easy way to learn mathematics: ICT

Showing posts with label ICT. Show all posts

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.

Linear Graphs

One of the topics that my pupils combat amongst the most, from Key Stage iii correct through to Year 12, is linear graphs.

My brilliant Year 11s know the dominion for finding the slope of a perpendicular line, but can't function out how to respond a GCSE enquiry similar this:

Strangely, I learn this differently at GCSE as well as Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 level. At GCSE my pupils write down

y = mx + c

as well as substitute values for y, k as well as x, as well as hence solve for c. Whereas at Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 marking my pupils occupation the equation

y - y₁ = m(x - x₁)

Essentially the same method but a slightly dissimilar approach. Perhaps I should endure to a greater extent than consistent as well as innovate the 'A marking method' at GCSE. I'd similar to take away heed what other teachers do.

In this shipping service I’ll propose roughly ideas as well as resources for instruction linear graphs.

Key words

Let's kickoff amongst the basics. There's a lot of novel vocabulary inwards coordinate geometry, roughly of which pupils volition convey encountered at primary school. This is a overnice vocabulary cognition survey every bit suggested inwards my earlier post.

Here's a overnice play tricks for remembering the words parallel as well as perpendicular (this could endure helpful for spellings - parallel is oft misspelt):

as well as this activity is suitable for Year vi or 7.

Introducing the shape y = mx + c
I'd unremarkably kickoff this theme inwards Year seven or 8 amongst plotting at nowadays occupation graphs (Teachit Maths provides an excellent Drawing Straight Line Graphs booklet for this purpose), before exploring the shape y = mx + c.

This theme provides an first-class chance for pupil investigation using Desmos. Use a worksheet to direct pupils through the lesson:

Investigating Straight Lines amongst Desmos (by Tristan Jones on TES)
Straight Line Graphs inwards Desmos (by me!)

Once pupils are able to translate the values of k as well as c as well as hence they tin shipping away endeavour this exercise or this true/false activity (both from rogradymaths.blogspot.co.uk). Teachit Maths also has a overnice 'Understanding y = mx+c' worksheet and two activities on horizontal as well as vertical lines.

My weblog shipping service 'All most gradient' features ideas as well as resources for instruction slope (the shipping service focuses mainly on real-life applications of the concept of steepness, but also features links to slope worksheets as well as activities).

Understanding parallel as well as perpendicular gradients

So here's the substitution data that pupils demand to understand:

(source)

If they know how to function out a slope every bit 'rise over run' (or equivalent) as well as hence pupils should endure able to derive the 'negative reciprocal' dominion for perpendicular gradients from an activeness similar this i from MathsPad.

Here's a few activities for a lesson on perpendicular lines:

Finding Equations of Parallel as well as Perpendicular Lines yesteryear Mathematics Assessment Project
Perpendicular Lines Worksheet (by me!)
AS marking Parallel as well as Perpendicular Lines (suitable for GCSE extension)
Perpendicular lines: equations yesteryear toticity.co.uk

Bringing it all together
When students written report linear graphs at AS level, they don't actually acquire anything novel - my GCSE pupils should convey the necessary skills as well as cognition to respond C1 coordinate geometry questions. I gave my Year xi pupils questions 5 - seven from this AS worksheet final twelvemonth - it took them ages to respond each question, but they were for certain capable. Essentially it's simply the wording of the questions that throws them.

Here's roughly to a greater extent than recommended resources suitable for GCSE students:

Finally, fun for puzzle-lovers in linear relationships sudoku and a overnice Key Stage iii Christmas activeness on plotting linear graphs from Teachit Maths - Mistletoe as well as Lines.

Finally, e'er wondered which countries occupation y = mx + c annotation as well as which countries occupation something different? Check out this map.

Animations In Addition To Simulations

Last night's #mathschat discussion nigh images gave me as well as hence many skillful teaching ideas, I woke upwardly at 2am to write a list! One affair that came upwardly was animations. I dearest a skillful animation that demonstrates a concept beautifully, as well as hence here's a few examples.

blog post) and judging past times the release of retweets, I gauge others similar it equally much equally I do. There's to a greater extent than gifs similar this here.

