Multiplication As Well As Colour

This uncomplicated persuasion shows how of import it is to role unlike colours when writing on the board - no affair what topic you're teaching.  It actually helps pupils decease along rails of what you're doing.

Source: http://www.jandmranch.com/2013/02/09/teaching-three-digit-multiplication-to-my-aspergers-daughter/ 

Two Ways To Role Comic Strips Inwards Maths Teaching

I stumbled across a overnice instruction persuasion inwards this blog post which is all most giving pupils fourth dimension to summarise what they've learnt.  The writer of the spider web log suggests that pupils depict comic strips inwards bird or for homework. Here's but about examples:

Example worksheet

Example of pupil's work

I in ane lawsuit used comic strips for a dissimilar utilization inwards my instruction - I produced this comic strip for my GCSE class, which I showed inwards this Prezi slideshow to generate intelligence most sampling methods.  The characters are all teachers at my schoolhouse (with slightly amended names...).  It went downward good amongst my bird in addition to I laid upwards them the chore of creating their ain versions. We used Bitstrips for Schools which is lovely but tin endure really time-consuming.

(that's meant to endure me past times the way!)

Student Communication Using Blogs

I've taken a few days away from posting on hither because my babe was born on Monday... But fifty-fifty though I've been a flake tied up, I've even then been able to part concluding infinitesimal motivational messages amongst my show classes using 2 pupil blogs - i for my GCSE class too i for the whole Sixth Form. In this post I beak over my experience of communicating inwards this way.

GCSE Class
I started example post).  I also posted classwork answers too links to worksheets too homework sheets inwards instance they missed a lesson or lost a homework. I works life this was the most useful appear of the spider web log - my pupils never had an excuse for missing a homework!

I works life it a flake time-consuming to write a spider web log post 3 times a calendar week too yesteryear the fourth dimension this shape were inwards Year eleven I was updating the spider web log less often, too my posts got shorter. To last honest at that topographic point were times when I felt far also busy to post, simply I did persevere.

Since this shape direct maintain been on written report leave, I've been posting motivational messages too concluding infinitesimal revision resources. I tin run into from the striking tracker on Blogger that my pupils direct maintain been receiving these messages.

Sixth Form
When I took on the piece of occupation of Key Stage v Coordinator I decided to fix this blog every bit the original tool for communicating amongst H5N1 score pupils.  My schoolhouse has 200 pupils studying AS too A2 Maths too Further Maths.  Around twenty pupils subscribe to my spider web log yesteryear e-mail too I promise that position out volition growth greatly adjacent twelvemonth (if I successfully promote it to the incoming Year 12s inwards September). It's been a really useful means of sharing resources too word - for instance almost trips, courses, opened upward days too competitions.  Over the class of the twelvemonth I've done an average of 3 - iv posts per calendar month then it's been less time-consuming than my other blog.

Summary
Although I've continued to utilisation 'old-fashioned' forms of communication (noticeboards, handouts etc), I experience that blogging has been an splendid method for communicating amongst pupils, peculiarly during written report leave. Blogger - too similar tools - are really quick too slow to use.

My blogs direct maintain been primarily for communicating amongst pupils, dissimilar other blogs run yesteryear my schoolhouse (like this one) which give pupils the chance to part spider web log posts themselves.

I've seen Twitter used yesteryear other Maths Departments to communicate amongst pupils - I mean value this is an splendid sentiment too my adjacent destination is to encourage my Head of Department to laid this upward for my school.

Venn Activities

This post service is nearly using Venn Diagrams equally a educational activity tool, rather than educational activity the concept of Venn Diagrams themselves.  To quote the first-class Johnny Griffiths, 'The Venn Diagram amongst iii bubbles is the maths teacher's friend! ... To travel able to create amount inward an eight-region diagram shows a actually deep agreement of the distinctions that a practiced pupil has to travel able to make, spell the weaker pupil finds beingness faced amongst a painting exhibit such equally this much less threatening than a page of exercises'.

Before nosotros get-go using Venn activities inward Maths lessons, let's intend nearly whether pupils are familiar amongst how Venn Diagrams work. I acknowledge to beingness a fleck clueless nearly precisely what children report at main school. The primary here), merely I at 1 time prefer the simpler method described in linear equations activity. It helped consolidate their cognition of linear graphs too allowed me to banking concern check their understanding.

