5 Maths Gems #6

introducing calculus, a post nearly starters as well as teaching inequalities as well as a calendar of maths teaching conferences. I've also added novel bits as well as pieces to my resource libraries as well as homeworks page. I've notwithstanding works life fourth dimension for Twitter - here's this week's highlights.

1. Geogebra

For those of us who are equally good busy or non techy plenty to make clever things amongst Geogebra, at that topographic point are really helpful people who make it for us. I've mentioned Mathimation before. Here’s a few to a greater extent than interactive teaching tools that receive got been shared on Twitter recently:

• Custom Cuboid by @the_chalkface allows you lot to highlight specific cuboid faces - this is a helpful tool when teaching the surface expanse as well as book of cuboids. 
• @TheMathsTeach gives us interactive circle theorems for students to explore. Each Geogebra worksheet has uncomplicated instructions as well as questions - students tape their findings on the Student Conjecture Sheet.
• Parts of a Circle by @Mr_Mathematics is great for exploring circle vocabulary.

2. Two Superb Resources

I come across a hell of a lot of skilful maths resources inward my resource-addled life, but every straightaway as well as thus I come across ane that is absolutely superb. This calendar week was groovy because I discovered 2 such resources.

Ben Tanner (A level, my students works life them really useful for testing each other both inward shape as well as at home.

Extract from GCSE revision cards - tannermaths.co.uk

Chris Smith (@aap03102) produces a bright weekly newsletter total of fantastic maths teaching ideas - if you lot don't already subscribe thus email him straightaway to larn on the mailing list. This calendar week he tweeted nearly his relay races because they passed 100,000 downloads on TES. I can't believe that I, the resourceaholic, receive got never seen these before.

I've used revision relays amongst my classes earlier as well as they've e'er worked really well, thus I'll definitely live using these disclose puzzle races. There are 10 relays hither including ane for Halloween, ane for Christmas as well as ane for Easter. That's halt of term sorted then.

Extract from Halloween Relay Race - Chris Smith on TES

The 100,000 downloads got me thinking nearly how many maths teachers at that topographic point are inward the UK. First I started thinking nearly how many schools at that topographic point are as well as how many maths teachers per school, but thus I thought it powerfulness live easier to starting fourth dimension from how many teenagers at that topographic point are inward the UK. This reminded me of a labor interview I ane time had. Now here's a story for your students if they ever inquire when they'll demand maths.

During my concluding twelvemonth at academy I had an interview for a graduate labor equally a administration consultant at PwC. I'd already done a summertime internship at KPMG thus was feeling fairly confident. The alternative 24-hour interval started amongst a maths seek much similar this one. After the seek I had luncheon inward a conference room amongst the other candidates. An administrator came inward after luncheon to denote who had failed the maths seek (the unsuccessful candidates had to move out at that signal - an awkward instant for all). I survived the cutting as well as proceeded to a bizarre labor interview.

The interviewer asked me how many planes were inward the heaven at that moment. He wanted an actual number, non but a method. Once I'd had a become (starting point: how many airports inward the world) he thus asked me to reply ane time to a greater extent than using a dissimilar method, thus I did (starting point: world's population). He thus asked for some other method. We went through the same procedure for 'how many babies were born inward the United Kingdom of Great Britain as well as Northern Ireland yesterday?'. I intend I did a reasonably skilful labor of answering these questions - us mathematicians are skilful at lateral thinking. The concluding query inward the interview was nearly how I would stair out the peak of a edifice using but a barometer. I gave a few sensible answers but he kept asking for more. He stopped when I gave an utterly ridiculous reply which I won't acknowledge to hither (if you're coming the conference inward 2 weeks, inquire me then). Moral of the story - maths as well as work solving skills larn you lot far. You never know what you'll live asked inward a labor interview. And don't live the mortal sent abode at lunch.

3. Two Superb Websites
@dazmck shared the website 'That Quiz' which allows you lot to laid gratis online tests as well as homeworks inward a broad hit of topics from Key Stage iii to H5N1 level. It alone takes a infinitesimal to brand a seek as well as e-mail the URL to your students. They larn instant feedback on their answers (either throughout the quiz or at the end). They also larn an chance to right their mistakes. There are a disclose of settings but it's ridiculously slowly to use.

thatquiz.org menu

If you lot register (which takes roughly 5 seconds) you lot tin also collect your students' scores online. Here's an instance of a box plot seek question:

Example query from thatquiz.org

This website is thus incredibly helpful as well as slowly to use, it reminds me of some other groovy website - Form Time Ideas. This is past times far the best tutor fourth dimension resources I've seen. It's beautifully designed as well as slowly to use. The content is spot on as well as it changes every day. Websites that salve fourth dimension are a god-send for busy teachers.

formtimeideas.com

4. Words to Avoid
Twitter had me inward stitches this week. @taylorda1 tweeted nearly something he'd said inward a lesson that his students had works life amusing. Most teachers receive got made slips similar this - they tin stimulate a lot of disruption!