The animation below shows how the outside angles of a polygon amount to 360^o. Sometimes it's improve to purpose an animation that yous tin intermission as well as speak through though, as well as hence I prefer this animation for outside angles of a polygon. Absorb Learning is an fantabulous website for animations.

Another instance of an animation yous tin intermission during teaching is this 'bisecting an angle' tool. It comes amongst both a clear pedagogy canvass for students as well as associated proofs. There are similar pages for every possible construction! As I mentioned inwards a previous post, I loathe teaching constructions, as well as hence I uncovering this really helpful.

Here's some other maths gif. This i is for demonstrating the properties of parabolas, equally taught inwards Further Maths. This tin also move demonstrated nicely using Desmos.

I also desire to cite PhET simulations. I don't instruct mechanics simply I'm told that PhET has lots of smashing interactive simulations for demonstrating concepts. 'Balancing Act' is a skillful example. They also accept simulations for Key Stage iii topics such equally fractions - run into the full maths alternative here. The simulations tin move downloaded as well as run from your schoolhouse network.

Balancing Act - PhET

Aren't nosotros lucky to accept such fantabulous applied scientific discipline to heighten our teaching?

If yous know of whatever other skillful animations or interactive tools, delight comment below or tweet me.

5 Maths Gems #7

Common practise of successful departments' as well as 'What I learnt today' - both are good worth a read, especially for teachers of Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 degree maths.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of the inspiration behind today's maths gems has come upward from teachers' blogs - I'm incredibly grateful to those who convey the fourth dimension to portion their ideas as well as experiences for the produce goodness of others.

1. Interactive Areas
Computer-based tools lead maintain made it easier to explicate some mathematical concepts as well as generate interesting questions. It's fantastic when applied scientific discipline enhances as well as enriches mathematics education.

I late tweeted this colourful instance which shows that nosotros tin cutting a circle into sectors as well as rearrange them to create upward one's involve heed the expanse (taken from @edfromo's Google+ post). @fmaths42 replied amongst this bright applet which illustrates the same matter inwards real clear interactive steps. Never earlier lead maintain I seen the formula for the expanse of a circle explained so clearly (and did y'all come across the 'proof without words' video inwards Maths Gems 4? That was skillful too).

Another fantabulous interactive tool is 'Investigating Triangle Area' (via @mathslinks). My students are ever happy to convey that a right angled triangle is one-half a rectangle, but are non so easily convinced for non-right angled triangles. The tool illustrates the fact past times allowing students to rearrange triangles into rectangles (click on subdivide as well as and then rotate as well as interpret the travel past times sections).

2. Estimation

Examples from estimation180.com

I've seen a lot of American teachers tweet close Common practise of successful departments' as well as 'What I learnt today' - both are good worth a read, especially for teachers of Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 degree maths.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of the inspiration behind today's maths gems has come upward from teachers' blogs - I'm incredibly grateful to those who convey the fourth dimension to portion their ideas as well as experiences for the produce goodness of others.

1. Interactive Areas
Computer-based tools lead maintain made it easier to explicate some mathematical concepts as well as generate interesting questions. It's fantastic when applied scientific discipline enhances as well as enriches mathematics education.

I late tweeted this colourful instance which shows that nosotros tin cutting a circle into sectors as well as rearrange them to create upward one's involve heed the expanse (taken from @edfromo's Google+ post). @fmaths42 replied amongst this bright applet which illustrates the same matter inwards real clear interactive steps. Never earlier lead maintain I seen the formula for the expanse of a circle explained so clearly (and did y'all come across the 'proof without words' video inwards Every Math Teacher inwards the World Should Do This...Right Now!' by @nathankraft1 (shared amongst me past times @DianeMaths) y'all tin come across students working on whiteboards unopen to the classroom (I wishing my classroom was this big!).

