Off On A Tangent

At a recent Year xi Parents' Evening, I was guilty of hypocrisy. I reassured parents that their daughters would move rattling good prepared for their maths GCSE because we'd move doing one-half a term of revision lessons. Most parents nodded happily, but 1 dad challenged me. He asked why I didn't convey the chance to learn his fille some calculus. Good point! I've written many times most the importance of imparting mathematical noesis without focussing on exams (a 'no teaching to the test' philosophy), in addition to in that location I was promising an extended menstruation of revision instead of mathematical enrichment.

I don't desire to learn my students to exceed exams. I desire to learn them mathematics, in addition to I desire passing exams to move a welcome by-product of that. But what if some of my students neglect to run into their potential inwards their GCSE exams this summertime every bit a number of my determination to trim revision time? It's a dilemma.

Bitesize enrichment
The twenty-four hr menstruation later Parents' Evening I'd planned a criterion lesson on algebraic proof amongst my Year 11s (by 'standard' I hateful explanation, examples in addition to practice). At the starting fourth dimension of the lesson, past times agency of introducing the topic of proof, I mentioned that many mathematicians pass their lives working on proofs. As I said it I was reminded of the BBC Horizon episode blog post most teaching a lesson on Fermat.

It was alone 10 minutes of spontaneity inwards a lesson, but thus rattling worth it. My students went abode from schoolhouse having learnt something novel most the world, in addition to that's what instruction is all about.

The success of this unplanned tangent gave me the confidence to starting fourth dimension diverting from my lesson plans all over the place. In a Year 10 lesson on percentages I got carried away explaining how banks brand coin from involvement charge per unit of measurement spread. I know a lot most finance from my previous career thus I felt confident talking most this. But I acknowledge that my noesis of 'non-curricular' mathematics is limited. I possess got a pile of mathematical books that I'm desperate to read but never acquire time. Reading around your bailiwick gives yous the noesis in addition to confidence to become off on these interesting tangents. I must read more! If you're on Twitter in addition to thus do acquire involved in @MathsBookClub for encouragement in addition to inspiration.

How good read are you? Book recommendations from matheminutes.blogspot.co.uk.

Barriers to spontaneity

I don't deny that schemes of operate are necessary. For 1 thing, they ensure essential coverage of all the topics required for populace exams. In addition, synchronisation of teaching allows simultaneous assessment of whole twelvemonth groups, in addition to gives orbit for departmental collaboration. Schemes of operate are too a machinery for implementing a maths department's teaching strategy or philosophy. So they are 'a good thing' even though they may underpin a frustrating lack of freedom.

I was of late teaching 3D trigonometry to a top laid Year ix (very smart girls - many volition convey their GCSE inwards Year 10). I was going through the event below from CIMT. When nosotros got to purpose (d) nosotros drew out the triangle inwards inquiry in addition to established that it was non-right angled. They haven't done the Sine in addition to Cosine Rules soundless thus I said we'd skip it. I told them that they'd comprehend non-right angled triangles side past times side twelvemonth in addition to they accepted that without question. 

It's a chip wretched isn't it? I was disappointed past times their lack of intellectual curiosity, but to a greater extent than disappointed amongst myself for telling them they'd possess got to expect a twelvemonth to complete solving the problem. Why didn't I simply launch into teaching the Sine in addition to Cosine Rules? Firstly, because of fourth dimension pressure level - the aeroplane would possess got fallen behind their peers if we'd spent an extra calendar week or 2 on trigonometry, putting them at a disadvantage inwards their side past times side Year ix assessment (this would possess got upset them). Secondly, inconsistency of topic coverage would do problems for side past times side year's teachers. Thirdly, I hadn't idea inwards advance most how I'd learn non-right angled trigonometry. It takes a rattling confident in addition to experienced instructor to deliver a proficient lesson off the cuff. I demand at to the lowest degree 10 minutes thinking fourth dimension earlier I teach! So I left it at 'we'll do it side past times side year'. Most unsatisfactory.

