5 Maths Gems #33

Hello too welcome to my 33^rd gems post. This is where I part 5 educational activity ideas I've seen on Twitter.

Well it's been fun educational activity inward this week's heatwave hasn't it?! I long for an air-conditioned classroom. Still, all this lovely sunshine serves equally a overnice reminder that the summertime holidays are but roughly the corner.

1. Pythagoras Pile Up
We've all seen the fantastic #mathsconf4 I was fortunate to bespeak heed a fantastic persuasion for educational activity Fractions, Decimals too Percentages from Number Resources page.

This calendar week @solvemymaths shared a actually overnice persuasion for educational activity estimator skills which comes from @Ms_Kmp's website mathssandpit.co.uk. Have a await at her post 'Calculators: The New Hope' to download the resource. And cheers to @solvemymaths for his novel '7 Days of Maths' series, which is good worth following.

4. Maths Videos
Thanks to @mhorley for sharing a link to the BBC's Kick Sum Maths videos - I've non seen these before. They powerfulness come upward inward handy to back upward the educational activity of a divulge of Key Stage 2/3 topics.

5. Self-Descriptive Numbers
Thanks to @LearningMaths for sharing this lovely activity 'Self-descriptive numbers'.

If yous await through the set of resources from which this activity comes too then you'll run into that there's enough of other corking materials inward at that spot too.

If yous similar these resources too then you'll honey cleavebooks.co.uk/trol which is total of first-class activities. For event I've long been a fan of the Vocabulary Exercises which would move good inward an information technology Room or amongst iPads.

Recommended Reading
Here's some links to banking concern agree out:

• Bruno Reddy (MEI Conference, Pret homework, #mathsconf4 and Favourite Problems. My final gems post - Gems 32 - was 1 of my most pop posts ever.

Finally, I desire to part a Don Steward activity that I constitute peculiarly effective this week. I was running an Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 marker induction session too decided to purpose the enquiry below equally a starter to brand a indicate almost algebra skills. The algebra hither should last straightforward for students who almost to embark on Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 level, but some students struggled to position the answer. I made the indicate that if yous desire to create Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 marker Maths too then this kind of algebra should come upward real naturally. Strong algebra skills - ie the powerfulness to create this activity effortlessly - should last embedded past times GCSE too are essential to every Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 marker mathematician.

Talking Points

I've been talking well-nigh 3 things on Twitter this week: written report leave, calculators in addition to contact time. I quest to a greater extent than than 140 characters! All opinions are welcome, either through Twitter or inwards the comments below.

Study Leave
At my previous schoolhouse all Year xi in addition to Year thirteen students would disappear inwards early on May, returning to schoolhouse exclusively to sit down their exams. It was a girls' grammer schoolhouse - the students were difficult working, driven in addition to independent. They made skillful utilization of their written report leave, in addition to the teachers made skillful utilization of gained fourth dimension for projects such system of operate development. I straightaway operate at a boys' comprehensive where students are expected to attend schoolhouse throughout the whole examination period. This 'no written report leave' approach is fairly common. I mean value it raises actually interesting questions well-nigh how schools tin best back upwardly students preparing for populace exams. What practice you lot think? What's best for students - studying at habitation or at school?

My schoolhouse does Linked Pair GCSE in addition to my Year 11s own got ane of their iv maths GCSE exams inwards the afternoon, which is unusual. Three hours of maths revision at schoolhouse has been scheduled for the morning time of that exam. I'm worried that this volition exhaust my students, maybe to the detriment of their examination performance. Five hours of maths inwards ane twenty-four hours doesn't audio similar a smart idea.

I'd rather they remain at home, merely it's non upwardly to me. I volition practice my best to practice a relaxing in addition to encouraging surround at school. We'll practice a piddling chip of maths, merely for sure non 3 hours of intense terminal infinitesimal revision. What would you lot do?

Thanks to all who offered ideas on Twitter - let's promise it's a prissy twenty-four hours then I tin bring them exterior inwards the sunshine!

Calculators
Last Dominicus I attended the absolutely bright 'Maths inwards the Sticks' CPD upshot for H5N1 degree teachers, organised past times Stuart Price. I've already shared my initial views on the changes to H5N1 level, merely inwards that postal service I deliberately didn't cite calculators because I haven't made upwardly my hear well-nigh them yet.

I'm non a luddite, I'm non anti-technology, merely I'm afraid I don't acquire excited well-nigh calculators similar closed to people do. I yet utilization the same estimator that I used at schoolhouse in addition to university.

I similar the fact that C1 is currently non-calculator in addition to I volition miss this chemical cistron of H5N1 level. I'm likewise quite fond of statistical tables. I bring that statistical tables volition eventually drib dead the means of log tables in addition to slide rules, merely I practice experience a chip sorry well-nigh it.

I used to tutor a somebody schoolhouse daughter who was struggling amongst H5N1 degree maths. One twenty-four hours she showed me a snazzy novel estimator that she'd been sold at school. Although she didn't empathize the maths involved, she was real skillful at using the calculator. Clearly her instructor had spent a lot of fourth dimension inwards lessons going through the instructions. I was surprised that this estimator was allowed inwards exams because it seemed to reach her an unfair wages over students who couldn't afford an expensive calculator.