The conversation that followed this tweet was really funny. For the sake of novel or trainee teachers, here's a listing of things to avoid maxim inward maths lessons:

• In probability, don't toss a money as well as larn a head. In a room total of teenagers, far improve to flip a money as well as larn a tail.
• Avoid examples involving 'balls inward a bag'. 'Discs inward a bag' tin live but equally problematic if non said clearly. Try counters instead.
• Also inward probability, live careful how you lot nation 'the or rule'.
• When writing on the board make non shorten the discussion cumulative. Cum freq is probable to stimulate a stir.
• Don't brand c proportional to k (c∝k).
• Careful what you lot nation (and how you lot gesture) when talking nearly enlargements, top heavy fractions as well as going downward the disclose line.
• Be prepared for giggles if an reply is 69.
• Avoid having refer to 'the d' or maxim 4q ('4q too!').
• We can't avoid f(x) but live prepared for 'f off' silliness. Avoid f(u).
• When writing page numbers on the board, beware of p155.
• Don't nation cos. Say cosine. Cos Omac is an insult as well as surely non suitable for a maths lesson if whatsoever of your students speak Arabic!

Thanks to all the tweeters who contributed to this list.

It works both ways. I had to stifle my young giggles when I attended a Year 13's utter on the dangers of fracking.

There's to a greater extent than 'dirty mathematics' here.

5. Calligrams
@edsouthall tweeted some of these Minimal Math Concepts.

I honey these as well as was really pleased to uncovering that you lot tin purchase them equally a sheet or framed impress - some other affair for my christmas list! I've added this to my mathsy gifts page.

@tessmaths shared her lovely thought for a shape activity on Maths Calligrams. A calligram is a phrase or discussion inward which the text is arranged inward a agency that creates a visual image. The paradigm created past times the words expresses visually what the discussion says. This could live incorporated into a chief or secondary maths lesson - give students a listing of maths vocabulary as well as inquire them to create pictures to assist agreement as well as recall.

Maths Calligram by @JonTrebyAAN

I promise you've works life some of these ideas helpful. I'm taking requests for time to come resources posts thus if there's a detail theme you'd similar me to feature, delight email or tweet me.

Practical Tips For A (Newly) Qualified Maths Teacher

Student teachers, NQTs together with experienced teachers direct maintain 1 thing inwards mutual - they haven't got it all figured out yet. I for certain haven't - every yr I endeavor to utilisation my fourth dimension to a greater extent than effectively together with instruct maths to a greater extent than effectively. Here's my top x tips for newbies.

1. Plans
At my schoolhouse nosotros used to direct maintain 4.5 periods a calendar week to instruct Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 level. That was reduced to 4 periods a calendar week due to budget cuts - a loss of around fifteen teaching hours. Suddenly everything was a rush. In the origin yr I taught AS bird maths, I ran out of time. I taught the trapezium dominion inwards 20 minutes simply earlier my students went on written report leave. The side past times side yr I made detailed plans thus it wouldn't come about again. This is what my project design for Year 12 looked similar final yr (I taught C1 together with C2 inwards 5 periods a fortnight, some other instructor taught this bird M1):

It's simply a elementary Excel file. I do these for all my classes at the halt of the summertime holidays. I consult the schoolhouse calender origin thus I know when each yr volition live on off-timetable.

These plans direct maintain to live on flexible - I tweak them regularly throughout the schoolhouse year. For illustration final yr nosotros were told to pass some Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 bird lessons doing target-setting together with feedback amongst our students, which wiped out a few hours teaching fourth dimension thus I had to adapt my plans. There are also times when a theme takes a chip longer than expected. Last yr I originally intended to destination C2 amongst my Year 12s past times Easter but that was pushed dorsum every bit the yr progressed. This left me amongst less revision fourth dimension than I wanted, but at to the lowest degree I completed the syllabus.