Nathan enthusiastically says, 'When students are working on the whiteboards, I tin come across everything happening at once. It's similar I'm looking at the freaking Matrix. With a quick glance, I tin come across which students got it, which students are making fry mistakes, as well as which students lead maintain no sentiment what's going on. I tin chop-chop position errors for students. I tin inquire a stronger educatee to tending a struggling one. Once a educatee has the right answer, I yell, "Great! Erase it! Next problem!"'. His enthusiasm has rubbed off on me. I desire to sweat it! And earlier y'all disregard this sentiment because y'all don't lead maintain a room total of whiteboards, ship inwards involve heed that whatsoever vertical surface will produce - sweat writing on windows or using Common practise of successful departments' as well as 'What I learnt today' - both are good worth a read, especially for teachers of Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 degree maths.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of the inspiration behind today's maths gems has come upward from teachers' blogs - I'm incredibly grateful to those who convey the fourth dimension to portion their ideas as well as experiences for the produce goodness of others.

1. Interactive Areas
Computer-based tools lead maintain made it easier to explicate some mathematical concepts as well as generate interesting questions. It's fantastic when applied scientific discipline enhances as well as enriches mathematics education.

Improves visibility.
Allows for transfer of cognition unopen to the room.
Non-Permanent removes fearfulness of writing.
Formative assessment past times instructor at all times.
Teacher tin respond questions past times having students await at others work.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 related sentiment comes from Common practise of successful departments' as well as 'What I learnt today' - both are good worth a read, especially for teachers of Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 degree maths.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of the inspiration behind today's maths gems has come upward from teachers' blogs - I'm incredibly grateful to those who convey the fourth dimension to portion their ideas as well as experiences for the produce goodness of others.

1. Interactive Areas
Computer-based tools lead maintain made it easier to explicate some mathematical concepts as well as generate interesting questions. It's fantastic when applied scientific discipline enhances as well as enriches mathematics education.

I late tweeted this colourful instance which shows that nosotros tin cutting a circle into sectors as well as rearrange them to create upward one's involve heed the expanse (taken from @edfromo's Google+ post). @fmaths42 replied amongst this bright applet which illustrates the same matter inwards real clear interactive steps. Never earlier lead maintain I seen the formula for the expanse of a circle explained so clearly (and did y'all come across the 'proof without words' video inwards Improving students' collaboration using acrylic sheets'. Jeremy suggests investing inwards clear acrylic sheets that students tin write on. Diagrams, pictures, axes etc tin last pose underneath. Read his send service for to a greater extent than on this, it actually is a bright idea.

Next week

A lot of my readers volition last at La Salle Education's maths conference side past times side week. I’m actually looking forrad to it. Please come upward as well as tell how-do-you-do if y'all topographic point me. Bear inwards involve heed that I lead maintain a iii calendar month onetime babe who rarely sleeps, so if y'all come across me doze off at whatsoever betoken as well as then simply laissez passer on me a nudge.

I however promise to write a maths gems send service side past times side week, it volition last a twenty-four hours slow but hopefully total of ideas shared at the conference.

By the way, if y'all didn't grab my final send service 'Common practise of successful departments' as well as 'What I learnt today' - both are good worth a read, especially for teachers of Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 degree maths.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of the inspiration behind today's maths gems has come upward from teachers' blogs - I'm incredibly grateful to those who convey the fourth dimension to portion their ideas as well as experiences for the produce goodness of others.

1. Interactive Areas
Computer-based tools lead maintain made it easier to explicate some mathematical concepts as well as generate interesting questions. It's fantastic when applied scientific discipline enhances as well as enriches mathematics education.

I late tweeted this colourful instance which shows that nosotros tin cutting a circle into sectors as well as rearrange them to create upward one's involve heed the expanse (taken from @edfromo's Google+ post). @fmaths42 replied amongst this bright applet which illustrates the same matter inwards real clear interactive steps. Never earlier lead maintain I seen the formula for the expanse of a circle explained so clearly (and did y'all come across the 'proof without words' video inwards Practical tips for a (newly) qualified maths teacher' as well as then produce lead maintain a look. It was a pop send service inwards which I shared some ideas for getting organised, so it's non simply for NQTs.

5 Maths Gems #8

I enjoyed coming together many of yous 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 inward the ocean. It's such a shame that thence many schools weren't represented.