To some extent, schemes of operate bound our might to become off on interesting mathematical tangents. But it could move worse. We could move forced to utilisation pre-written lesson plans, slides in addition to resources. I bask designing tailor-made lessons for my students. I similar having orbit to move creative in addition to I similar beingness able to divert from my programme during a lesson if I desire to. It's overnice to possess got this autonomy. Ideally our schemes of operate are flexible plenty to adapt these worthwhile diversions. If you're designing a system of operate for side past times side year, acquit this inwards mind. Time for tangents is most welcome.

A Score Resources #2

This is my minute post close my previous post I shared some of my favourite Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade resources. In this post I'm roofing the other primal points from my workshop:
1. The demand for resources.
2. Using problems sets.
3. Getting organised (including schemes of work).
I also utter over how to portion additional resources amongst students, which I didn't receive got fourth dimension to embrace at the conference.

I exactly desire to clarify something earlier I start - resources are helpful, but inwards my hear in that place is nada to a greater extent than of import than clarity of explanation. Good Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade teachers receive got audio dependent area cognition in addition to know how to explicate things well. Please don't intend that my focus on resources at the conference suggests that I intend that resources receive got precedence! They don't. They're squeamish to receive got though.

Is the textbook enough? 
I started my workshop past times discussing the demand for Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade resources. I oftentimes purpose Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade textbook exercises for practise inwards class, but produce I demand anything else?

To respond that enquiry let's await at my typical lesson structure. I don't produce anything revolutionary inwards my Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade didactics - no flipped learning, no enquiry - my mode is fairly traditional. I'm non proverb this is the best agency to learn Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 level, it's exactly the agency I teach.

In the construction to a higher identify you lot tin meet that I ordinarily start amongst a skills banking concern lucifer in addition to refresher (sometimes an examination enquiry relating to what nosotros did inwards the final lesson, sometimes a brusque puzzle or activity), hence I demand resources at this point. I'll hence learn something novel in addition to my students volition practise that novel science (again, I'll demand resources hither - a textbook, worksheet or activity). Formative assessment of skills during this activeness volition assist me decide which students demand to a greater extent than explanation. Imagine the class splitting into ii groups at this betoken - those who've demonstrated agreement in addition to are developing fluency, in addition to those who demand to a greater extent than back upwards (I mightiness demand some differentiated activities here). After the lesson I demand to produce some summative assessment, hence I mightiness laid a homework which I volition receive got inwards in addition to mark, or I mightiness assess students inwards a examine on a subsequently appointment - again, I demand resources for these assessment activities. Finally, I tell my students to produce ongoing independent practise in addition to I demand to betoken them inwards the direction of resources for this. So you lot tin meet that in that place are many opportunities to purpose a multifariousness of resources throughout the lesson. The textbook does non embrace all these bases. Thankfully there's loads of vivid Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade resources available - read my previous post for ideas.

In my workshop I shared iii activities from MEI in addition to asked delegates to utter over whether they'd purpose these, in addition to how they could purpose them. For event I oftentimes purpose the start activeness below (Logs True or False past times Susan Wall) every bit a quick refresher (ie a starter), but it also plant good for formative assessment (perhaps amongst mini-whiteboards) and/or basic skills practice.

The coordinate geometry resource to a higher identify plant good inwards a consolidation lesson - students describe their working diagram inwards the middle of A3 newspaper in addition to stick each chore (and their answers) roughly the border inwards the gild they completed the tasks. The thought is to acquire them thinking close the data they demand to respond each question.