These plans aid me popular off along on track. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 pair of hours invested at the start of the schoolhouse yr agency no to a greater extent than guesswork together with no to a greater extent than missed deadlines.

2. Mind your language
When you lot start teaching maths you lot direct maintain to live on really aware of your language. You apace acquire used to using the appropriate terminology. How many people state the missive of the alphabet O when they hateful the pose out null - especially when they state scream upwards numbers? Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 maths instructor mustn't brand mistakes similar that.

Also beware of words that volition sweat disruption. Teenagers direct maintain muddied minds together with are easily amused. I've written a listing of words to avoid here. You direct maintain been warned!

3. Writing on the board
You'll presently acquire used to setting your piece of work out clearly - at the halt of lessons, stand upwards dorsum together with aspect at what you've written on the board. My boards are oftentimes a disorganised mess. Beware of the bad illustration onrush Countdown - Rachel Riley together with Carol Vorderman are both guilty of terrible nonsensical workings:

4. Misconceptions together with Shortcuts

@mathequalslove

Experienced teachers know most mutual misconceptions together with project design accordingly. I've non withal flora a concise listing of mutual mathematical misconceptions but Google mightiness live on able to aid you lot for specific topics (for illustration this is a goodness starting request for thinking most misconceptions inwards algebra). If you're an NQT, I recommend you lot inquire experienced maths teachers what to aspect out for. This gallery of classic mistakes is also helpful.

If you lot haven't withal read the mass Nix The Tricks thus it's absolutely essential that you lot read it. We're all nether fourth dimension pressures together with nosotros all desire our students to acquire the best possible seek out grades, but we're maths teachers, thus let's instruct maths. Helping students develop a conceptual agreement of mathematics is a challenge but volition pay off inwards the long run. Some teaching tricks confuse students (eg the mnemonic BODMAS). Other tricks are thus complicated that the amount of encephalon infinite taken upwards memorising them could live on improve used doing proper maths. This butterfly method for adding fractions is a goodness illustration - far improve to instruct students how together with why to honour a mutual denominator.

Nix: Butterfly fractions

By all agency utilisation clever tricks to aid your students recollect things, but never bypass understanding.

5. Myths
Don't stress most all the teaching myths you lot listen - read Shaun Allison's post Mythbusting for reassurance. Are you lot nether the impression that every lesson has to direct maintain an chemical cistron of grouping work? It doesn't.

Your students involve many opportunities for independent practice, thus don't live on afraid of it.

6. Behaviour

Everyone has 1 or ii nightmare classes. In my NQT yr my Year xi bird never stopped talking. I felt similar I was nagging them all the time. I despaired that I was terrible at behavior management until I heard their scientific discipline instructor state they were her worst bird too. What a relief to listen it wasn't simply me.

Sometimes modest changes brand a large difference. Do you lot acquire students working every bit presently every bit they arrive? Are your instructions clear? Ask experienced colleagues for ideas. You'll notice that behavior is best when students are immersed inwards interesting mathematics. The theory is that if you lot engage them thus the goodness behavior volition follow, but it's non ever every bit tardily every bit that. Use back upwards mechanisms, popular off along restating your expectations, live on consistent together with don't live on afraid to inquire for help.

7. Resources
You could lose hours to a fruitless search for the perfect resource. If you lot direct maintain something really specific inwards mind, it's in all probability quicker to brand it yourself.

Have some go-to resources websites that you lot ever banking concern jibe origin (don't forget my resource library!). There's some cracking stuff on TES but it tin flaming live on truly difficult to honour it (thankfully they are inwards the procedure of improving their search functionality). When I'm looking for resources I ever banking concern jibe Teachit Maths, MathsPad, Median together with Mathematics Assessment Project. Ed Southall has really helpfully shared his well-organised internet bookmarks which you lot tin flaming upload to your browser.

8. Marking
If you lot gear upwards a lot of homework, you lot direct maintain to do a lot of marking. Sometimes it all piles upwards together with becomes overwhelming. I by together with large gear upwards one Mythbusting for reassurance. Are you lot nether the impression that every lesson has to direct maintain an chemical cistron of grouping work? It doesn't.

Your students involve many opportunities for independent practice, thus don't live on afraid of it.

6. Behaviour

Everyone has 1 or ii nightmare classes. In my NQT yr my Year xi bird never stopped talking. I felt similar I was nagging them all the time. I despaired that I was terrible at behavior management until I heard their scientific discipline instructor state they were her worst bird too. What a relief to listen it wasn't simply me.