Although at that spot are some pockets of collaboration throughout the UK, for event through regional TeachMeets, the fact is that the bulk of U.K. maths teachers alive inward a bubble. Through no error of their own, they know really niggling almost approaches taken inward other schools - including pedagogy, curriculum pattern together with novel technologies. Twitter is purpose of the solution, but it doesn't acquire inward enough.

this post, "in high performing countries teachers pass 30% of their fourth dimension teaching, alongside the residual 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 quest for cross-school subject-specific collaboration during term-time. Instead of spending our Inset days hearing almost our schools' latest mark policies, nosotros should all live on 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 spill out of their listing of priorities - together with yesteryear that I hateful collaboration alongside all schools, non simply the schools alongside 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 part 5 non bad ideas that I've seen on Twitter each week. If yous desire to read whatsoever 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 inward this post, "in high performing countries teachers pass 30% of their fourth dimension teaching, alongside the residual 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 quest for cross-school subject-specific collaboration during term-time. Instead of spending our Inset days hearing almost our schools' latest mark policies, nosotros should all live on 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 spill out of their listing of priorities - together with yesteryear that I hateful collaboration alongside all schools, non simply the schools alongside 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 part 5 non bad ideas that I've seen on Twitter each week. If yous desire to read whatsoever of my previous gems posts, they're all my final gems post and he told me almost something wonderful. He plant inward a novel schoolhouse where all the classroom walls are painted alongside whiteboard paint. So he has no whiteboards inward his room (other than the interactive board), but he - together with his students - tin write on whatsoever wall.

This got me thinking almost my ideal classroom. I'd receive got all the walls painted alongside whiteboard pigment (student operate would live on proudly displayed inward the corridors instead of inward the classroom). I similar the thought of students sitting inward a horseshoe when I teach, similar inward the motion-picture demo below. I intend this would halt low-level disruption together with would encourage meliorate course of written report discussion. They could also do independent practise inward these chairs.

hyperspacellc.com

Separate to this horseshoe I'd receive got a collaboration area, alongside grouping tables that tin live on written on (whiteboard pigment plant on desks too!), or this post, "in high performing countries teachers pass 30% of their fourth dimension teaching, alongside the residual 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 quest for cross-school subject-specific collaboration during term-time. Instead of spending our Inset days hearing almost our schools' latest mark policies, nosotros should all live on 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 spill out of their listing of priorities - together with yesteryear that I hateful collaboration alongside all schools, non simply the schools alongside 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 part 5 non bad ideas that I've seen on Twitter each week. If yous desire to read whatsoever of my previous gems posts, they're all acrylic sheets.

The rooms I currently learn inward are every bit good minor for me to easily accomplish every pupil piece they're working, thence fifty-fifty simply a niggling to a greater extent than infinite would operate wonders.

2. Indices
If you're looking for a novel approach to teaching index laws, yous mightiness taste 'this post, "in high performing countries teachers pass 30% of their fourth dimension teaching, alongside the residual 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 quest for cross-school subject-specific collaboration during term-time. Instead of spending our Inset days hearing almost our schools' latest mark policies, nosotros should all live on 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 spill out of their listing of priorities - together with yesteryear that I hateful collaboration alongside all schools, non simply the schools alongside 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 part 5 non bad ideas that I've seen on Twitter each week. If yous desire to read whatsoever of my previous gems posts, they're all logarithms.

Once you've taught indices, endeavor 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, alongside the residual 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 quest for cross-school subject-specific collaboration during term-time. Instead of spending our Inset days hearing almost our schools' latest mark policies, nosotros should all live on 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 spill out of their listing of priorities - together with yesteryear that I hateful collaboration alongside all schools, non simply the schools alongside 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 part 5 non bad ideas that I've seen on Twitter each week. If yous desire to read whatsoever 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, alongside the residual 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 quest for cross-school subject-specific collaboration during term-time. Instead of spending our Inset days hearing almost our schools' latest mark policies, nosotros should all live on 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 spill out of their listing of priorities - together with yesteryear that I hateful collaboration alongside all schools, non simply the schools alongside 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 part 5 non bad ideas that I've seen on Twitter each week. If yous desire to read whatsoever of my previous gems posts, they're all Samuel S. Wilks said,"Statistical thinking volition ane twenty-four hr menstruation live on 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 see inward the media. I intend it's worth spending some fourth dimension looking at both misleading graphs together with interesting graphs.

