Fifteen years ago I thought I knew how to teach mathematics. At that point, I had been teaching mathematics at the secondary level for about thirteen years. I was a proud, card-carrying member of local and national mathematics organizations such as California Math Council (CMC), Bay Area Math Project (BAMP), and the National Council of […]
We are now well into the “new” maths curriculum, with its harder Sats papers and higher expectations. The game has changed, but maths teaching has remained largely the same. I believe that it’s time to reconsider how we teach maths. from Pocket Here is where I got this article from. https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-views/5-principles-better-primary-maths-teaching
I asked my class this question and the responses were brutally honest. The children explained that while they interacted with the English working wall, with its success ladders and word banks, the maths wall was “a bit rubbish”. Does this sound intriguing? Click the link to read the article on how to turn your classroom […]
I just read this short article from NCTM about gender differences in math. It is thought provoking. Please take a moment to read the article. Then find a fellow math teacher and spend a looooong coffee break discussing things that can be done in the classroom to make this better. Here is the article… http://www.nctm.org/Publications/Teaching-Children-Mathematics/Blog/Current-Research-on-Gender-Differences-in-Math/
As TK-12 math coaches one of the most common questions we are asked is, “What am I supposed to do with my students who are struggling? How do I differentiate for them?” Unfortunately, the answer is always pretty unsatisfying to the teacher: Avoid needing to differentiate in the first place. Now what does that mean? […]
A famous bard once said, “A trapezoid by any other name would still be a trapezium”. Okay…totally not true. But it brings to mind the question I am often asked, “What is the definition of a trapezoid?” In fact, I was asked this question today. So here is my answer… For mathematics, being a subject […]
Bansho is a method of teaching developed in Japan that focuses on teaching math through problem solving. It allows students to see connections and progressions of the thinking involved when developing strategies to solve a problem. from Pocket Here is where I got this article from.
When I meet someone new at a party and we exchange the customary small talk (“What about this weather?” or “How about those Giants?”), inevitably the question of what I do for a living comes up. Even before I share that I have been a middle school math teacher for 25 years, I can pretty […]
A study has looked at a new way of teaching mathematics in primary and secondary school classrooms, and its ability to enhance learning. from Pocket via Did you enjoy this article? Then read the full version from the author’s website.
Does the title pique your interest? Or does it just make you want to move on to another blog? Give me just a moment to share a simple idea that may improve your students’ achievement dramatically! Let’s begin with a golfing analogy: The typical golfer will practice by going to the range, grab a club, […]