Problem sets
Time is a huge occupation inwards Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade teaching. At my previous schoolhouse nosotros had 8 lessons a fortnight (split 5/3 betwixt ii teachers) inwards both Year 12 in addition to Year 13. This but was non plenty fourth dimension to learn iii modules. I was ever rushing through topics in addition to oftentimes stressed close running out of time. At my novel schoolhouse nosotros acquire to a greater extent than fourth dimension (10 lessons a fortnight inwards Year 12 in addition to nine lessons a fortnight inwards Year 13) - this is much better, though I withal experience some fourth dimension pressure. I'd dear to pass fourth dimension on occupation solving but 'getting through the examination specification' takes priority. For the strange occasion when I produce acquire the chance to produce some occupation solving amongst my students, I've collated a disclose of problems sets (suitable for GCSE in addition to AS level):

• Pythagoras -> PowerPoint // PDF
• Indices -> PowerPoint // PDF
• Surds -> PowerPoint // PDF
• Quadratics -> PowerPoint // PDF
• Equation of a circle -> PowerPoint // PDF

I got the problems from diverse sources (information listed inwards the PowerPoints). I ordinarily impress the PDFs on A3 newspaper in addition to acquire students to hold upwards amongst a partner to solve the problems inwards whatever order.

Getting organised
When I was Key Stage five Coordinator I went into schoolhouse during the summertime holidays in addition to spent a twenty-four hours downloading in addition to organising hundreds of Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade resources. This saves everyone a lot of fourth dimension in addition to attempt during term time. I organised these resources past times theme on the schoolhouse network in addition to added them to my school's Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade Schemes of Work. I've moved schools directly but took all the files amongst me (attendees at my conference session were given my extensive C1/C2 resources files every bit a give thank you lot you for coming!).

Extract from C2 Scheme of Work

Some schools don't purpose schemes of hold upwards for Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 level. It's non a necessity similar it is at Key Stage 3 in addition to GCSE. I was lucky that nosotros had first-class schemes of hold upwards at my previous schoolhouse which contained lots of links to resources - these were ready in addition to regularly updated past times my colleagues.

At the destination of my workshop a delegate asked if I'd portion these schemes of hold upwards in addition to I promised I would, hence here's C1 - C4 for you lot to borrow in addition to edit. None of the hyperlinks volition hold upwards inwards these documents because they were linked to the schoolhouse network, non the internet, but at to the lowest degree it's a starting betoken for the structure.

Incidentally, if I were starting a resources collection from scratch hence I'd reckon using Pinterest or Pealrtrees to concord my collection because I dear the 'snapshot' format.

Sharing resources amongst students

Consider setting upwards a weblog or Twitter delineate of piece of work concern human relationship for your students - receive got students to an information technology Room in addition to acquire them to follow the delineate of piece of work concern human relationship or register for e-mail updates to ensure you lot acquire an audience. Publish essential data (eg assessment dates, homework deadlines) in addition to hand access to resources, tips, enrichment in addition to hence on. In the twelvemonth that I was Key Stage five Coordinator, I wrote a Sixth Form Maths Blog - it has been abandoned directly I've left the school, which is a shame because I was actually proud of it. It was a swell agency to encourage independent learning in addition to to hand students opportunities to improve. Below is an event post hence you lot tin meet how I shared resources amongst students. If you lot desire to meet an event Twitter delineate of piece of work concern human relationship for students, await at @MathsNewVic.

So that's it! I hope these ii posts receive got helped you lot inwards creating or enhancing your collection of Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade resources. If you lot attended my workshop I hope you lot flora it useful. Please comment below to portion anything adept that I've missed - I'd dear to meet your favourite resources in addition to hear close what you lot do.

#Mathscpdchat - Twelvemonth Vii Topics

I'm hosting #mathscpdchat betwixt 7pm together with 8pm on Tuesday ninth May. We'll last discussing what topics are taught inward Year 7, together with inward what order. To bring together inward the discussion, delight tweet your thoughts, making certain yous include the hashtag #mathscpdchat inward your tweet. I'd beloved to encounter a screenshot of your school's Year seven curriculum together with take away heed what plant good together with what doesn't.

To start us off, hither are a few examples:

Don Steward sent me his Year seven curriculum, shown below.

Don believes that nosotros should ensure that Year seven is non only a repeat of Year 6. What strikes me most close his curriculum is the explorations that characteristic throughout the twelvemonth (notably inward the firstly ii weeks), together with the broad arrive at of attainment topics. From a student's perspective, there's lots of new, exciting mathematics here.