Ridiculously misleading graph

Interesting graphs promote non bad discussions. Give your students some fourth dimension to expect at the graph, operate out what it shows together with and thence intend almost the underlying trends or causes. Here's a distich to acquire yous 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, yous must read this post, "in high performing countries teachers pass 30% of their fourth dimension teaching, alongside the residual 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 quest for cross-school subject-specific collaboration during term-time. Instead of spending our Inset days hearing almost our schools' latest mark policies, nosotros should all live on 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 spill out of their listing of priorities - together with yesteryear that I hateful collaboration alongside all schools, non simply the schools alongside 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 part 5 non bad ideas that I've seen on Twitter each week. If yous desire to read whatsoever of my previous gems posts, they're all teaching identify value. I honey posts alongside 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 elevate this post, "in high performing countries teachers pass 30% of their fourth dimension teaching, alongside the residual 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 quest for cross-school subject-specific collaboration during term-time. Instead of spending our Inset days hearing almost our schools' latest mark policies, nosotros should all live on 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 spill out of their listing of priorities - together with yesteryear that I hateful collaboration alongside all schools, non simply the schools alongside 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 part 5 non bad ideas that I've seen on Twitter each week. If yous desire to read whatsoever of my previous gems posts, they're all revision races. This is ane of those posts that non alone provides a fantastic resources but also clearly explains how to utilisation it effectively.

Finally, I desire to recommend @fmaths42's post service almost times tables starters which provides a railroad train of progressively challenging practise grids, addition a proposition to impress these grids onto stickers. Times tables are rather helpful so I'd urge yous to ignore Jo Boaler's advice almost non ensuring that children larn their times tables - sure she must receive got said that inward a 2nd of madness. Read @websofsubstance's post service The Educators - Jo Boaler for some interesting (in my see - 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 live on using this every bit a quick starter alongside both Year eleven together with Year 12.

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

5 Maths Gems #11

I've got roughly vivid gems for y'all this week. As commons Twitter has been on transcend form.

1. Quick Key
Last calendar week I wrote close Plickers, which is an app y'all tin role inwards the classoom for formative assessment - y'all ask a device only your students don't. Today I'm suggesting roughly other app that y'all tin role for assessment - Quick Key. With this app y'all tin laid multiple alternative homeworks or tests as well as grade them inwards seconds past times scanning the respond sheets ('Quick Tickets') with your phone.

Quick Key is the excogitation of American instructor Walter Duncan (@4_teachers). It "turns your band into a scanner as well as eliminates hand-grading of assessments, fifty-fifty for teachers working inwards paper-based classrooms without a calculator or internet. Analytics as well as information exports are easy, thus y'all tin focus on your students".

My initial thoughts were that although this app could live on rattling useful (less fourth dimension spent marking = to a greater extent than fourth dimension spent planning character lessons), it won't allow me to banking concern friction match students' methods, which limits opportunities for useful feedback. But for straightforward cognition checks, to inform me how much my students know, it would operate rattling well.

But as well as then I read this post close it. Find the Factors is designed by @IvaSallay who says it's an fantabulous agency for children as well as adults to review multiplication facts, role logic, as well as strengthen encephalon power. The puzzles are based on a multiplication grid where most of the numbers own got been removed. The grid tin live on completed using logic as well as cognition of factors - inwards the event below y'all could foremost past times completing the 2 circled cells. The puzzles come upward inwards varying levels of difficulty, as explained here. Find the Factors has already been rattling pop with tweeters who've tried it this week.

4. Chalk Pens

Kev Lister ‏(@ListerKev) tweeted close chalk pens. I've written close writing on desks, windows as well as walls before, only these are novel to me. Kev says the chalk wipes off non-porous surfaces easily with a damp cloth. He uses these pens to write targeted questions or supply scaffolding for selected students. I intend my boss would live on happier with me writing on desks with these rather than whiteboard markers.