Sometimes modest changes brand a large difference. Do you lot acquire students working every bit presently every bit they arrive? Are your instructions clear? Ask experienced colleagues for ideas. You'll notice that behavior is best when students are immersed inwards interesting mathematics. The theory is that if you lot engage them thus the goodness behavior volition follow, but it's non ever every bit tardily every bit that. Use back upwards mechanisms, popular off along restating your expectations, live on consistent together with don't live on afraid to inquire for help.

7. Resources
You could lose hours to a fruitless search for the perfect resource. If you lot direct maintain something really specific inwards mind, it's in all probability quicker to brand it yourself.

Have some go-to resources websites that you lot ever banking concern jibe origin (don't forget my RAG123 and tools similar QuickKey mightiness aid growth your mark efficiency.

I tend to gear upwards homeworks on sheets rather than inwards exercise books, simply thus I don't direct maintain to bear heavy books habitation for marking. If you lot do this together with your schoolhouse does mass scrutinies to banking concern jibe teachers' mark thus you lot direct maintain to brand sure that a) your homework sheets are easily stuck into an exercise mass (eg printed on 1 side, A5 if possible) together with b) that your students truly stick them in, otherwise it volition aspect similar you lot never do whatever mark at all.

Bear inwards heed that some students volition lose their homework sheets. To avoid excuses, brand sheets available for printing through a bird blog, Twitter job concern human relationship or an accessible folder.

9. Get organised
You know how they state that lesson planning gets quicker every year? Well that's assuming it doesn't accept you lot an lx minutes to rails downwards the materials you lot used inwards the previous year. I've learnt to organise my files good thus I tin flaming apace honour what I'm looking for.

This is how I do it: inwards 'My Documents', I direct maintain a folder for each class. In the folder for each class, I direct maintain a folder for each topic, numbered according to the lodge I taught each topic. Here's an illustration for a Year 10 class:

I gear upwards them upwards every bit I popular off thus it's non time-consuming. Within each folder I utilisation a pose out for each lesson - the illustration below is the inequalities folder (if I wrote lesson plans, they'd live on inwards hither too).

So if I'm repeating these 3 lessons side past times side yr it's truly tardily for me to run into just what I did. Numbering my files similar this has made me much to a greater extent than organised.

Another identify to live on organised is emails. It entirely takes a 2d to do folders inwards Outlook. The entirely emails inwards my inbox are those that I involve to action. Everything else is filed away every bit presently every bit it's received, thus I tin flaming honour data really quickly. Here's my structure:

I direct maintain my piece of work electronic mail synced to my phone. This is a mixed blessing. It agency I tin flaming bargain amongst emails exterior of schoolhouse - every bit they popular off far inwards my inbox, I forthwith read together with delete them if they're non relevant. So when I'm busy at schoolhouse I direct maintain far less to bargain with. This approach doesn't suit everyone though.

I also direct maintain total remote access from my habitation PC to the schoolhouse network, thus I tin flaming access SIMs together with all schoolhouse directories from home. All I involve at nowadays is a photocopier inwards my kitchen thus I don't waste product fourth dimension queuing to photocopy at work! I run into these things every bit fourth dimension savers but others think they're a measurement also far, it's a affair of personal preference.

10. Catch-up time
If you lot acquire a motorbus or educate to piece of work thus don't endeavor to mark. It's non worth the hassle. I was 1 time thus busy at piece of work that I took a pile of mark to the pub on a Fri together with did it on the night-bus home. Not recommended. Bus together with educate journeys are a goodness fourth dimension to relax or read a book, but if you lot experience similar at that topographic point aren't plenty hours inwards the twenty-four lx minutes menstruation for relaxing, thus instead utilisation these journeys for catching upwards on Twitter together with teaching blogs. If you're non on Twitter thus bring together immediately. That's my most of import tip from today's post: bring together the community of maths teachers on Twitter - you'll live on amazed at how much you lot learn.

Expert teaching - taken from classteaching.wordpress.com

5 Maths Gems #8

I enjoyed coming together many of you lot at La Salle Education's National Mathematics Teacher Conference yesterday. It was a fantastic chance for sharing ideas. But 500 maths teachers out of 350,000 is a drib inwards the ocean. It's such a shame that thus many schools weren't represented.