The White Rose Maths Hub has produced a really dissimilar Year seven Programme of Study - the overview is shown below. Much of Year seven is spent developing cardinal reveal concepts. The thought is that students who are successful amongst reveal are to a greater extent than confident mathematicians together with meliorate equipped to tackle the topics that follow. With 'mastery' existence all the rage at the moment, I intend that a lot of schools convey started moving towards this approach.

H5N1 few years agone I read close the didactics social club that Bruno Reddy developed during his fourth dimension at King Solomon Academy (he blogged close it here). At the fourth dimension I was struck yesteryear the contrast betwixt this curriculum together with the Key Stage three curriculum I was used to. Calculating the hateful features inward multiplication together with division. Proportion is paired amongst pie charts. Bruno wrote,

"You should discovery that to a greater extent than fourth dimension is given to reveal locomote at the kickoff of twelvemonth seven (especially times tables), nosotros pass i half-term at a fourth dimension didactics a theme rather than 2 weeks, approximately things are ‘missing’ (because they’re taught inward KS4), we’ve tried to carve upwardly minimally dissimilar concepts together with we’ve thought carefully close the social club things are taught inward together with so that all the spell we’re edifice on locomote on of prior learning."

Kangaroo Maths is a pop root of Schemes of Works. The instance below is for Year 7s working at the minimum expected measure at the goal of Key Stage 2. This is only the unit of measurement overview, yous tin encounter a lot to a greater extent than particular here.

In my ain schoolhouse nosotros are currently developing our Year seven curriculum. We tried something novel this twelvemonth but nosotros nonetheless demand to brand approximately tweaks. I felt that negatives numbers came likewise like shooting fish in a barrel inward the year, featuring at the goal of the summertime term. Changing a Year seven curriculum is a big undertaking equally it has a knock-on acquit upon on the Schemes of Work of all other twelvemonth groups. Assessments, together with perhaps other resources similar homework booklets, also demand to last re-written, which is actually fourth dimension consuming.

I'd beloved to take away heed close your experiences inward developing together with delivering Year seven curricula. Tell me how yous start the year, say me what topics link good together, together with say me how yous educate enthusiastic, inquisitive mathematicians. I'd also similar to take away heed how yous assess Year seven together with at what phase yous make whatsoever baseline assessment. What plant good for you? Please bring together inward #mathscpdchat on Tuesday to allow me know your thoughts.

New A Degree Timings

After examination flavor is over, I hold off that Heads of Maths too Key Stage five Coordinators all over the province volition endure making plans for delivering the novel Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 aeroplane from September.

Timings at Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 aeroplane e'er brand me nervous. I loathe having to rush my teaching. Linear Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 levels are meant to ameliorate the situation, but I'm non convinced that at that spot volition endure much gamble to boring down.

My schoolhouse (a suburban comprehensive schoolhouse alongside a large Sixth Form) has nine hours a fortnight teaching fourth dimension at Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 level. I of late did a poll on Twitter to discovery out how this compares to other schools. Here are the results:

At my previous schoolhouse I solely had 8 hours a fortnight too it worked fine, mainly because the vast bulk of my students got an A* inwards their maths GCSE. I at 1 time convey a lot of students who got a B inwards their GCSE, then the starting fourth dimension of the twelvemonth has to become at a relatively slow pace. Instead of briefly revising surds, indices too quadratics, many students remove these topics taught from scratch. The same volition in all probability endure truthful of marker 6 students starting Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 aeroplane maths this September.

Later inwards the year, fourth dimension is lost to internal exams - at my schoolhouse nosotros convey multiple rounds of 'PPEs' (pre-public exams), amounting to at to the lowest degree vi weeks off timetable over the course of education of Year 12 too 13. Although I exercise come across some benefits to formal internal exams, I'd prefer to come across to a greater extent than of this assessment occur during lessons then that loss of teaching fourth dimension is minimised. 

If a burn downwardly warning goes off when I'm teaching Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 aeroplane I desire to cry! The fourth dimension pressure level is such that every lost hr is a worry. Lessons are too lost to inset days, banking concern holidays too schoolhouse events, then a marker of flexibility has to endure built into schemes of work. 