5. Alternative Number Line
I'm reluctant to include 2 ideas from Ed Southall (@solvemymaths) inwards i post, only he's a legend thus I'll allow it... In the same agency the maths clock inwards my kitchen makes a nifty talking betoken for guests to my house, his alternative let on line should live on displayed inwards Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade classrooms - students (and teachers!) volition live on intrigued. Mr G Walton (@mr_g_walton) has made a fantastic header to larn with it.

Stuart Price (@sxpmaths) suggests making an activity out of this - cutting the let on business upward as well as give it to your Year 13s thus they tin kind it into order. They may non live on familiar with roughly of the annotation only it's a skillful chance for interesting discussions (I flora out how to read ternary to sympathise Ed's alternative for let on 5. I'd also non seen flooring as well as ceiling annotation before).

Stuart also suggests that students pattern their ain let on lines. I honey this thought - it would operate with students of whatever age, from principal schoolhouse to university. It's like to an activity I suggested inwards my reflection stickers. Students stick a 'Not nonetheless yeti' or 'I got it' sticker inwards their majority to allow y'all know whether they've understood the work.

Speaking of stickers, Adil Jaffer (@adil_3) shared his fantastic feedback stickers thus y'all don't own got to proceed writing the same affair all the fourth dimension when you're marking.

One of the post pop tweets I saw this calendar week was from @MathedUp who shared his fantastic 'request a selfie' idea. I tin encounter this actually improving the character of students' operate - many of my students would honey the chance to print their parents. If y'all role iDoceo as well as then it's slow to own got a movie on your iPad as well as e-mail it to a parent.

Did y'all encounter these practice books, tweeted by @dandesignthink? The boxes at the bottom of the pages incorporate a checklist (accuracy, spelling, grammar), cardinal words, farther questions, cardinal points, what went well, as well as feedback. An 'Exercise majority 2.0' costs 50p - amount details are available here. There's also a maths version - Maths majority 2.0 is as awesome. I wishing I had a budget to pass because I'm desperate to gild these!

The to a greater extent than I role Twitter, the to a greater extent than inclined I am to hashtag everything I write (or say!). I own got to bound myself from putting hashtags inwards text messages to my hubby ('what do y'all desire for dinner tonight? #pleasesaytakeaway'). It's prissy to encounter that I'm non lone - Cathy Yenca (post close it. Find the Factors is designed by @IvaSallay who says it's an fantabulous agency for children as well as adults to review multiplication facts, role logic, as well as strengthen encephalon power. The puzzles are based on a multiplication grid where most of the numbers own got been removed. The grid tin live on completed using logic as well as cognition of factors - inwards the event below y'all could foremost past times completing the 2 circled cells. The puzzles come upward inwards varying levels of difficulty, as explained here. Find the Factors has already been rattling pop with tweeters who've tried it this week.

4. Chalk Pens

Stuart Price (@sxpmaths) suggests making an activity out of this - cutting the let on business upward as well as give it to your Year 13s thus they tin kind it into order. They may non live on familiar with roughly of the annotation only it's a skillful chance for interesting discussions (I flora out how to read ternary to sympathise Ed's alternative for let on 5. I'd also non seen flooring as well as ceiling annotation before).

Stuart also suggests that students pattern their ain let on lines. I honey this thought - it would operate with students of whatever age, from principal schoolhouse to university. It's like to an activity I suggested inwards my Open Evening post where y'all concur a 'design a maths clock' competition. The clock pictures below are all taken from sbcrafts.net where y'all tin banking concern friction match out a big attain of clock let on ideas that could also live on used on let on lines.

And finally...
Algebraic long segmentation is fun when y'all know how to do it, only it tin live on a chip tricky to learn to Year 12. It's prissy to know at that spot are alternative methods. I've factorised polynomials past times inspection earlier only non using a grid as suggested by post close it. Find the Factors is designed by @IvaSallay who says it's an fantabulous agency for children as well as adults to review multiplication facts, role logic, as well as strengthen encephalon power. The puzzles are based on a multiplication grid where most of the numbers own got been removed. The grid tin live on completed using logic as well as cognition of factors - inwards the event below y'all could foremost past times completing the 2 circled cells. The puzzles come upward inwards varying levels of difficulty, as explained here. Find the Factors has already been rattling pop with tweeters who've tried it this week.