Although in that place are some pockets of collaboration throughout the UK, for example through regional TeachMeets, the fact is that the bulk of U.K. maths teachers alive inwards a bubble. Through no error of their own, they know really lilliputian almost approaches taken inwards other schools - including pedagogy, curriculum blueprint together with novel technologies. Twitter is business office of the solution, but it doesn't brand it enough.

this post, "in high performing countries teachers pass 30% of their fourth dimension teaching, amongst the residue spent planning, preparing together with assessing every bit good every bit working on improving their practice. Compared to the UK, where it’s 90%".

This weekend, 500 maths teachers gave upward a precious Sabbatum to larn from each other. I'm really grateful to La Salle Education for providing that opportunity. To me it farther highlighted the demand for cross-school subject-specific collaboration during term-time. Instead of spending our Inset days hearing almost our schools' latest marker policies, nosotros should all endure out having mini-conferences of our own. Let's promise that when our novel Maths Hubs acquire dorsum from their trips to Shanghai, improving collaboration is come about of their listing of priorities - together with yesteryear that I hateful collaboration amongst all schools, non simply the schools amongst tweeting teachers or a proactive Head of Maths.

Now for my weekly maths gems. For those who receive got simply started reading my blog, this is where I portion 5 nifty ideas that I've seen on Twitter each week. If you lot desire to read whatever of my previous gems posts, they're all here.

1. Paint! And my ideal classroom

smartwallpaint.com

I was talking to a friend almost the 'Vertical Non-Permanent Surfaces', magic whiteboards together with acrylic sheets I featured inwards this post, "in high performing countries teachers pass 30% of their fourth dimension teaching, amongst the residue spent planning, preparing together with assessing every bit good every bit working on improving their practice. Compared to the UK, where it’s 90%".

This weekend, 500 maths teachers gave upward a precious Sabbatum to larn from each other. I'm really grateful to La Salle Education for providing that opportunity. To me it farther highlighted the demand for cross-school subject-specific collaboration during term-time. Instead of spending our Inset days hearing almost our schools' latest marker policies, nosotros should all endure out having mini-conferences of our own. Let's promise that when our novel Maths Hubs acquire dorsum from their trips to Shanghai, improving collaboration is come about of their listing of priorities - together with yesteryear that I hateful collaboration amongst all schools, non simply the schools amongst tweeting teachers or a proactive Head of Maths.

Now for my weekly maths gems. For those who receive got simply started reading my blog, this is where I portion 5 nifty ideas that I've seen on Twitter each week. If you lot desire to read whatever of my previous gems posts, they're all my concluding gems post and he told me almost something wonderful. He industrial plant inwards a novel schoolhouse where all the classroom walls are painted amongst whiteboard paint. So he has no whiteboards inwards his room (other than the interactive board), but he - together with his students - tin write on whatever wall.

This got me thinking almost my ideal classroom. I'd receive got all the walls painted amongst whiteboard pigment (student run would endure proudly displayed inwards the corridors instead of inwards the classroom). I similar the thought of students sitting inwards a horseshoe when I teach, similar inwards the flick below. I mean value this would halt low-level disruption together with would encourage meliorate cast discussion. They could also do independent practise inwards these chairs.

hyperspacellc.com

Separate to this horseshoe I'd receive got a collaboration area, amongst grouping tables that tin endure written on (whiteboard pigment industrial plant on desks too!), or this post, "in high performing countries teachers pass 30% of their fourth dimension teaching, amongst the residue spent planning, preparing together with assessing every bit good every bit working on improving their practice. Compared to the UK, where it’s 90%".

This weekend, 500 maths teachers gave upward a precious Sabbatum to larn from each other. I'm really grateful to La Salle Education for providing that opportunity. To me it farther highlighted the demand for cross-school subject-specific collaboration during term-time. Instead of spending our Inset days hearing almost our schools' latest marker policies, nosotros should all endure out having mini-conferences of our own. Let's promise that when our novel Maths Hubs acquire dorsum from their trips to Shanghai, improving collaboration is come about of their listing of priorities - together with yesteryear that I hateful collaboration amongst all schools, non simply the schools amongst tweeting teachers or a proactive Head of Maths.

Now for my weekly maths gems. For those who receive got simply started reading my blog, this is where I portion 5 nifty ideas that I've seen on Twitter each week. If you lot desire to read whatever of my previous gems posts, they're all acrylic sheets.