By my calculations, I volition convey some 270 hours inwards which to deliver the novel Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 aeroplane over 2 years. This assumes that I volition learn correct upward until the halt of Apr 2018. 

Edexcel's scheme of work recommends 360 hours. So I'm ninety hours under. Eek.

Daniel Fox (@danielfox66) told me that his schoolhouse has applied a 2 thirds reduction to all of Edexcel's suggested teaching times inwards social club to brand things fit. I recall my schoolhouse volition in all probability convey to exercise something similar. Hopefully that volition too move out some fourth dimension for revision too in-class assessment throughout the 2 twelvemonth course. 

Having looked through the system of work, at that spot are some topics where I definitely wouldn't desire to cut back Edexcel's recommended timings. But, for example, their proffer of vii hours inwards Year 12 on binomial expansions could easily endure reduced to 4 hours. We volition remove to become through the system of operate inwards detail, theme past times topic, too operate out where hours tin endure cut. I think it's feasible, it simply requires a chip of work. 

Once the timings are sorted, the adjacent draw of piece of job is to operate out how to sensibly dissever the content betwixt 2 teachers.

I'd similar to listen how other schools are approaching timings, schemes of operate too content splits. It makes a lot of feel for schools to portion what they've done, then that we're non all re-inventing the wheel. Please arrive impact through Twitter or past times commenting below.

Planning For September: Twelvemonth 12

I'm looking frontwards to education the novel linear Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 bird to 2 Year 12 classes this year. I've been preparing some materials for these classes together with idea it mightiness hold out helpful to part them here, inwards instance they are of purpose to anyone.

1. Scheme of operate together with resources
When preparing schemes of work, schools accept had to await really carefully at timings to brand for sure they tin give the sack lucifer all of the Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 bird content into the 2 twelvemonth fourth dimension frame (I blogged almost this here). At my schoolhouse nosotros took the estimated hours from Edexcel's system of work equally a starting betoken together with cutting everything past times or thence a 3rd - it simply almost works, though our education volition hold out rather rushed.

My school's novel Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 bird system of operate looks really similar to our GCSE system of work, alongside a front end page showing an approximate timeline together with thence a to a greater extent than detailed page for each topic showing the specification together with resources. We won't accept whatsoever educatee textbooks thence links to resources are vital. I've blogged almost A bird resources earlier together with many of these are silent useful for the novel Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 level. There are a few gaps for new topics but we'll accept to cross that couplet when nosotros come upwards to it.

Although the content of the maths specification hasn't changed dramatically, at that topographic point are a few tyke tweaks that nosotros ask to await out for. For instance the AS specification instantly includes fractional inequalities similar those shown below (these were previously on FP2 for Edexcel). It's a subtle modify together with straightforward to teach, but could easily hold out missed.

From Pearson Textbook Pure AS (spot the typo!)

Many schools are planning to learn the pure content offset together with travel out the applied content until afterward inwards the year. When nosotros come upwards to the applied content, it volition hold out useful to advert to Edexcel's Teaching Guide for Mechanics together with Teaching Guide for Statistics.

2. First lesson
I've created a here.

First lesson activity from Susan Whitehouse

3. Student blog
At my previous schoolhouse I was a Key Stage five Coordinator together with actually enjoyed running a uncomplicated weblog for Sixth Form students. I promise to create this 1 time again this year. I've laid upwards 1 upwards at glynmaths.blogspot.co.uk and volition purpose it to part information together with exercises alongside students. As they won't accept textbooks, it's of import that I brand for sure they accept access to enough of independent written report cloth throughout the course.

4. Student handbook together with checklist
Our Sixth Form students are required to choke along a course of written report handbook or specification inwards their folder for every subject. This twelvemonth I accept updated our handbook for the novel Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 level, including the topic checklist at the back. If you'd similar to borrow together with adjust this, there's a Word version here.

Delivering the novel Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 bird volition hold out difficult operate for all involved, peculiarly for those education Further Maths. Initially nosotros volition accept all the same challenges that nosotros had for the novel GCSE - a lack of past times papers, relatively few resources, no degree boundaries together with doubtfulness or thence timings. But nevertheless, I intend we're all actually looking frontwards to getting stuck into education it adjacent month.

