Dates For The Diary

2015 has been the almost eventful twelvemonth of my teaching career to date. I returned to piece of job from motherhood exit inwards Jan as well as took on a Lead Practitioner move at a novel schoolhouse vi months later. I continued to last a busy blogger as well as tweeter throughout the twelvemonth as well as was chuffed that my efforts were recognised at the United Kingdom of Great Britain as well as Northern Ireland Blog Awards inwards April. During 2015 I attended numerous teaching events including maths conferences, TeachMeets, debates as well as my real ain Christmaths party. Although it's tempting to write a long as well as rambling reflection of all the events of the year, instead I've decided to await at what 2016 has to offer. There's loads going on inwards the twelvemonth ahead as well as this post lists a few highlights. Full listings tin laissez passer the sack last constitute here.

January
Back to schoolhouse as well as the chaos starts all over again. If your schoolhouse is form plenty to allow you lot out for a day, I reckon La Salle's National Maths Education Symposium on Th 21st Jan is worth a look. The programme is excellent.

I'm incredibly jealous of anyone who is able to attend the adjacent Peterborough Maths Network event. They've solely managed to describe of piece of job upwards the almost awesome mortal inwards the maths teaching - Don Steward! This lawsuit takes house after schoolhouse on 19th Jan as well as you'd last foolish to fille it.

It's also my birthday on sixth January... simply saying.

February

It's a outflow year! Did you lot run into this tweet from Matt Parker? I ♥ numbers.

Sure, 2016 is non divisible yesteryear five similar 2015, but it is divisible yesteryear EVERY OTHER SINGLE-DIGIT NUMBER. quaternary fourth dimension ever. Max possible until 2520.

— Matt Parker (@standupmaths) December 27, 2015

March as well as April
Have you lot noticed how curt the Spring Term is? Easter falls early on inwards 2016. As a upshot there's an awful lot going on during March.

The write-up of the final conference to larn an persuasion of what goes on.

I'm also actually looking forwards to Julia Smith's (@tessmaths) Easter Maths Camp which is on 28th as well as 29th March in sunny St Osyth, Essex. There's all sorts of lovely activities lined upwards - contact Julia if you lot desire to larn involved.

As always, the ATM as well as MA are belongings their conferences over the Easter holidays. The ATM's Easter Conference 2016 is inwards Warwick from Tuesday 29th March to Fri 1st Apr as well as the MA Annual Conference 2016 takes house inwards Oxford from Fri 1st Apr to Lord's Day tertiary April. Both get got fantabulous programmes. Hopefully when my children are older I'll last able to attend i of these residential conferences.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 distich of weeks into the Summer Term is my write-up here) as well as therefore if you lot larn the adventure to go, I actually recommend it.

July as well as August
I'll last presenting on Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 degree resources at the annual FMSP Key Stage five Teachers Conference inwards London on eighth July - details to follow.

Tom Bennison (@DrBennison) is organising an East Midlands KS5 Mathematics Conference on ninth August at the University of Nottingham. With the upcoming implementation of new Key Stage five specifications, Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 degree CPD is going to accept centre phase over the adjacent 2 years. Tom is planning what sounds similar an fantabulous lawsuit - I volition part details when they are announced.

September to December
#mathsconf8 takes house inwards Manchester on 1st Oct - it's a fleck of a trek for me but I wouldn't fille it!

I'm certain there'll last lots to a greater extent than Autumn Term events announced closer to the time. Maybe fifty-fifty a #christmaths16... And (fingers crossed) I actually promise to organise something when the novel maths gallery opens at the Science Museum. Watch this space.

Quick - larn these dates inwards your diary now!

Throughout the twelvemonth there's loads of fantastic local events organised yesteryear bodies such equally the Further Maths Support Programme as well as the Maths Hubs. I haven't listed everything here, but there's ever plenty going on for maths teachers as well as therefore create honor out what's happening inwards your area.

I await forwards to seeing you lot at an lawsuit inwards 2016.