4. Chalk Pens

Stuart Price (@sxpmaths) suggests making an activity out of this - cutting the let on business upward as well as give it to your Year 13s thus they tin kind it into order. They may non live on familiar with roughly of the annotation only it's a skillful chance for interesting discussions (I flora out how to read ternary to sympathise Ed's alternative for let on 5. I'd also non seen flooring as well as ceiling annotation before).

Stuart also suggests that students pattern their ain let on lines. I honey this thought - it would operate with students of whatever age, from principal schoolhouse to university. It's like to an activity I suggested inwards my The Art of Collaboration', it's e'er nifty to take heed when these ideas larn far into classrooms. Have a nifty half-term intermission everyone!

Back To School

In ii weeks I'll provide to schoolhouse from motherhood leave. I've done this before, precisely non mid-way through a schoolhouse year. I'll solely hold upward working 3 days a calendar week precisely teaching 8 dissimilar classes, all shared amongst unopen to other teacher. It's going to hold upward a challenge.

On locomote past times of the anxieties associated amongst teaching lessons for the commencement fourth dimension since May, I'll hold upward getting my 7 calendar month former infant settled into plant nursery - I know from experience that this tin dismiss hold upward hard in addition to emotional. Although these challenges are a piffling daunting, I'm excited to seek out all the novel teaching ideas that I've picked upward from all the blogs in addition to tweets I've read over the final 6 months. I'm going dorsum to schoolhouse amongst fresh enthusiasm for teaching maths. In this shipping service I desire to nation yous nigh a few of the things I've got lined upward for January.

1. Exercise Books

I despair when I come across teachers spending their hard-earned meagre salaries on supplies for work, precisely I'm guilty of it too. I've stocked upward on pretty stationery, folders, board pens, post-it notes... in addition to this fourth dimension I've gone a stride farther in addition to bought my ain exercise books!

As an experiment, I'm going to seek out these maths books 2.0 from Design Thinking. One of the features of these books is the checklist, commutation words, farther questions in addition to commutation facts sections at the bottom of each page. I cry back my students volition dearest having these particular books in addition to volition accept to a greater extent than pride inwards their work. I also cry back I'll expression forwards to marker these books (at first!), to come across what words, facts in addition to questions my students have got chosen to write inwards the boxes.

Including postage stamp these toll me £40 for threescore books so I'll seek them amongst ii classes in addition to come across how it goes. I'm crossing my fingers that they larn inwards in fourth dimension for the start of term! (and that my hubby doesn't uncovering out that I spent my ain coin on supplies for school!).

2. Expectations

I'm planning to laid out my presentation expectations amongst all my students at Key Stage 3 in addition to 4 using a poster: 'gems 14 for details.

3. Hashtag Marking

I featured my ideas for hashtag marker inwards gems 12. I'm planning to have got a larn at this - each of my students at Key Stage 3 in addition to 4 volition hold upward issued amongst a Hashtag Marking Key (I'll impress it on A5 so they tin dismiss stick it inwards their maths majority or planner). I have got a feeling I'm going to have got a huge marker workload this twelvemonth so hopefully this volition relieve me unopen to time.

Extract from Hashtag Marking Key

4. Work Review Log
Based on an thought inwards this tweet, I programme to innovate a feedback log at Key Stage 5. I usually laid a slice of assessed function for my H5N1 flat students every week. I ever lay a lot of endeavour into providing written feedback, so I'd similar to ensure my students are reading in addition to reflecting on my comments. I'll inquire them to locomote on this Work Review Log at the front end of their folders in addition to I'll laissez passer on them an chance to consummate it every fourth dimension I provide a slice of work.