Teaching back upwards from Tarquin Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 level

Off On A Tangent

At a recent Year xi Parents' Evening, I was guilty of hypocrisy. I reassured parents that their daughters would move rattling good prepared for their maths GCSE because we'd move doing one-half a term of revision lessons. Most parents nodded happily, but 1 dad challenged me. He asked why I didn't convey the chance to learn his fille some calculus. Good point! I've written many times most the importance of imparting mathematical noesis without focussing on exams (a 'no teaching to the test' philosophy), in addition to in that location I was promising an extended menstruation of revision instead of mathematical enrichment.

I don't desire to learn my students to exceed exams. I desire to learn them mathematics, in addition to I desire passing exams to move a welcome by-product of that. But what if some of my students neglect to run into their potential inwards their GCSE exams this summertime every bit a number of my determination to trim revision time? It's a dilemma.

Bitesize enrichment
The twenty-four hr menstruation later Parents' Evening I'd planned a criterion lesson on algebraic proof amongst my Year 11s (by 'standard' I hateful explanation, examples in addition to practice). At the starting fourth dimension of the lesson, past times agency of introducing the topic of proof, I mentioned that many mathematicians pass their lives working on proofs. As I said it I was reminded of the BBC Horizon episode blog post most teaching a lesson on Fermat.

It was alone 10 minutes of spontaneity inwards a lesson, but thus rattling worth it. My students went abode from schoolhouse having learnt something novel most the world, in addition to that's what instruction is all about.

The success of this unplanned tangent gave me the confidence to starting fourth dimension diverting from my lesson plans all over the place. In a Year 10 lesson on percentages I got carried away explaining how banks brand coin from involvement charge per unit of measurement spread. I know a lot most finance from my previous career thus I felt confident talking most this. But I acknowledge that my noesis of 'non-curricular' mathematics is limited. I possess got a pile of mathematical books that I'm desperate to read but never acquire time. Reading around your bailiwick gives yous the noesis in addition to confidence to become off on these interesting tangents. I must read more! If you're on Twitter in addition to thus do acquire involved in @MathsBookClub for encouragement in addition to inspiration.

How good read are you? Book recommendations from matheminutes.blogspot.co.uk.

Barriers to spontaneity

I don't deny that schemes of operate are necessary. For 1 thing, they ensure essential coverage of all the topics required for populace exams. In addition, synchronisation of teaching allows simultaneous assessment of whole twelvemonth groups, in addition to gives orbit for departmental collaboration. Schemes of operate are too a machinery for implementing a maths department's teaching strategy or philosophy. So they are 'a good thing' even though they may underpin a frustrating lack of freedom.

I was of late teaching 3D trigonometry to a top laid Year ix (very smart girls - many volition convey their GCSE inwards Year 10). I was going through the event below from CIMT. When nosotros got to purpose (d) nosotros drew out the triangle inwards inquiry in addition to established that it was non-right angled. They haven't done the Sine in addition to Cosine Rules soundless thus I said we'd skip it. I told them that they'd comprehend non-right angled triangles side past times side twelvemonth in addition to they accepted that without question. 

It's a chip wretched isn't it? I was disappointed past times their lack of intellectual curiosity, but to a greater extent than disappointed amongst myself for telling them they'd possess got to expect a twelvemonth to complete solving the problem. Why didn't I simply launch into teaching the Sine in addition to Cosine Rules? Firstly, because of fourth dimension pressure level - the aeroplane would possess got fallen behind their peers if we'd spent an extra calendar week or 2 on trigonometry, putting them at a disadvantage inwards their side past times side Year ix assessment (this would possess got upset them). Secondly, inconsistency of topic coverage would do problems for side past times side year's teachers. Thirdly, I hadn't idea inwards advance most how I'd learn non-right angled trigonometry. It takes a rattling confident in addition to experienced instructor to deliver a proficient lesson off the cuff. I demand at to the lowest degree 10 minutes thinking fourth dimension earlier I teach! So I left it at 'we'll do it side past times side year'. Most unsatisfactory.

