise things.

*******

There's to a greater extent than exciting news! These books are purpose of a series. I asked to a greater extent than or less of my favourite scientific discipline teachers to create similar books for Chemistry, Biology in addition to Physics. So thank yous to Adam Boxer, Gemma Singleton in addition to Ruth Ashbee, nosotros cause got a whole serial of Knowledge Quiz books coming out soon. It turns out at that spot are a huge publish of facts to learn for science (around nine times to a greater extent than facts than maths!). There are hence many things to memorise for science, I cause got a feeling that these books are going to last hugely beneficial to students preparing for their GCSEs this year.

If this serial is good received in addition to then nosotros volition extend it to other subjects in addition to key stages side past times side year. This is exciting!

"The Knowledge Quiz serial is a deviously uncomplicated in addition to effective agency for students to revise for GCSE subjects".

I'll brand certain I convey copies to the events I'm aid inwards March hence that teachers tin terminate cause got a look. I can't hold off to demo people!

Saturday, January 27, 2001

#Humblepi

On Sabbatum s March I volition last hosting the launch political party for Matt Parker's novel mass Humble Pi. It's going to last the biggest maths effect of the year! Thanks to unbelievably generous sponsorship from the wonderful people at Jane Street, I've booked 1 of the coolest venues inwards London in addition to nosotros accept an eve of amazing amusement lined up.

For solely £Pi² a ticket you'll larn a re-create of Humble Pi, a champagne reception, maths speakers, activities, canapes, drinks in addition to loads more.

Wait until yous come across what the Foxdog guys do! It volition last in addition to therefore much fun.

We accept 160 tickets available exactly I sold one-half of them inwards less than 24 hours in addition to therefore book now! Everyone is welcome. Hope to come across yous there!

Friday, January 26, 2001

5 Maths Gems #104

Welcome to my 104^th gems post. This is where I portion some of the latest news, ideas in addition to resources for maths teachers.

1. Don Steward
Hurrah for the render of Don Steward!

He has been busy publishing loads of novel resources on his ratio, vectors in addition to linear graphs. I can't continue upward alongside it all.

Extract from GCSE business questions

His novel resources include a issue of unlike ratio alongside algebra questions. Thank you lot Don!

Extract from Best Buys

2. Starters
Thanks to Danielle Moosajee (@PixiMaths) for sharing a huge collection of free starter questions. She has created a mixed theme starter for every lesson of the year. They are grouped past times target grade, alongside packs for grades v in addition to nine created so far. This mightiness live a fourth dimension saver for lots of teachers.

3. Structured Recall
For years I lead maintain made practiced purpose of Susan Whitehouse's topic summary resources at Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 level. They move actually good every bit a revision activeness - students lead maintain to explicate a method in addition to consummate an instance for the diverse skills inside topic. Here's what it looks similar for linear graphs.

I similar these so much that a duet of years agone I tried to brand a ready of them for GCSE inward the same format (ie 1 column for the method inward the student's ain words, 1 column for an instance question) but I didn't lead maintain fourth dimension to consummate them. So I lead maintain a folder of unfinished attempts.

I was reminded close these sheets when I saw Miss Walker (@MsWalkerMaths) tweeting close a similar thought that's she has been trying alongside her students. This is slightly unlike to the theme summaries though, because the questions are intentionally less specific (including prompts such every bit 'Tell me close parallel lines').

By far the best novel thought I've used for a long time! Structured gratis recall. It actually shows students the amount that they lead maintain remembered in addition to gets them to explicate concepts inward their ain words. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 really powerful revision tool. 👍😊 #FreeRecall #MemoryinMaths #pedagogy #mathschat pic.twitter.com/SJ80Lz5zWf
— Miss Walker (@MsWalkerMaths) 22 Jan 2019

She also shared some slap-up examples of her students' work.

4. Interhouse Competitions
I lead maintain written earlier close national maths competitions which commonly involve taking students out of school. Gemma Elizabeth‏ (@gemma_harney) late tweeted to inquire close ideas for interhouse maths competitions that could live run inside a school. Some slap-up ideas were shared so do read the thread.

