Tuesday, August 16, 2016

5 Maths Gems #112

Welcome to my 112th gems post. This is where I portion some of the latest news, ideas as well as resources for maths teachers.

1. Classic Errors
I similar this activity suggested past times James Tanton (@jamestanton). James asks 'Would taking classic as well as tempting errors "head-on" endure a worthwhile classroom activity as well as discussion?'.  It's worth reading the responses inwards the thread. In it Cathy Yenca‏ (@mathycathy) recommends the classic resources 'Algebra Atrocities' which is worth a look.
2. Geogebra Percentages
Thanks to Mark Horley (@mhorley) for sharing some helpful Geogebra applets created by ⁦‪@orchiming‬⁩ .
These interactive tools assist amongst explanations of percentages. For instance the turn a profit as well as loss applet shows actually clearly how the calculation works.
3. Area Mazes
I know I've featured Area Mazes inwards my gems posts an set out of times before, only I mean value they're actually fun thus there's no impairment inwards mentioning them again. Have a learn at this ane -  it was tweeted past times @Errs5 and is taken from the Area Quiz app which looks excellent.
4. Calculator Crunch
In my post almost Year 11s lacking basic estimator skills I mentioned that MEI are running Calculator Crunch to encourage schools to learn younger pupils using calculators. Aimed at Year vi as well as 7, they are sharing a daily estimator challenge betwixt tenth as well as 20th June. You tin download all the daily challenges from the MEI website and purpose them at whatsoever time. They get got also provided a Year vi lesson excogitation as well as a Year 7 lesson excogitation that you lot tin download here.
Check out the hashtag #CalculatorCrunch to run into examples of pupils' work.

5. Place Value
Another neat thought for using calculators is inwards a lesson on house value. Tom Francome shared this 'Place Invaders' task in a conference workshop - it's taken from the ATM mass Practising Mathematics which he wrote amongst Dave Hewitt.
Grab a estimator as well as get got a learn as well as you'll run into why this is a neat chore to purpose when teaching house value. I mean value that house value is ane of the hardest things to instruct inwards Year 7 thus it's helpful to run into a expert character activity for this. Tom suggested it would also function good amongst criterion form.

Update
Exam flavor is nearly over, as well as it's been an unusually turbulent ane this year. We've had questions that appeared to endure copied from textbooks, a error inwards an Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 level, controversial contexts, a leaked bear witness as well as some surprisingly challenging Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 score papers. Never a placidity twenty-four hours inwards maths education!

I late made a GCSE revision resources page. You mightiness discovery these resources helpful if you lot get got Year 10s preparing for halt of yr exams.

I presented at ResearchED Rugby yesterday. My session focused on multiplication - kickoff nosotros looked at a hit of multiplication methods as well as and thus I presented a critique of each of the reasons the Government gave for prescribing 'formal' methods at Key Stage 2. For the residue of the twenty-four hours I attended fantabulous sessions inwards the maths strand. Rugby School has an incredible history thus was a cool venue for a conference.


Next weekend I'll endure presenting on the Evolution of Maths Vocabulary at La Salle's conference inwards Yorkshire. Read my weblog post "Whatever happened to vulgar fractions?" to learn an thought of the sort of affair I'll endure talking about, as well as if you lot discovery it interesting as well as thus produce come upwards along to my workshop. I'll also endure manning the MA bookstand for most of the twenty-four hours thus produce come upwards as well as tell howdy if you lot learn the chance.

Bookings are going good for the training course I'm running amongst Craig Barton inwards October. This course of written report is opened upwards to all maths teachers as well as nosotros get got 2 dates available - a northern leg as well as a southern leg. Ask your schoolhouse or college to book your house now if you lot desire to come upwards along.

At the halt of May Ed Southall as well as I relaunched The Mathematical Association's eNews. This monthly newsletter provides an update of what's going on amongst the MA as well as also inwards the wider footing of maths education. We similar a shot characteristic exclusive monthly puzzles for your students (written past times Ed), as well as in that place are to a greater extent than novel features coming soon. You tin subscribe here to have eNews from the halt of June.

I've been kindly sent a twosome of books past times their authors recently. Kyle D Evans sent me a re-create of 'Here Come the Numbers' which my daughters (aged 5 as well as seven) beloved every bit a bedtime story. It's both mathematical as well as lovely.
Mark Ritchings sent me a re-create of 'GCSE Maths Challenge' which contains twoscore GCSE manner questions that are aimed at pupils who are working at a Grade 8 or 9. This curt mass mightiness endure helpful for a GCSE tutor, or maybe a exceed laid instructor who needs a few extra ideas for extension questions to write on the board.
Maths instructor Richard Atkin (@RichardAtkin1) - whose uncle was a Trustee of the MA - really kindly delivered an enormous set out of former maths books to my house. This volition popular off along me busy for a while! I've already constitute lots of treasures that get got taught me novel things. I gauge that I similar a shot ain at to the lowest degree 300 unlike maths textbooks dating from 1800 to 2000. I beloved this!

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grouping of us are going to Matt Parker's Humble Pi comedy exhibit on 16th July inwards London (it's a preview of his Edinburgh Fringe show). If you lot desire to bring together us, mass a ticket here as well as allow me know you're coming. There are similar comedy nights inwards London listed here, including ane that features the amazing FoxDog Studios. FoxDog Studios volition also endure at Edinburgh Fringe as well as are doing gigs inwards diverse locations earlier as well as thus - dates are listed here. They are amazing.

I'll exit you lot amongst this neat activity shared past times Sarah Carter (her blog. This puzzle mightiness function good inwards a kickoff Year 7 lesson inwards September, along amongst the other tasks I listed inwards my post Year 7 Maths Activities.