To some extent, schemes of operate bound our might to become off on interesting mathematical tangents. But it could move worse. We could move forced to utilisation pre-written lesson plans, slides in addition to resources. I bask designing tailor-made lessons for my students. I similar having orbit to move creative in addition to I similar beingness able to divert from my programme during a lesson if I desire to. It's overnice to possess got this autonomy. Ideally our schemes of operate are flexible plenty to adapt these worthwhile diversions. If you're designing a system of operate for side past times side year, acquit this inwards mind. Time for tangents is most welcome.

A Score Resources #2

This is my minute post close my previous post I shared some of my favourite Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade resources. In this post I'm roofing the other primal points from my workshop:
1. The demand for resources.
2. Using problems sets.
3. Getting organised (including schemes of work).
I also utter over how to portion additional resources amongst students, which I didn't receive got fourth dimension to embrace at the conference.

I exactly desire to clarify something earlier I start - resources are helpful, but inwards my hear in that place is nada to a greater extent than of import than clarity of explanation. Good Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade teachers receive got audio dependent area cognition in addition to know how to explicate things well. Please don't intend that my focus on resources at the conference suggests that I intend that resources receive got precedence! They don't. They're squeamish to receive got though.

Is the textbook enough? 
I started my workshop past times discussing the demand for Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade resources. I oftentimes purpose Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade textbook exercises for practise inwards class, but produce I demand anything else?

To respond that enquiry let's await at my typical lesson structure. I don't produce anything revolutionary inwards my Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade didactics - no flipped learning, no enquiry - my mode is fairly traditional. I'm non proverb this is the best agency to learn Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 level, it's exactly the agency I teach.

In the construction to a higher identify you lot tin meet that I ordinarily start amongst a skills banking concern lucifer in addition to refresher (sometimes an examination enquiry relating to what nosotros did inwards the final lesson, sometimes a brusque puzzle or activity), hence I demand resources at this point. I'll hence learn something novel in addition to my students volition practise that novel science (again, I'll demand resources hither - a textbook, worksheet or activity). Formative assessment of skills during this activeness volition assist me decide which students demand to a greater extent than explanation. Imagine the class splitting into ii groups at this betoken - those who've demonstrated agreement in addition to are developing fluency, in addition to those who demand to a greater extent than back upwards (I mightiness demand some differentiated activities here). After the lesson I demand to produce some summative assessment, hence I mightiness laid a homework which I volition receive got inwards in addition to mark, or I mightiness assess students inwards a examine on a subsequently appointment - again, I demand resources for these assessment activities. Finally, I tell my students to produce ongoing independent practise in addition to I demand to betoken them inwards the direction of resources for this. So you lot tin meet that in that place are many opportunities to purpose a multifariousness of resources throughout the lesson. The textbook does non embrace all these bases. Thankfully there's loads of vivid Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade resources available - read my previous post for ideas.

In my workshop I shared iii activities from MEI in addition to asked delegates to utter over whether they'd purpose these, in addition to how they could purpose them. For event I oftentimes purpose the start activeness below (Logs True or False past times Susan Wall) every bit a quick refresher (ie a starter), but it also plant good for formative assessment (perhaps amongst mini-whiteboards) and/or basic skills practice.

The coordinate geometry resource to a higher identify plant good inwards a consolidation lesson - students describe their working diagram inwards the middle of A3 newspaper in addition to stick each chore (and their answers) roughly the border inwards the gild they completed the tasks. The thought is to acquire them thinking close the data they demand to respond each question.