Coincidentally I was doing my regular batch of TES reviews a duet of weeks afterwards in addition to institute a ready of resources that could live used for a monthly maths challenge in schools. Thanks to beedup on TES for sharing a overnice unproblematic format. The thought is that students who desire to lead maintain business office lead 1 of 2 challenges in addition to and so lead maintain to solve the occupation in addition to explicate their thinking. The prize goes to the entry alongside the best explanation. Using Nrich problems or similar it would live pretty quick to do a ready of these so the contest could run every calendar month all twelvemonth round.

5. Hook, Line in addition to Sinker
John Rowe (@MrJohnRowe) has published a actually lovely eBook for maths teachers. You tin read close it in addition to download the volume here.

John says, "I wrote this volume to help Maths teachers who only don’t lead maintain fourth dimension to navigate the thousands of resources available online. This isn’t tailored to a specific country’s standards/ curriculum outcomes, rather a collection of mathematics resources sequenced inward a means that I would in all probability do it every bit a teacher".

In his volume John provides an instance sequence of the resources he would purpose inward the didactics of trigonometry in addition to Pythagoras, algebra, indices, quadratics in addition to probability. It's slap-up - do lead maintain a read!

Update
I lead maintain 2 large things going on at the moment… My GCSE revision volume went on sale in addition to nosotros had loads of mass orders from schools wanting their students to lead maintain these dwelling solid over Easter. Read close it here. Around the same time, Matt Parker asked me to host his volume launch. All 180 tickets sold out inward alone 2 days, which was insane. I’m instantly busy making all the concluding arrangements for the maths trial of the year. If you're coming, banking concern jibe the website for updates.

In other news, I led 2 large conferences lastly week, making it my busiest calendar week of all time! The get-go was a DfE conference inward Northampton where I presented on 'Countdown to GCSE'. For those of you lot who asked for a re-create of my presentation, you lot tin download it here. During the TeachMeet I also shared a brusk presentation close animations - those slides are here.

200 main in addition to secondary teachers enjoying
Andrew Jeffrey's keynote at #teachmathsnorthants

Two days afterwards was a Harris inset hateful solar daytime - I was responsible for organising in addition to hosting the KS3/4 maths strand for close 180 teachers. As business office of that I ran 2 topics inward depth sessions. I am so pleased it's one-half term instantly because it was an exhausting week! Great fun though.

I late appeared on the podcast Relatively Prime where I was total of enthusiasm in addition to optimism, but a few days afterwards got actually upset past times the means a pupil spoke to me at school, which made me uncharacteristically miserable. The contrast betwixt the highs in addition to lows inward this career is astounding at times.

I am looking forrard to the flurry of conferences inward March. The get-go is #mathsconf18 which is inward Bristol on ninth March. I’m presenting on units in addition to I know everyone volition mean value that doesn’t audio similar an appealing session! Trust me, I lead maintain some actually cool materials to share.

Later inward the month, at #educatingnorthants, I’m presenting on methods (my absolute favourite matter to speak about). I late saw a practiced blog post from Nick Corley (@MrCorleyMath) on option methods for expanding double brackets which is worth a read.

If you're non a fellow member of a plain of written report association in addition to so do visit joining the oldest plain of written report association inward the world. The lovely people at The Mathematical Association are instantly offering membership past times monthly direct debit.

It's alone £5.20 a calendar month for secondary membership, in addition to fifty-fifty cheaper for trainees, NQTs in addition to main teachers. Join here.

I’m off on a household unit of measurement vacation to Scotland on Mon - it volition live the get-go fourth dimension my daughters become on a plane, which is really exciting. If you’re on one-half term adjacent calendar week too, enjoy!

I'll move out you lot alongside this fun angles occupation shared past times a colleague of Tom Bennison in addition to prettified past times Ed Southall. Given it's a square, abide by the marked angle. In theory, a Year vii should live able to do this one.

Thursday, January 25, 2001

5 Maths Gems #105

Welcome to my 105^th gems post. This is where I percentage or as well as then of the latest news, ideas as well as resources for maths teachers.

1. MathsPad
As common James as well as Nicola from MathsPad convey shared lots of fantabulous resources amongst subscribers inward their monthly update. Their pie nautical chart tool is great!

This calendar month they also shared a complimentary railroad train of fun cross-sequences puzzles that y'all tin access fifty-fifty if y'all don't subscribe. I've added this to my algebra resources library.

2. Similar Triangles Problem
Thanks to John Rowe (@MrJohnRowe) for sharing this problem. Similar triangles spiral to shape a regular decagon. The chore is to honor the length marked amongst a inquiry mark.