Happy New Year!

5 Maths Gems #62

Welcome to my 62^nd update from the footing of Maths EduTwitter. Here I summarise unopen to of the latest ideas in addition to resources for teaching maths.

1. H5N1 Brilliant Problem
If yous cause got a Facebook concern human relationship hence it's definitely worth liking Brilliant.org's Facebook page for an ongoing period of time of lovely maths problems inward your intelligence feed. I especially similar the occupation below - I'd purpose it equally a starter inward a GCSE lesson.

2. Symbaloo
Emma Bell (@EJMaths) has created a real helpful Symbaloo of maths teaching websites. All yous cause got to produce is click on 'start using this webmix' in addition to register for a costless account. You tin learn inward your homepage hence whenever yous opened upward the cyberspace you'll cause got a lovely ready of maths websites, blogs, tools in addition to resources to lead from. This volition salve teachers lots of fourth dimension in addition to tending them disclose novel websites too.

3. Fraction Division
An approach to dividing fractions that doesn't involving 'flipping'... this method from @solvemymaths is worth a look.

4. Indices
@offpistemaths shared these indices questions from an Eton scholarship paper aimed at Year 8. I honey these problems - to a greater extent than of our students should last given the chance to endeavor challenging questions similar this.

5. Interactive GCSE Questions
Here's a novel costless resources from MathsPad. These interactive GCSE exam-style questions are available for both Higher in addition to Foundation. They would move good equally daily lesson starters on an interactive whiteboard. It's slowly to switch questions in addition to display answers.

Update
Summer is nearly over! H5N1 aeroplane in addition to GCSE results days were especially emotional in addition to exciting for me this yr (my get-go results at my novel school). It's weird to intend that this was our final GCSE results twenty-four hours alongside grades A* to U - side yesteryear side yr we'll last seeing numerical grades for the get-go time. It's also weird to intend that the coming schoolhouse yr volition last the final fourth dimension nosotros learn C1 in addition to C2, equally modular H5N1 aeroplane comes to an end.

You mightiness last interested inward seeing the 'hardest' enquiry on this year's Edexcel maths Higher GCSE, which was alone answered correctly yesteryear 2.6% of students (thanks to @MathsEmporium for sharing this).

Earlier this calendar week I went along for drinks at La Salle's #pieandmaths lawsuit - it was bully to lead manage of upward alongside unopen to Twitter friends in addition to run across unopen to novel people. I'm actually looking forwards to #mathsconf8 inward Kettering on 1st Oct (I've right away submitted a workshop proposal) - book now!

Posts
Did yous lead manage of my recent post almost Multiplying Negatives? If you're teaching improver in addition to subtraction alongside negative numbers, yous mightiness similar Classroom Displays

Kicking off Year 12

Your First Maths Lesson alongside Year 7

Words of Wisdom: Teaching Foundation GCSE

High Expectations

Complete the Rules

Icebreakers

Practical tips for a (newly) qualified maths teacher

Twitter...?
If you're non on Twitter hence the start of the novel schoolhouse yr mightiness last a proficient fourth dimension to join... The amount yous gain from it is good worth the pocket-size investment of time. Email me for advice if you're non certain how to learn started!

A Problem
I'll move out yous alongside this lovely ready of problems shared yesteryear @Mathematical_A, taken from 'A Square Peg inward a Round Hole'. Find the fraction of the surface area of the quadrant occupied yesteryear each semicircle.

5 Maths Gems #63

Welcome to my 63^rd update from the Blue Planet of Maths EduTwitter. This is where I percentage to a greater extent than or less of the latest ideas in addition to resources for education maths.

I don't know almost you, precisely my kickoff calendar week of term felt similar a month! The summertime holidays instantly look similar a distant memory. The start of the schoolhouse twelvemonth is ever exciting precisely exhausting... how long until one-half term?!