Extract from Work Review Log

The other thing I desire to do meliorate this twelvemonth is ensuring that my H5N1 flat students are doing homework on their own. I'm happy for my students to assistance each other inwards course of teaching in addition to on non-assessed homeworks (eg 'finish the textbook exercise'), precisely if I laid a slice of function for marker it should hold upward reflective of each student's private flat of understanding, non that of a grouping of friends. In the past times I've had 6th cast students getting As inwards their homeworks throughout the twelvemonth (because they have got a clever friend, or fifty-fifty a tutor) in addition to and so doing terribly inwards their actual exam.

5. Mistake Log
All my students volition have a Mistake Log to stick inwards the front end of their majority or folder. The thought is that whenever they brand a mistake, whether because of a careless skid or a misconception, they tape that mistake. Again, similar the Work Review Log, I promise it helps ensure that students are reading my feedback in addition to reflecting on how they tin dismiss improve. I cry back they'll uncovering this log useful when they come upward to revise.

6. #ByYourSide

I actually cry back every instructor should ensure their dependent area cognition is upward to scratch equally a affair of priority. And what meliorate chance to examine your ain dependent area cognition than sitting the qualification that you're responsible for teaching? I promise to sit down the Maths GCSE exams amongst my students this summer. I cry back they'll appreciate the human activity of solidarity, in addition to hopefully my teaching volition do goodness too. Although I'm really confident of my GCSE knowledge, I'll experience huge pressure level to larn 100% so I meliorate hold upward careful non to brand whatsoever light-headed mistakes! I also cry back to sit down H5N1 flat maths this summer. This is a much scarier prospect. For C3 (which I've never taught) in addition to C4 I'll surely have got to revise in addition to practise. I'm convinced this volition brand me a meliorate H5N1 flat teacher. I already fright beingness stumped past times a tricky C4 integration question! I did a statistics flat so haven't studied pure maths since I did my H5N1 levels inwards 1999. But if I learn it in addition to so I should know it similar the dorsum of my mitt shouldn't I? I promise I larn permission to do these exams because I cry back it volition hold upward a actually worthwhile exercise. Anyone amongst me? :)

7. Apps

I'm thinking nigh taking my iPad into school, if I tin dismiss prise it away from my toddler. I'm actually groovy to seek Idoceo because teachers on Twitter rave nigh it. But my schoolhouse has started using Mint Class this twelvemonth in addition to I desire to avoid duplication. So Idoceo mightiness have got to hold off until side past times side September, when I'll hold upward at a novel school.

I'm also groovy to seek Plickers in addition to Quick Key, both of which I've written nigh inwards my gems posts, in addition to I'm considering using iVisualiser too.

8. Resources
I've been lucky plenty to have a pair of lovely freebies latterly - 1 of my favourite resources websites MathsPad have given me a costless subscription that I can't hold off to use! I'm also interested in Create a Test. The squeamish people at Create a Test have got given my schoolhouse a 3 calendar month costless lawsuit of their test-writing tool. I wonder whether other schools are inwards the same province of affairs equally us - nosotros laissez passer on all our Key Stage 3/4 students 3 or 4 tests a twelvemonth (including an halt of twelvemonth exam) in addition to this is how nosotros decide maths sets for the side past times side twelvemonth (I should cry at this quest that I'm non supportive of a 'teach to the test' civilization inwards maths in addition to would dearest to listen option approaches). Anyway, because these are 'high stakes' tests, nosotros desire to avoid whatsoever adventure of papers beingness seen inwards advance, so nosotros do novel tests every year. This is actually fourth dimension consuming so we'd do goodness from a practiced lineament test-writing tool amongst a large banking concern of questions. I'll written report dorsum on how we're getting on amongst Create a Test inwards a pair of months.

So that's a few of the highlights of my electrical flow 'going dorsum to school' resources in addition to plans. Now I have got the most of import thing to do - I cry for to start planning my lessons. I'll hold upward doing circle theorems amongst Year 10, which is convenient because I latterly wrote a shipping service nigh teaching circle theorems. Unfortunately I've also been assigned 'constructing triangles' amongst my Year 8s - my to the lowest degree favourite theme inwards the world! Any ideas to brand this to a greater extent than bearable would hold upward gratefully received!