Johnny Griffith's first-class RISPs (Rich Starting Points for H5N1 Level Core Mathematics) includes the Venn activities Risp 10 (coordinate geometry) too Risp 4 (periodic functions).  In the instructor notes for Risp 10 Johnny shares his views on the usefulness of Venns.

A Venn action for Solving Quadratics yesteryear Factorising yesteryear aka nka on TES. 

A GCSE extension action on quadratic graphs from MEI.

I haven't tried this however merely Don Steward also gives us this lovely here), merely I at 1 time prefer the simpler method described in number activity.

Interactive Venns

Venns piece of occupation good on the Interactive Whiteboard - here's about examples.

• Nrich has about interactive Venn diagrams on types of number.
• MathsPad has about lovely Venn activities (most involve a subscription). I've successfully used this Factors, Primes too Multiples Activity with my Year 8s.   
• Teachitmaths.co.uk has interactive Venn activities - for instance for shapes and prime factors, or y'all tin create your ain (subscription required).

Other Uses

• When I innovate complex numbers inward FP1 nosotros create a Venn Diagram during cast give-and-take nearly types of numbers (real, rational, integers etc) too their Greek symbol notation.  The NCETM has a similar Venn action inward this resource sheet.
• Up until lately I used Venn Diagrams to learn Highest Common Factor too Lowest Common Multiple (method explained here), merely I at 1 time prefer the simpler method described in this post.
• Quadrilaterals tin travel classified using a Venn Diagram similar this one.  We tin hence answer questions such as 'Is every foursquare a rectangle? Is every rhomb a square?' A 'family tree' also plant well.

In determination - Venns are everywhere! But inward secondary Maths they are alone formally taught to those studying iGCSE (set theory) too Statistics 1 at H5N1 score (probability). I'm pleased to encounter that Venn Diagram methods inward probability are on the new Maths GCSE Syllabus so volition travel to a greater extent than widely studied inward future. But inward improver to beingness taught equally a topic inward their ain right, Venn Diagrams are a versatile educational activity tool amongst numerous applications inward the classroom. And they convey the added bonus of beingness created yesteryear a British Mathematican! Well done Mr Venn.

Teaching Amongst Desmos

I discovered Desmos final yr through @ColleenYoung's fantastic weblog Mathematics, Learning as well as Web 2.0. It speedily became my favourite slice of 'teachnology'. Before Desmos I occasionally used Omnigraph or Autograph, but I straightaway occupation Desmos regularly because it's merely so tardily to use. It actually couldn't endure simpler. As it's web-based, I encourage my pupils (particularly at Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 level) to occupation Desmos at dwelling family to back upwards their studies, for event to depository fiscal establishment agree graph sketches.

Desmos on the Interactive Whiteboard
When instruction exponential functions to Year 12, I used Desmos on my IWB to demo the graphs of functions such equally y = 2^x as well as y = 3^x. We discussed our expectations for graphs such equally y = 2^-x as well as used Desmos to check.  When nosotros plotted y = (-2)^x nosotros got an interesting resultant - which had me stumped for a infinitesimal - tin terminate you lot explicate it?

Desmos is especially helpful for demonstrating concepts inward Further Maths (such equally the directrix as well as focus of a parabola) - there's roughly skilful examples in this blog.

Desmos inward the information technology Room

My schoolhouse doesn’t ain tablets as well as information technology rooms are rarely available, then my pupils don't oft acquire the adventure to occupation technology during their Maths lessons. But I was then bully to part Desmos amongst my Year nine class, I made a big endeavor to acquire organised. I produced this worksheet for them to occupation inward an information technology room, amongst the aim of introducing dissimilar types of graph (quadratic, cubic, reciprocal) as well as elementary transformations. After a really curt demonstration of Desmos, the degree spent 2 whole lessons working independently. I was pleased amongst their progress as well as I promise that they'll recollect Desmos as well as maintain to occupation it equally a learning tool both at dwelling family as well as at school.

I loaded my worksheet onto TES today - along amongst a graph transformation activity that I occupation at Key Stage iv - as well as it got me thinking close whether whatsoever other resources are available for instruction amongst Desmos.  I flora a few examples on TES, such as Investigating request lines amongst Desmos yesteryear Tristan Jones and Using Desmos to learn Coordinate Geometry (KS3) yesteryear phildate. I human face that the make of instruction resources available volition grow equally increasing numbers of teachers notice as well as comprehend this fantastic tool.  