1. Corbett Maths Revision Cards
The vivid John Corbett has been difficult at run producing a fantastic laid of revision cards for Higher in addition to Foundation GCSE. These cards are designed for the novel GCSE specification in addition to tin hold out ordered here. On the dorsum of each bill of fare you'll uncovering QR codes linking to revision videos in addition to practise questions. The feedback on Twitter has been splendid - people dear these!

2. Pythagoras in addition to That
Thanks to @GuideCalculator for sharing a GCSE revision website: pythagorasandthat.co.uk. This website is real visually pleasing! There are loads of overnice graphics that I'm going to borrow for lessons.

3. Pi Display
I stumbled upon a Pi display. It's 1000 digits hence would hold out 27 metres long if y'all used the whole thing! When I tweeted almost this, @PeterHTodd shared his πthon classroom display. It's π to 314 decimal places - he recites it on Pi day!

4. Year seven Assessments
The resources from the White Rose Maths Hub are incredibly helpful. I wrote almost the Schemes of Learning inwards Gems 58. My boss late asked me to write an assessment for Year seven in addition to I was pleased to encounter that White Rose Maths Hub cause got already made 1 that I tin borrow. Their assessments for principal in addition to secondary are here. The collection is growing hence do follow them for updates.

This query is taken from their Year seven Autumn Paper A:

5. New Pixi Website
I'm pleased to encounter that superstar TES resources maker Gems 58. It's worth taking to a greater extent than or less fourth dimension to explore her resources, which are all free. Her collection is growing - for illustration she is producing a laid of intervention booklets which I'm certain many schools volition uncovering helpful.

Update
I've been dorsum inwards the classroom since Monday. I already cause got lots to verbalize almost - lookout adult man out for hereafter weblog posts almost my folder experiment amongst Year 11, my launch of Times Table Rock Stars, in addition to how I'm coping amongst the mark workload for the 31 students inwards my Year 12 class.

I actually promise to encounter all of y'all at #mathsconf8 inwards Kettering inwards iii weeks. There are to a greater extent than or less splendid workshops lined upward - banking concern lucifer out the choices here. I'll hold out presenting on to a greater extent than or less novel GCSE topics - if you're education Year 10 or xi this twelvemonth hence do come upward along.

I'm actually smashing to launch my #christmaths16 effect precisely a venue is keeping me waiting... Watch this space! 

Did y'all grab my latest post? I wrote almost classic maths resources - it's been 1 of my most pop posts ever.

Also, banking concern lucifer out the new serial of posts on TES almost the specifications in addition to resources for the novel GCSE.

If you're a fan of geeky stationery hence you'll dear the novel Back two Skool make from Dunelm - it's real affordable too! 

New classroom treats from @DunelmUK. Pen pots £1 each. Box £3 #maths #mathschat pic.twitter.com/HUPmSo01S7

— Katie Pollard (@takepi21) 26 August 2016

I'll larn out y'all amongst this query from Brilliant which mightiness hold out helpful when education angles to Year 7. Can y'all spot the shortcut?

#Mathsconf8

I had a neat fourth dimension at #mathsconf8. Thanks to Mark McCourt too La Salle Education for organising to a greater extent than or less other fantastic lawsuit for maths teachers.

Friday night

We had a big turnout at the pre-conference drinks on Friday. It was lovely to grab upwards amongst people I've non seen inward a while. Workload was a mutual give-and-take call for - sometimes it's helpful to allow off steam nearly the challenges of the project every bit good every bit sharing the highlights.

The best business office of the even was our Pringles Enigma machine activity! When nosotros visited Bletchley Park over summertime nosotros were treated to a display of a existent Enigma machine past times Tom (@TeaKayB). At the fourth dimension Tom mentioned that it's possible to brand an Enigma machine out of a Pringles subway scheme then nosotros invited him along to #mathsconf8 drinks to present us how! Here's what I came upwards with, assisted past times @JoLocke1 (it works! We were able to decrypt a message). 