3. Missing Steps
TickTockMaths (@TickTockMaths) shared an activity where students consummate the missing steps.

You tin download his algebraic fractions PowerPoint here. Check out all of Richard's complimentary resources on his blog or on TES.

4. Maths Frame
Ted Burch (@Mathsframe) has converted all his free maths ITPs from Flash to HTML5 as well as then they volition operate on whatsoever modern browser. These interactive tools are useful for for both principal secondary teachers. They are real slow to use. There's loads to explore as well as then create banking concern tally out the website.

5. Posters
This lovely railroad train of STEM component subdivision model posters will brighten upwards schoolhouse corridors as well as supply skilful talking points.

There's also a overnice railroad train of downloadable 'Forces of Nature' posters from Perimeter Institute which includes ane of my favourite mathematicians, Ada Lovelace.

Update
It's all been a fleck crazy lately. On Sat nighttime I hosted Matt Parker's volume launch inward London. Thanks to all the wonderful people who helped out on the nighttime as well as all the wonderful guests, it ended upwards beingness an utterly brilliant night. I had such a skilful fourth dimension as well as loved every minute. After fantabulous as well as thoroughly entertaining talks inward the amphitheatre from Matt Parker, Jen Rogers, Rob Eastaway, Tim Harford as well as Dan Schreiber, nosotros ended the nighttime amongst a exhibit from FoxDog Studios which was the funniest matter I convey e'er seen! There was loads going on inward the reception room too, including James Grime amongst an Enigma machine, Ben Sparks amongst 3D Geogebra, Andy Sharpe amongst Nrich maths games, as well as Chalkdust amongst their awesome magazine. Plus of course of teaching at that topographic point was a self-playing pianoforte performing a previously unannounced superpermuation. And the best goody bags ever.

Here's a video of my 180 guests (mostly maths teachers) thoroughly enjoying the interactive exhibit from FoxDog Studios.

Thank y'all as well as then much to everyone who came, as well as to our friends at Jane Street for the ridiculously generous support. I recollect it's fourth dimension for me to retire from my number management hobby because there's no means I tin e'er exceed this one!

In other news, my books convey similar a shot been printed. These books are for students (not teachers!) - they are designed to assistance them larn all their facts as well as formulae for GCSE maths as well as science. Please either bulk order for your students or indicate them inward the management of Amazon using these leaflets. I convey explained how the books operate inward this curt habitation video.

I'm ridiculously tired from the volume launch (turns out that planning big events at curt notice is a fleck exhausting!), simply nevertheless real much looking forwards to #mathsconf18 inward Bristol this weekend. I create dearest a mathsconf. I volition convey or as well as then samples of my books if y'all desire to convey a look. I volition also live on doing a beak nearly unit of measurement conversions (a technical glitch meant that people were unable to sign upwards to it for a while, simply at that topographic point is nevertheless infinite as well as then delight come upwards along!), as well as I'll live on helping to run the MA bookstand along amongst David Faram. Do come upwards as well as tell hi at or as well as then indicate if you're at the conference.

I'll acquire out y'all amongst this calculus comic from XKCD.

Wednesday, January 24, 2001

5 Maths Gems #106

Welcome to my 106^th gems post. This is where I part to a greater extent than or less of the latest news, ideas too resources for maths teachers.

1. Maths4Everyone
I receive got written close David Morse's (@Maths4Everyone) resources a issue of times before. I utilization them a lot inwards lessons, especially his packs of GCSE questions past times topic. Up until similar a shot I receive got ever accessed them through TES, simply similar a shot David has updated his website so his costless original too secondary resources are easily accessible without a login.

One clever characteristic of the website is the 'click-to-zoom' functionality where yous tin plough over the axe zoom inwards on a detail enquiry or solution when yous become through answers with the class.

I also similar the means his novel codebreakers give an anagram - this stops pupils from giving upward on the maths equally presently equally they've worked out the judgement which is a mutual work inwards codebreakers!

2. Facts too Basics
Thanks to Adam Smith (@Adam_SmithMaths) who has shared 'Facts too Basics' resources for Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 marking too GCSE. These quizzes include facts, formulae too curt procedural questions to assistance pupils exercise the basics.