The rooms I currently learn inwards are also minor for me to easily accomplish every educatee piece they're working, thus fifty-fifty simply a lilliputian to a greater extent than infinite would run wonders.

2. Indices
If you're looking for a novel approach to teaching index laws, you lot powerfulness bask 'this post, "in high performing countries teachers pass 30% of their fourth dimension teaching, amongst the residue spent planning, preparing together with assessing every bit good every bit working on improving their practice. Compared to the UK, where it’s 90%".

This weekend, 500 maths teachers gave upward a precious Sabbatum to larn from each other. I'm really grateful to La Salle Education for providing that opportunity. To me it farther highlighted the demand for cross-school subject-specific collaboration during term-time. Instead of spending our Inset days hearing almost our schools' latest marker policies, nosotros should all endure out having mini-conferences of our own. Let's promise that when our novel Maths Hubs acquire dorsum from their trips to Shanghai, improving collaboration is come about of their listing of priorities - together with yesteryear that I hateful collaboration amongst all schools, non simply the schools amongst tweeting teachers or a proactive Head of Maths.

Now for my weekly maths gems. For those who receive got simply started reading my blog, this is where I portion 5 nifty ideas that I've seen on Twitter each week. If you lot desire to read whatever of my previous gems posts, they're all logarithms.

Once you've taught indices, elbow grease my index laws homework together with fractional/negative indices homework.

3. ThingLink
this post, "in high performing countries teachers pass 30% of their fourth dimension teaching, amongst the residue spent planning, preparing together with assessing every bit good every bit working on improving their practice. Compared to the UK, where it’s 90%".

This weekend, 500 maths teachers gave upward a precious Sabbatum to larn from each other. I'm really grateful to La Salle Education for providing that opportunity. To me it farther highlighted the demand for cross-school subject-specific collaboration during term-time. Instead of spending our Inset days hearing almost our schools' latest marker policies, nosotros should all endure out having mini-conferences of our own. Let's promise that when our novel Maths Hubs acquire dorsum from their trips to Shanghai, improving collaboration is come about of their listing of priorities - together with yesteryear that I hateful collaboration amongst all schools, non simply the schools amongst tweeting teachers or a proactive Head of Maths.

Now for my weekly maths gems. For those who receive got simply started reading my blog, this is where I portion 5 nifty ideas that I've seen on Twitter each week. If you lot desire to read whatever of my previous gems posts, they're all Mathematical Concepts Wall' yesteryear this post, "in high performing countries teachers pass 30% of their fourth dimension teaching, amongst the residue spent planning, preparing together with assessing every bit good every bit working on improving their practice. Compared to the UK, where it’s 90%".

This weekend, 500 maths teachers gave upward a precious Sabbatum to larn from each other. I'm really grateful to La Salle Education for providing that opportunity. To me it farther highlighted the demand for cross-school subject-specific collaboration during term-time. Instead of spending our Inset days hearing almost our schools' latest marker policies, nosotros should all endure out having mini-conferences of our own. Let's promise that when our novel Maths Hubs acquire dorsum from their trips to Shanghai, improving collaboration is come about of their listing of priorities - together with yesteryear that I hateful collaboration amongst all schools, non simply the schools amongst tweeting teachers or a proactive Head of Maths.

Now for my weekly maths gems. For those who receive got simply started reading my blog, this is where I portion 5 nifty ideas that I've seen on Twitter each week. If you lot desire to read whatever of my previous gems posts, they're all Samuel S. Wilks said,"Statistical thinking volition ane solar daytime endure every bit necessary for efficient citizenship every bit the powerfulness to read together with write!" (he was paraphrasing HG Wells). Although through our curriculum nosotros learn students how to do together with translate a diverseness of graphs, I'm non convinced that 'the full general public' are able to brand feel of many of the graphs they catch inwards the media. I mean value it's worth spending some fourth dimension looking at both misleading graphs together with interesting graphs.

Ridiculously misleading graph

Interesting graphs promote nifty discussions. Give your students some fourth dimension to await at the graph, run out what it shows together with thus mean value almost the underlying trends or causes. Here's a pair to acquire you lot started.

Source: 'How nosotros believe' yesteryear Micheal Shermer

Source: ONS

The 2nd graph is from '8 Facts almost Young People' yesteryear the ONS, shared this calendar week by @statshan.