Kim (@MsKmp) didn't bring a Pringles subway scheme exactly managed to brand her Enigma machine out of a vino bottle! If you're interested inward having a become at this activity, all the instructions too materials are here.

At the pre-conference drinks I also chatted to Craig Barton. I was interested to listen that he has relaunched his website mrbartonmaths.com. For a resourceaholic similar me, this is exciting news! I'm looking forrard to exploring all the resources that Craig has pulled together. For every topic he has provided specifications, videos, worksheets, diagnostic questions, lessons, rich tasks, interactive resources too probing questions. Amazing.

Saturday

The conference was brilliant. I thoroughly enjoyed my twenty-four hr catamenia too went dwelling identify feeling inspired.

The twenty-four hr catamenia kicked off amongst Mark McCourt talking us through the 1089 activity. I've heard of this activity earlier exactly non looked at it inward detail. I actually enjoyed doing the maths (even inward base of operations seven!) too tin view that this would brand a vivid lesson for students. I hope to purpose it at schoolhouse at to a greater extent than or less call for this year.

I also enjoyed the speed dating session where I picked upwards a couplet of splendid resources.

The starting fourth dimension session I attended was Kris Boulton's speak on Engelmann. I saw the starting fourth dimension business office of this speak at researchED Maths too Science inward June which I wrote nearly here.  Kris continued to speak nearly Engemann's ideas, including examples of how Kris has applied these ideas to his teaching. I abide by all of this actually interesting, too it does brand me enquiry whether I purpose the most effective method of instruction.

It was interesting to view a snapshot of Kris' planning procedure for a sequence of lessons.

Thanks to @MathsWebb for this photo

I enjoyed watching videos of Kris' teaching inward action, too was pleased that he spoke nearly the agency he handled a student's negative demeanour (I don't retrieve plenty teachers speak nearly the challenges nosotros human face upwards amongst regard to demeanour management, then this was refreshing to hear). The most hitting affair Kris did inward his video was rest soundless when solving a pair of simultaneous equations on the board. I e'er speak through what I'm doing footstep past times step, too I wonder if my talking distracts students from next what I'm writing. I demand to retrieve nearly this.

At the suspension I bought a calculator! It's probable my H5N1 degree students volition endure using these side past times side twelvemonth then I'm going to start using it at 1 time to ensure I'm good practised past times side past times side September.

The 2nd session I attended was nearly mastery too was delivered past times Mark McCourt, a thoroughly entertaining too knowledgeable speaker. If you're interested inward what Mark has to country nearly mastery, read his recent weblog shipping service 1089 activity. I've heard of this activity earlier exactly non looked at it inward detail. I actually enjoyed doing the maths (even inward base of operations seven!) too tin view that this would brand a vivid lesson for students. I hope to purpose it at schoolhouse at to a greater extent than or less call for this year.

I also enjoyed the speed dating session where I picked upwards a couplet of splendid resources.

The starting fourth dimension session I attended was Kris Boulton's speak on Engelmann. I saw the starting fourth dimension business office of this speak at researchED Maths too Science inward June which I wrote nearly #MasteryFail too await out for his side past times side shipping service too.
  

Teacher grooming should endure 'here's 5 ways of communicating each of the 320 things on the curriculum' #mathsconf8

— Jo Morgan (@mathsjem) 1 Oct 2016

At dejeuner it was neat to view then many teachers enjoying the maths activities at the Tweet Up.

After dejeuner I attended a session on dependent champaign noesis past times Ed Southall. I learnt lots from this session - my favourite affair was the word discorectangle (also known every bit a stadium). I learnt nearly the etymology of the word integer (not touching / standing alone).  I also learnt the divergence betwixt an oval too an ellipse (an ellipse has 2 lines of symmetry) too lots of other lovely snippets of maths knowledge. I dear learning novel things nearly my subject. You tin download Ed's slides here.

All 3 sessions I attended were excellent.

I presented inward the finally slot of the day. My session was nearly novel higher GCSE topics. I promised that I'd part my slides then you lot tin purpose them to deliver grooming at school.