Shortcuts Vs Concept Development

I highly recommend this majority Nix the Tricks - ‘a direct to avoiding shortcuts that cutting out math concept development’. I felt uncomfortable reading it at times - my ain didactics is amount of these tricks in addition to shortcuts because I’m strongly influenced past times the fourth dimension pressures in addition to examination focus that the writer references inwards her introduction. The majority covers a bully many didactics tricks in addition to inwards each illustration makes fantabulous points most why these tricks should move avoided. Helpfully, choice approaches are suggested. I’m non going to halt using crocodile references when introducing inequality symbols (I similar the crocodiles!) in addition to I'm non (yet) going to halt didactics slope as 'rise over run', only I volition surely mean value twice most many of my methods at nowadays I’ve read this book.

My spider web log focuses on sharing didactics ideas in addition to some of my posts include just the sort of shortcuts that this majority is therefore opposed to - similar sohcahtoa triangles, or this fob for remembering exact values of trigonometric ratios (which doesn’t supersede the triangle method - only it's a overnice fob in addition to worth sharing).

It was my excitement at discovering this method for multiplying matrices that inspired me to write this blog. I was astounded that I’d never seen this method earlier in addition to right away showed it to my FP1 students, who were as impressed. I mentioned this method to a colleague, prompting a conversation most other 'alternative methods' nosotros knew of. She told me about this method for finding Highest Common Factors. Again, I was astonished that I’d been happily didactics the Venn method - which I’d learnt from my mentor during a PGCE placement - when a quicker in addition to easier method existed. I felt similar I'd unnecessarily overcomplicated things for my students.

We all know that quicker methods aren’t e'er improve methods. ‘Maths hacks’ such as matrices method - that modify the agency nosotros instruct a theme for the better.

By the way, if you lot bask the majority in addition to therefore there's to a greater extent than (including novel sections inwards draft) on nixthetricks.com.

Maths Vocabulary

I found Cav's blog postal service 'Vocabulary in addition to maths are non mutually exclusive' actually interesting in addition to it got me thinking most activities in addition to instruction techniques related to maths vocabulary.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 instruction tool that tin last used regularly throughout the twelvemonth is a source).

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Edit: 11/11/15

Since writing this postal service terminal twelvemonth I've seen lots of groovy resources for developing vocabulary. I especially similar the Literacy Assessments featured inwards vocabulary noesis survey. When y'all showtime instruction a topic, do a listing of the novel words that volition last used in addition to inquire students to consummate a nautical chart showing their agreement of those words.  Repeat the activeness subsequently to come across the improvement inwards agreement - I've non tried this myself however but I intend it would generate merely about useful questions equally good equally boosting pupil confidence.

In my postal service on source).

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Edit: 11/11/15

Since writing this postal service terminal twelvemonth I've seen lots of groovy resources for developing vocabulary. I especially similar the Literacy Assessments featured inwards Area in addition to Volume I suggested these maths vocabulary exercises which brand for overnice 'end of term' lessons.  Here's an illustration of an activeness from this pack:

Here's merely about to a greater extent than links that y'all powerfulness detect useful:

• The Maths Magpie has created these great Maths Vocabulary Activities
• A listing of primal words for Key Stage 3
• Another vocabulary activity - maybe an choice to the noesis survey described above
• Exercises amongst a Mathematics Dictionary 
• Background reading 'Building Mathematical Vocabulary' past times Dr Madeline Kovarik

I was of late talking to a highly intelligent in addition to articulate Year xiii pupil who said that she hated it when her instructor asked her to 'speak maths'. I asked her to elaborate. She said that when questioning the class, the instructor expected answers that used appropriate maths vocabulary - in addition to fifty-fifty this pupil (who'll last off to Oxbridge inwards September) constitute this daunting.  We demand to address this effect from a immature age.  One tip is to ever require pupils to respond questions inwards total sentences instead of merely numbers or words - from main schoolhouse onwards. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 rattling unproblematic illustration - inwards response to the interrogation 'what do nosotros telephone telephone a polygon amongst 8 sides?', don't convey the respond 'octagon' - inquire for a total judgement such equally 'An 8-sided polygon is called an octagon' to larn pupils used to 'speaking maths' from an early on historic current (source).

***************************************************

Edit: 11/11/15

Since writing this postal service terminal twelvemonth I've seen lots of groovy resources for developing vocabulary. I especially similar the Literacy Assessments featured inwards Gems 43. I also constitute the source).