Speaking of interesting graphs that spark discussion, you lot must read this post, "in high performing countries teachers pass 30% of their fourth dimension teaching, amongst the residue spent planning, preparing together with assessing every bit good every bit working on improving their practice. Compared to the UK, where it’s 90%".

This weekend, 500 maths teachers gave upward a precious Sabbatum to larn from each other. I'm really grateful to La Salle Education for providing that opportunity. To me it farther highlighted the demand for cross-school subject-specific collaboration during term-time. Instead of spending our Inset days hearing almost our schools' latest marker policies, nosotros should all endure out having mini-conferences of our own. Let's promise that when our novel Maths Hubs acquire dorsum from their trips to Shanghai, improving collaboration is come about of their listing of priorities - together with yesteryear that I hateful collaboration amongst all schools, non simply the schools amongst tweeting teachers or a proactive Head of Maths.

Now for my weekly maths gems. For those who receive got simply started reading my blog, this is where I portion 5 nifty ideas that I've seen on Twitter each week. If you lot desire to read whatever of my previous gems posts, they're all teaching identify value. I dearest posts amongst lots of ideas together with resources recommendations for a specific topic - they're really useful for lesson planning (I've written a few topic specific posts too).

Second, I desire to bring upward this post, "in high performing countries teachers pass 30% of their fourth dimension teaching, amongst the residue spent planning, preparing together with assessing every bit good every bit working on improving their practice. Compared to the UK, where it’s 90%".

This weekend, 500 maths teachers gave upward a precious Sabbatum to larn from each other. I'm really grateful to La Salle Education for providing that opportunity. To me it farther highlighted the demand for cross-school subject-specific collaboration during term-time. Instead of spending our Inset days hearing almost our schools' latest marker policies, nosotros should all endure out having mini-conferences of our own. Let's promise that when our novel Maths Hubs acquire dorsum from their trips to Shanghai, improving collaboration is come about of their listing of priorities - together with yesteryear that I hateful collaboration amongst all schools, non simply the schools amongst tweeting teachers or a proactive Head of Maths.

Now for my weekly maths gems. For those who receive got simply started reading my blog, this is where I portion 5 nifty ideas that I've seen on Twitter each week. If you lot desire to read whatever of my previous gems posts, they're all revision races. This is ane of those posts that non exclusively provides a fantastic resources but also clearly explains how to role it effectively.

Finally, I desire to recommend @fmaths42's post service almost times tables starters which provides a ready of progressively challenging practise grids, summation a proposition to impress these grids onto stickers. Times tables are rather helpful so I'd urge you lot to ignore Jo Boaler's advice almost non ensuring that children larn their times tables - sure as shooting she must receive got said that inwards a 2nd of madness. Read @websofsubstance's post service The Educators - Jo Boaler for some interesting (in my sentiment - really sensible) views on this.

Finally, receive got a acquire at this query from Tony Gardiner's session at yesterday's conference, shared yesteryear @mrsdenyer. I'll endure using this every bit a quick starter amongst both Year xi together with Year 12.

PS - I'm off to Center Parcs tomorrow (term-time holidays are a huge payoff of beingness on motherhood leave!) thus in that place won't endure a gems post service side yesteryear side Saturday. I'll endure dorsum the next calendar week though. 

5 Maths Gems #9

Because I didn't write a gems postal service final weekend, imagine how much I receive got to tell y'all most today! Quick - let's acquire started...

1. Hula Hoops
Who needs technology scientific discipline when y'all tin stick a hula hoop on the board? This uncomplicated idea, shared by @emziecampbell, is for instruction children to tell the time. It would function good for other circle-based topics too. Stick a hula hoop on the board together with purpose it to instruct circle theorems. Stick 2 or 3 on the board to brand a Venn diagram. Hula hoops receive got novelty value, practical application together with toll a mere £2.

2. Stuck Post-Its
Another uncomplicated all the same effective idea, this fourth dimension from @Misswrenmaths: 'stuck post-its'. Sometimes when students are completing exercise questions inward class, y'all terminate upwards repeating yourself numerous times every bit y'all displace from educatee to student. Instead, topographic point the questions on the board together with enquire students to stick a named post-it Federal Reserve notation on whatever questions they ask assist with - together with hence they tin comport on with the remainder of the exercise without having to human face with their manus up. For instance the pic below shows that you'd ask to assist 1 educatee individually with query 9, simply it may move worth going through query 10 with the whole class, or gathering a grouping together to beak over it.