• Here is the version I presented at the conference.
• Here is the 'uncut' version which has lots of additional information. If you're presenting to your division I recommend using this 1 (split over 2 or 3 sessions).
• Here are the GCSE questions that I used every bit a starter activity.

Links tin endure constitute inward the slides themselves or inward the notes section. I hope these slides are helpful, delight allow me know if I tin clarify anything.

Thanks to @letsgetmathing for this photo

I actually enjoyed catching upwards amongst Twitter friends too coming together lots of novel people. Thanks to Mark McCourt for promoting my #christmaths16 lawsuit which you lot tin purchase tickets for here.

If you've non been to 1 of La Salle's maths conferences before, create come upwards along to Bristol on 11th March or London on 24th June. Tickets volition endure available through mathsconf.com.

Finally, thank you lot to superstar Rob Smith for running the tuck store too doing an amazing project of raising coin for charity throughout the day. Every conference should bring a tuck shop!

Highlights Of 2016

2016 has been genuinely awful... The best means to learn by with as well as thus many terrible things happening inward i yr is to focus on the positives. In the footing of maths education, there's been loads of fantastic materials going on. Although nosotros overstep along to confront challenges relating to workload, behaviour, curriculum alter as well as recruitment, there's nevertheless enough to celebrate. In this post service I portion unopen to of my favourite moments of 2016.

The Conferences
La Salle's conferences are e'er brilliant. I was gutted to immature adult woman their Leeds conference inward June but I actually enjoyed the Peterborough conference inward March as well as the Kettering conference inward October. La Salle are hosting fifty-fifty to a greater extent than conferences inward 2017 (check out their dates as well as locations here) as well as thus if you lot haven't been before, produce bring together us.

Pre-conference drinks inward Peterborough inward March

Teachers enjoying #mathsconf6 inward Peterborough

Cake from Julia Smith at #mathsconf6
to celebrate my 50th gems post

Pre-conference drinks inward Kettering
- nosotros made Enigma machines!  

Rob Smith's tuck store at #mathsconf8 inward Kettering

The starting fourth dimension researchED Maths as well as Science was held inward Oxford inward June 2016. It was excellent. I actually promise to regard this trial render inward 2017.

A wonderful venue for researchED Maths as well as Science

Maths teachers come across for dejeuner at researchED Maths as well as Science

In 2016 I attended a issue of conferences equally a presenter, including Edexcel's Warwick conference, the FMSP's London KS5 Network Day, as well as Coast2Coast TSA's maths conference.

Peter Mattock as well as I presenting at
Coast2Coast TSA's maths conference

Meeting my maths hero Hannah Fry at
Edexcel's Warwick conference

The Social Events
I actually relish coming together upwardly with maths teachers who I've chatted to on Twitter. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 highlight this yr was our trip to Bletchley Park inward the summertime holidays. We were as well as thus lucky to hold upwardly treated to a tour of the grounds as well as a someone demonstration of an Enigma machine.

Summer solar daytime out at Bletchey Park with beau tweeters

Some of #teambletchley

La Salle organised their 2d summertime come across upwardly for maths teachers - Pie as well as Maths.

Summer drinks at #pieandmaths

I had a lovely fourth dimension at i of Old Andrew's blogger curries.

Out for drinks with edubloggers, organised past times
blogging legend Andrew Old

In Dec I hosted #christmaths16. 110 teachers got together for festive mathsy fun at the Science Museum followed past times a nighttime out at a Kensington pub.

Post-museum drinks at #christmaths16

Maths teachers enjoying #christmaths16

The Grassroots Events
This yr I've attended a issue of events at local schools. I presented at Maths inward the Sticks which was an Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 flat solar daytime run past times Stuart Price, as well as I presented at Paul Collins' MathsMeet at Oakwood School. I also travelled upwardly to Oldham to acquaint at Lindsey Bennett's LIME event. I hosted my ain trial also - MathsMeet Glyn took house on a Sabbatum morning time inward March as well as starred i of my maths heroes, Don Steward.