You could debate that learning how to utilization this sort of applied scientific discipline is a useful skill, merely I'm non convinced it's equally of import equally people brand out. I suspect that these skills volition live on forgotten inside weeks of the halt Year 13. Plus applied scientific discipline speedily becomes outdated anyway.

So forgive me for non welcoming the 'use of technology' aspects of the novel H5N1 degree amongst opened upwardly arms. I'm already bored past times it. There are likewise practicalities to consider. And don't fifty-fifty acquire me started on 'large information sets'...

Contact Time
Finally, thank you lot to everyone who replied to this tweet:

It was fascinating to run into how much variation at that spot is betwixt schools.

As expected, it seems that larger schools are to a greater extent than probable to own got a set out of TLRs inwards the maths department. But this is non ever the instance - inwards closed to large schools the Head of Maths has to practice (or delegate) everything (which is a lot!).

Answers regarding contact fourth dimension were inconsistent, ranging from no extra fourth dimension allocated to four hours per week. It seems that most Key Stage Coordinators are allocated between 1 in addition to 3 extra non-contact periods a fortnight.

The chore description of a Key Stage Coordinator likewise varies a lot - roles may involve running assist clubs in addition to interventions, preparing assessments, task lesson observations in addition to surgical operation management, analysing data, processing examination entries, developing schemes of work, organising competitions summation a plethora of other duties.

Key Stage Coordinator roles are a skillful stepping rock to Head of Maths, then for sure worth having a drib dead at. I used to live on a Key Stage five Coordinator in addition to actually enjoyed it. I'm non sure I'd practice it if I wasn't allocated whatever extra fourth dimension though.

Opinions are most welcome!

Please practice allow me know your thoughts.

5 Maths Gems #56

This is my 56^th update from the footing of Maths EduTwitter. If you're non a tweeter, or if you're wondering whether you've missed anything, here's a summary of to a greater extent than or less of the latest ideas as well as resources for teaching maths.

1. Euro 2016 Maths
@dooranran makes lovely maths resources. I recollect teachers volition actually similar the activities he has prepared for Euro 2016. Topics include vectors, Pythagoras, trigonometry, angles on parallel lines, time, pie charts as well as estimating the mean.

2. Pythagoreanmath.com

I discovered a fabulous website, pythagoreanmath.com, which has lots of cool content including an amazing department on Euclid's Elements. Do depository fiscal establishment tally it out. I too actually similar their 'Complete Explanation for Area of a Circle Formula'.

3. Find soul who can
@rondelle10_b shared an interesting visit which Phil Bruce (@pbrucemaths) adapted for maths. In 'Find Someone Who Can', students inquire other members of the flat to respond questions using the canvass pictured below. This develops students' mathematical communication skills equally they are required to explicate solutions to classmates. You tin plough over notice download the PDF from Phil's page of revision resources.

4. Colin Foster's Activities
I discovered Colin Foster's 'Instant Maths Ideas' books a acre ago. I bask browsing through them every instantly as well as and thus - they're packed total of first-class tasks as well as questions.

For example, inward Possible or Impossible? students are asked to determine whether each disputation inward the tabular array below is possible or impossible. If it’s possible they are asked to plough over an illustration as well as if it's impossible they accept to tell why.

Another non bad activity, this fourth dimension from Colin's chapter on rounding, is this business which looks at diverse scenarios inward which students accept to calculate 17 ÷ 5. In each instance they accept to recollect carefully close how to circular their answer.

5. More from MathsPad

Another awesome costless resources from MathsPad: Using a Calculator - Odd One Out. This action addresses lots of mutual errors as well as misconceptions.

Updates
I've written quite a lot of weblog posts since my terminal laid of gems. Here they are inward instance you lot missed them:

• GCSE reform - volition it work?
• #mathscpdchat - Celebrating Don Steward
• C2 Revision Resources
• Revision Clocks Galore
• C1 Revision Activity
• See you lot there...?
• Animations for H5N1 level
• Talking Points
• Gem Awards 2016

I've too added to a greater extent than or less H5N1 flat revision resources to TES - depository fiscal establishment tally out my TES Shop to download these for free.

There's loads going on inward June as well as July - encounter my conferences page for details. First upward for me is researchED Maths as well as Science inward Oxford on tenth June - the programme is first-class thus I'm actually looking forrad to it.

Bookings are instantly opened upward for my session at LIME Oldham on 20th June where I'll hold upward talking close quadratic methods. I too recommend that you lot majority a house at Edexcel's Warwick Conference where I'll hold upward presenting a session on 'The Wonderful World of Maths Resources'

Finally, I'll move out you lot amongst this laid of maths examination meme posters - I pose these upward inward my maths corridor a couplet of weeks as well as they went downwards actually good amongst students inward every twelvemonth group. They were created past times Paul Collins (here.

5 Maths Gems #99

Welcome to my 99^th gems post. This is where I portion approximately of the latest news, ideas in addition to resources for maths teachers.