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Edit: 11/11/15

Since writing this postal service terminal twelvemonth I've seen lots of groovy resources for developing vocabulary. I especially similar the Literacy Assessments featured inwards activity below worked good amongst my Year 7s.

Here's my take away to literacy inwards maths lessons:

Resources Anonymous

'Hello. My elevate is Jo together with I'm a resourceaholic'. Yes, I confess, I'm utterly addicted to searching the network for maths instruction resources.

It all started when I saw a PGCE educatee photocopying this blog. Ooh, novel websites! Heaven for a resourceaholic.

I haven't had a run a endangerment to facial expression at all these websites yet, only here's around of my top resources recommendations from the websites I've looked at together with therefore far. I've focused on H5N1 marker because that's where I intend it's hardest to detect interesting instruction ideas.

Statistics 1 
Illustrative Mathematics has around fantastic ideas for instruction S1. Here's a pick of examples:

• Correlation together with Regression: a lovely activity on java shops together with crime. Includes calculating a correlation coefficient, interpreting a regression equation together with considering causality together with outliers.
• Discrete Random Variables:  a brusk activity Sounds Really Good! (sort of) which features a real-life purpose of expectation. Bob's Bagel Shop is similar.
• Probability: the carte du jour action Describing Events is an splendid introduction to probability together with the activity Venn Diagrams together with the Addition Rule is skilful too. I also similar this brusk Titanic action on independence.
• Data:  These activities on Haircut Costs together with Speed Trap focus on comparison box plots. Describing Data Sets alongside Outliers and Identifying Outliers are almost outliers together with skewness inwards information (see my related postal service on instruction skewness).
• Normal Distribution: brusk contextual exercises blog. Ooh, novel websites! Heaven for a resourceaholic.
  
  I haven't had a run a endangerment to facial expression at all these websites yet, only here's around of my top resources recommendations from the websites I've looked at together with therefore far. I've focused on H5N1 marker because that's where I intend it's hardest to detect interesting instruction ideas.
  
  Statistics 1 
  Illustrative Mathematics has around fantastic ideas for instruction S1. Here's a pick of examples:
  
  • Correlation together with Regression: a lovely activity on java shops together with crime. Includes calculating a correlation coefficient, interpreting a regression equation together with considering causality together with outliers.
  • Discrete Random Variables:  a brusk activity Sounds Really Good! (sort of) which features a real-life purpose of expectation. Bob's Bagel Shop is similar.
  • Probability: the carte du jour action Describing Events is an splendid introduction to probability together with the activity Venn Diagrams together with the Addition Rule is skilful too. I also similar this brusk Titanic action on independence.
  • Data:  These activities on Haircut Costs together with Speed Trap focus on comparison box plots. Describing Data Sets alongside Outliers and Identifying Outliers are almost outliers together with skewness inwards information (see my related postal service on instruction Logs. 
  • Quadratics together with Cubics: I similar this short Cubic Graph task (answers here) from Mathematics Assessment Project. There's around great Forming Quadratics activities hither too.
  • Circles: Mathematics Assessment Project also has amount lesson plans - I've successfully used the splendid materials from Equations of Circles 1 and Equations of Circles 2 alongside my Year 12s. 
  • Surds: See resources listed inwards my before spider web log post, blog. Ooh, novel websites! Heaven for a resourceaholic.
    
    I haven't had a run a endangerment to facial expression at all these websites yet, only here's around of my top resources recommendations from the websites I've looked at together with therefore far. I've focused on H5N1 marker because that's where I intend it's hardest to detect interesting instruction ideas.
    
    Statistics 1 
    Illustrative Mathematics has around fantastic ideas for instruction S1. Here's a pick of examples:
    
    • Correlation together with Regression: a lovely activity on java shops together with crime. Includes calculating a correlation coefficient, interpreting a regression equation together with considering causality together with outliers.
    • Discrete Random Variables:  a brusk activity Sounds Really Good! (sort of) which features a real-life purpose of expectation. Bob's Bagel Shop is similar.
    • Probability: the carte du jour action Describing Events is an splendid introduction to probability together with the activity Venn Diagrams together with the Addition Rule is skilful too. I also similar this brusk Titanic action on independence.
    • Data:  These activities on Haircut Costs together with Speed Trap focus on comparison box plots. Describing Data Sets alongside Outliers and Identifying Outliers are almost outliers together with skewness inwards information (see my related postal service on instruction Surds.