Paul Collins at Oakwood School's MathsMeet

Ben Sparks presenting at Stuart Price's 'Maths inward the Sticks' Event

With colleagues at dejeuner subsequently #mathsmeetglyn

With Don Steward
at #mathsmeetglyn

The Websites as well as Resources
During 2016 the footing of maths resources went from line to strength.

Clarissa Grandi's artfulmaths.com is a beautiful novel website, providing inspiration as well as resources for both classroom displays as well as creative maths lessons.

New website mrcartermaths.com is highly valued for its repose of use. Excellent websites such equally mrbartonmaths.com, corbettmaths.com and mathsbot.com accept continued to develop novel content.

For Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 flat teachers, undergroundmathematics.org arrived on the scene, providing high character rich tasks from the squad at the University of Cambridge. We also discovered the IYGB papers on madasmaths.com, providing a large banking firm of challenging examination manner papers for Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 flat students.

The prime game from Christian Lawson-Perfect provided hours of amusement - as well as tearing contest - with maths teachers.

Throughout 2016 maths hubs all over the province supported teachers inward both main as well as secondary schools. The White Rose Maths Hub shared splendid schemes of operate as well as assessment resources for Key Stages 1, 2 as well as 3.

Craig Barton's podcasts were a wonderful characteristic of 2016 - if you've non discovered these yet, they are good worth a listen. Look out for to a greater extent than of Craig's podcasts inward 2017.

The Networks
Since joining Twitter inward 2014, my career has been transformed. Its incredible network of teachers continues to provide an endless render of support, advice, resources, ideas as well as encouragement. During 2016 I was fortunate to overstep involved with both the AQA Maths Expert Panel as well as the TES Maths Panel too.

Some of the AQA Maths Expert Panel members
sporting Christmas jumpers at our Dec meeting

School

I can't verbalise well-nigh my 2016 maths didactics highlights without mentioning my wonderful schoolhouse as well as my awesome colleagues. They're a existent pleasance to operate with.

Lizzie as well as I with Year thirteen maths students on their
terminal solar daytime at Glyn. They don't usually aspect as well as thus scruffy!

Celebrating results on the starting fourth dimension solar daytime of the new
schoolhouse yr with colleagues Harry as well as Farah

With trainee instructor Sarah
at Glyn's staff Christmas party

With colleague Rachel at Glyn's
 staff Christmas dinner

Joint Heads of Maths Christina
as well as Catherine, with NQT Amelia 

Looking Ahead
2017 brings the starting fourth dimension sitting of maths GCSE ix - 1. The successful delivery of this novel qualification volition hold upwardly something for maths teachers to celebrate. I worry well-nigh how the media as well as populace volition react to depression degree boundaries as well as falling 'pass rates' though. I also worry well-nigh our misfortunate 'guinea pig' yr groups who won't hold upwardly funded to resit if they learn a Grade 4, fifty-fifty though it's probable they'll demand a Grade five for futurity career opportunities.

2017 also brings the start of the novel linear maths Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 level. Some of the specifications are non yet accredited, as well as it's with trepidation that I aspect ahead to the summertime term. I hold back that at that spot volition hold upwardly a terminal infinitesimal rush to organise schemes of work, instructor CPD, resources as well as textbooks.

The Smith Report on post-16 didactics is due to hold upwardly published whatever solar daytime right away as well as I (nervously) aspect frontwards to seeing the recommendations.

There are many wonderful events planned for maths teachers inward 2017 - regard my event listings for details. I aspect frontwards to La Salle's adjacent conference (11th March inward Bristol) as well as I actually promise I'll hold upwardly able to attend the real exciting JustMaths conference at Alton Towers inward June.

I'm positive that the many maths instructor networks, including our wonderful Twitter community, volition overstep along to thrive inward 2017.

We accept a lot to aspect frontwards to.

Happy New Year, maths teachers!