1. Non-Examples Quizzes
I blogged most the novel website Gems 95. There are right away approximately great novel features on the website including Frayer Model templates in addition to Multiple Choice Quizzes.

The multiple choice quizzes come upward amongst a QLA allowing mo identification of misconceptions.

On Twitter Bernie Westacott (@berniewestacott) described how he used the multiple choice quizzes amongst an intervention group:

enabled ps to reverberate on their errors, inquire me anything in addition to and hence requiz themselves. Scores typically went from v or vii to 10/10 amongst much whooping in addition to high fiving. We were able to comprehend most 8 topics inwards a curt infinite of time, Requiz side past times side calendar week to await for memory in addition to hence give-up the ghost deeper.

— bernie westacott (@berniewestacott) 23 Nov 2018

2. Sum Fun
I had an electronic mail from a maths instructor looking for books past times the writer of this H5N1 degree resource:

It turned out the master copy books are out of impress but Twitter came to the rescue in addition to cheers to Hans Stroeve (Maths amongst Pizzazz resources in addition to I know they won't appeal to everyone! They include resources for topics from Key Stage iii correct upward to matrices in addition to polar coordinates! Warning: ever cheque that the joke is appropriate earlier using these resources amongst students.

3. H5N1 Level Questions past times Topic
Thank you lot to Chris Ansette (@mransette) who has collated onetime Exexcel examination questions for Pure in addition to Mechanics in addition to organised them for the novel H5N1 level. You tin forcefulness out download them here. These good formatted collections of examination questions amongst answers are actually helpful for H5N1 degree maths teachers.

4. Calculator Poster
In Gems 97 I featured a link to a poster of an H5N1 degree calculator. Casio Maths (@CasioMaths) accept also shared a laid of high resolution posters of the fx-83GT Plus, which is commonly used at GCSE. You tin forcefulness out download the posters from the Casio website.

On the dependent plain of calculators, read this thread from @literallyjustq for approximately estimator tips.

5. Times Table of the Week
I reckon a lot of Year 7s actually struggling inwards lessons (on topics similar multiplication, partitioning in addition to fractions) because they don't know their times tables. I accept long been a big fan of Times Tables Rock Stars to handle cook this. I similar @DynamicDeps's thought for a times tabular array fact of the week. The proposition is to role the Times Table Rock Stars rut maps to position a multiplication fact that students create out with, in addition to to position upward a poster of that fact everywhere inwards the maths department, in addition to inwards fact all over the school.

Bruno Reddy has right away made a laid of 'Times Tables of the Week' posters for all multiplication facts which you lot tin forcefulness out download here.

Perhaps maths teachers in addition to cast tutors could regularly quiz private students on the weekly multiplication fact. Given that at that topographic point are exclusively 21 facts to memorise (assuming students already know their 1, two in addition to v times tables), you lot tin forcefulness out easily larn through the whole lot inwards a schoolhouse twelvemonth if you lot create i a week.

The 21 Facts from Kangaroo Maths

Update
I had an absolutely wonderful fourth dimension at the MathsJam Annual Gathering final weekend. Thank you lot to the organiser Colin Wright in addition to to everyone else involved. I absolutely dear everything most the weekend in addition to would actually similar to run a maths pedagogy number amongst the exact same format. Maybe side past times side year!

Me, Mariana, Ed, Tim in addition to Joe at the MathsJam Annual Gathering 2018

If you lot similar the thought of social puzzling, create cheque out the monthly MathsJam events, in addition to also Puzzled Pint's monthly social puzzle number inwards pubs all over the world. You tin forcefulness out download Puzzled Pint's awesome puzzles for schoolhouse maths clubs too.

I had approximately other article published inwards Teach Secondary this month. It's most monastic enjoin of operations, in addition to opportunities to interleave this theme amongst fractions, decimals in addition to algebra. It comes amongst a gratis algebraic monastic enjoin of operations resource!

I also presented on order of operations to Harris Heads of Maths this week. The thought was to demo that thirty infinitesimal CPD sessions on specific topics that are coming upward on the system of move are a skillful role of maths subdivision coming together time.

Hannah Fry has agreed to larn the 2020 President of The Mathematical Association, which is real exciting intelligence for all MA members.

Next calendar month I volition divulge my 100th gems post (I accept approximately slap-up gems lined up!) in addition to volition tape a celebratory podcast amongst Craig Barton. Craig volition hold out shout out for listeners to give-up the ghost far impact amongst him inwards advance to portion their favourite gems from over the years. So if there's something you lot role inwards your teaching that you lot works life out most through a gems post in addition to hence create permit Craig know! Check out my gems index to reckon the whole collection!

I'm non commonly i for motivational posters, but here's a quote that I'd accept upward past times my desk if I had a desk. Often attributed to CS Lewis, this is a great message for a Year xi cast getting mock papers back. Thanks to Jen McMillan at Harris Greenwich for this!

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:

• probability scavenger hunt
• proportional relationships true/false card sort
• graphical inequalities card sort
• solving linear equations amount it up
• domain together with make dominoes
• solving equations stacking pyramid

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