3. Notation too Symbols
Thanks to Karen Campe (@KarenCampe) for sharing a link to the article "Learning Mathematical Symbolism: Challenges too Instructional Strategies" by Rheta N. Rubenstein too Denisse R. Thompson. There's lots to call upward close here.

In the tabular array below, the final instance is especially worth discussing. At Amy How's Rekenrek workshop at #mathsconf18 she mentioned that she would never tell 'zero bespeak six' - she'd ever tell 6th tenths instead. I've heard other people tell this too, too I wonder why I all the same proceed to tell decimals inwards such an unhelpful way. When I tell 0.42 out loud to pupils, mayhap I should consistently tell '42 hundredths' instead of 'zero bespeak iv two'. I receive got a feeling nosotros (ie many teachers inwards this province - I know I'm generalising) powerfulness live a chip behind other countries with this.

The article includes teaching strategies:

"Students may also live instructed to tape symbols inwards their ain personal symbol tabular array or carte du jour file, inwards which they write the symbol, tape inwards English linguistic communication how to tell it, too plough over examples of its use".

Other ideas include bespeak pupils to invent 'graffiti' for mathematical symbols (examples below - these are similar to the calligrams I receive got featured inwards previous gems posts) too bespeak pupils to construct their ain examples too non-examples.

4. Mathigon
I root blogged close the amazing website Mathigon inwards 2014, too it was a winner inwards the 2015 Gem Awards. The content goes from forcefulness to strength. The author Philipp Legner has late published a construct novel costless course of written report 'Circles too Pi' that contains countless interactive explanations on circles, spheres, too conic sections. It is such a cool website - receive got a play with the animations too you'll encounter what I mean. Here's a trailer for the novel content:

5. AQA Additional Maths Pilot Questions
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 few years agone I wrote close using former Linked Pair Pilot questions with GCSE classes too shared to a greater extent than or less examples of skillful questions. I tin plough over the axe also recommend former AQA Additional Maths Pilot papers too. To explicate why I've been using these: twice a calendar week I run morn intervention with a Year xi top laid at a schoolhouse inwards Croydon. It's taken a piece for the pupils to warm upward to me, simply we're getting at that spot now. We pass an hr doing challenging GCSE-level questions together. It plant good when I sit down too piece of work out the solutions amongst them. The work is, because I'm non their instructor I receive got to live careful non to plough over them questions that their instructor powerfulness receive got already used. So I search for suitable questions elsewhere. Here 2 questions nosotros enjoyed final week:

If you're preparing students for their GCSE exams too then don't forget I receive got a large collection of revision resources here.

Update
I've been super busy this yr with diverse projects, thus the lack of spider web log posts. I produce update things behind the scenes all the fourth dimension though, fifty-fifty when I appear quiet! This week, cheers to lovely contributors, I added to a greater extent than or less novel primary topics inwards depth packs too to a greater extent than or less novel Pret homeworks.

My this post last month.

Last calendar week I went to a bully outcome at Amazon with loads of cool maths people similar Alex Bellos, Conrad Wolfram too Colin Hegarty. The Head of Amazon Britain is a mathematician too he wants to back upward maths education. No dubiousness I volition update my readers on this first over the coming months.

If yous were at my Humble Pi mass launch too then produce banking concern check out the superpermuatations video that was filmed at the event.

Humble Pi is currently the UK's issue 1 bestselling mass which is actually exciting.

Last weekend was #mathsconf18 inwards Birmingham. As park I had a lovely time, met lots of awesome teachers too attended bully workshops. Thank yous to David Faram for helping me run the MA bookstand too Rob Smith for driving the MA bookstand all the means from Leicester.

I presented on Unit Conversions - my slides tin plough over the axe live downloaded from my Topics inwards Depth page.

Next weekend I'm speaking at the Habs Girls conference too the next weekend I'm speaking at Educating Northants which is going to live absolutely huge - banking concern check out the programme! Look out for a Conference Takeaways podcast from me too Craig Barton afterwards.

Next calendar month it volition live the 5th anniversary of resourceaholic.com (so fourth dimension for my 5th annual Gem Awards!) too coincidentally inwards the same calendar month I await to exceed 5,000,000 views.

I'll exit yous with a work from Daniel Griller (@puzzlecritic) that he shared inwards his workshop at #mathsconf18. Enjoy!

The numbers 1, 2 too x are written on the board. Their hateful is equal to the production of their median too range. Find all possible values of x.