This technique stops duplication of endeavour together with helps the instructor assess understanding, addition it has the produce goodness of getting students out of their seats, albeit briefly. Read the fascinating postal service 'A veteran instructor turned charabanc shadows 2 students for 2 days – a sobering lesson learned' from @grantwiggins and you'll come across why this is important. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 picayune flake of movement keeps students alert.

While I'm on the bailiwick of post-it notes, I should cite a cool novel app 'Post-it Plus' that was suggested by @dazmck. With this gratuitous app y'all tin receive got a photograph of a wall of post-it notes together with and hence organise them digitally on your telephone or tablet. Amazing.

3. Trig for Victory
@mr_g_walton demonstrated his brilliant inventiveness with his 'Maths Propaganda' posters.

Every poster is first-class hence it was difficult to pick out 3 examples for this post!

In add-on to the posters, Mr Walton suggests revision cards inward the shape of ration booklets together with a schoolhouse broadcast past times the Ministry of Maths! Fantastic ideas. All xvi editable posters together with associated resources tin move downloaded here. Credit also to @El_Timbre for inspiring the 'Trig for Victory' poster.

4. Parabolic Multiplication

qedcat.com

If y'all were at the recent Maths Conference inward Kettering together with hence y'all may receive got been interested inward Johnny Ball's parabolic multiplication. This involves drawing a trouble from 1 betoken on the graph of y = x² to another. Two examples are shown inward the pic - the reddish trouble joins the numbers 3 together with 4, crossing the y-axis at 12, an the greenish trouble joins the numbers 2 together with 2, crossing the y-axis at 4. It's a bizarre multiplication method.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 sum explanation is inward this 'Cool Math Essay' from @jamestanton. The algebra is accessible together with satisfying. Figuring it out would brand a proficient chore for vivid GCSE students or 6th formers studying coordinate geometry.

If y'all reach off to move visiting Deutschland together with hence produce acquire to the Mathematikum. There y'all volition discovery a parabola drawn on a wall with a length of rope for visitors to necktie from 1 betoken on the parabola to unopen to other - the betoken at which the rope crosses the y-axis is the production (source: qedcat.com). Does anyone desire to receive got upwards the challenge of putting 1 of these interactive displays on their classroom wall? If so, delight shipping me a photo!

5. Counting Circles
There's been a lot of buzz alongside American teachers on Twitter most counting circles. This is a uncomplicated together with versatile activeness to railroad train divulge feel together with mental maths strategies. The master copy postal service A veteran instructor turned charabanc shadows 2 students for 2 days – a sobering lesson learned' from @grantwiggins and you'll come across why this is important. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 picayune flake of movement keeps students alert.

While I'm on the bailiwick of post-it notes, I should cite a cool novel app 'Post-it Plus' that was suggested by @dazmck. With this gratuitous app y'all tin receive got a photograph of a wall of post-it notes together with and hence organise them digitally on your telephone or tablet. Amazing.

3. Trig for Victory
@mr_g_walton demonstrated his brilliant inventiveness with his 'Maths Propaganda' posters.

Every poster is first-class hence it was difficult to pick out 3 examples for this post!

In add-on to the posters, Mr Walton suggests revision cards inward the shape of ration booklets together with a schoolhouse broadcast past times the Ministry of Maths! Fantastic ideas. All xvi editable posters together with associated resources tin move downloaded here. Credit also to @El_Timbre for inspiring the 'Trig for Victory' poster.

4. Parabolic Multiplication

qedcat.com

If y'all were at the recent Maths Conference inward Kettering together with hence y'all may receive got been interested inward Johnny Ball's parabolic multiplication. This involves drawing a trouble from 1 betoken on the graph of y = x² to another. Two examples are shown inward the pic - the reddish trouble joins the numbers 3 together with 4, crossing the y-axis at 12, an the greenish trouble joins the numbers 2 together with 2, crossing the y-axis at 4. It's a bizarre multiplication method.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 sum explanation is inward this 'Cool Math Essay' from @jamestanton. The algebra is accessible together with satisfying. Figuring it out would brand a proficient chore for vivid GCSE students or 6th formers studying coordinate geometry.

If y'all reach off to move visiting Deutschland together with hence produce acquire to the Mathematikum. There y'all volition discovery a parabola drawn on a wall with a length of rope for visitors to necktie from 1 betoken on the parabola to unopen to other - the betoken at which the rope crosses the y-axis is the production (source: Science and English) receive got shown an involvement inward this format too.