Problem sets
Time is a huge occupation inwards Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade teaching. At my previous schoolhouse nosotros had 8 lessons a fortnight (split 5/3 betwixt ii teachers) inwards both Year 12 in addition to Year 13. This but was non plenty fourth dimension to learn iii modules. I was ever rushing through topics in addition to oftentimes stressed close running out of time. At my novel schoolhouse nosotros acquire to a greater extent than fourth dimension (10 lessons a fortnight inwards Year 12 in addition to nine lessons a fortnight inwards Year 13) - this is much better, though I withal experience some fourth dimension pressure. I'd dear to pass fourth dimension on occupation solving but 'getting through the examination specification' takes priority. For the strange occasion when I produce acquire the chance to produce some occupation solving amongst my students, I've collated a disclose of problems sets (suitable for GCSE in addition to AS level):

• Pythagoras -> PowerPoint // PDF
• Indices -> PowerPoint // PDF
• Surds -> PowerPoint // PDF
• Quadratics -> PowerPoint // PDF
• Equation of a circle -> PowerPoint // PDF

I got the problems from diverse sources (information listed inwards the PowerPoints). I ordinarily impress the PDFs on A3 newspaper in addition to acquire students to hold upwards amongst a partner to solve the problems inwards whatever order.

Getting organised
When I was Key Stage five Coordinator I went into schoolhouse during the summertime holidays in addition to spent a twenty-four hours downloading in addition to organising hundreds of Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade resources. This saves everyone a lot of fourth dimension in addition to attempt during term time. I organised these resources past times theme on the schoolhouse network in addition to added them to my school's Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade Schemes of Work. I've moved schools directly but took all the files amongst me (attendees at my conference session were given my extensive C1/C2 resources files every bit a give thank you lot you for coming!).

Extract from C2 Scheme of Work

Some schools don't purpose schemes of hold upwards for Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 level. It's non a necessity similar it is at Key Stage 3 in addition to GCSE. I was lucky that nosotros had first-class schemes of hold upwards at my previous schoolhouse which contained lots of links to resources - these were ready in addition to regularly updated past times my colleagues.

At the destination of my workshop a delegate asked if I'd portion these schemes of hold upwards in addition to I promised I would, hence here's C1 - C4 for you lot to borrow in addition to edit. None of the hyperlinks volition hold upwards inwards these documents because they were linked to the schoolhouse network, non the internet, but at to the lowest degree it's a starting betoken for the structure.

Incidentally, if I were starting a resources collection from scratch hence I'd reckon using Pinterest or Pealrtrees to concord my collection because I dear the 'snapshot' format.

Sharing resources amongst students

Consider setting upwards a weblog or Twitter delineate of piece of work concern human relationship for your students - receive got students to an information technology Room in addition to acquire them to follow the delineate of piece of work concern human relationship or register for e-mail updates to ensure you lot acquire an audience. Publish essential data (eg assessment dates, homework deadlines) in addition to hand access to resources, tips, enrichment in addition to hence on. In the twelvemonth that I was Key Stage five Coordinator, I wrote a Sixth Form Maths Blog - it has been abandoned directly I've left the school, which is a shame because I was actually proud of it. It was a swell agency to encourage independent learning in addition to to hand students opportunities to improve. Below is an event post hence you lot tin meet how I shared resources amongst students. If you lot desire to meet an event Twitter delineate of piece of work concern human relationship for students, await at @MathsNewVic.

So that's it! I hope these ii posts receive got helped you lot inwards creating or enhancing your collection of Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade resources. If you lot attended my workshop I hope you lot flora it useful. Please comment below to portion anything adept that I've missed - I'd dear to meet your favourite resources in addition to hear close what you lot do.

#Mathscpdchat - Twelvemonth Vii Topics

I'm hosting #mathscpdchat betwixt 7pm together with 8pm on Tuesday ninth May. We'll last discussing what topics are taught inward Year 7, together with inward what order. To bring together inward the discussion, delight tweet your thoughts, making certain yous include the hashtag #mathscpdchat inward your tweet. I'd beloved to encounter a screenshot of your school's Year seven curriculum together with take away heed what plant good together with what doesn't.

To start us off, hither are a few examples:

Don Steward sent me his Year seven curriculum, shown below.

Don believes that nosotros should ensure that Year seven is non only a repeat of Year 6. What strikes me most close his curriculum is the explorations that characteristic throughout the twelvemonth (notably inward the firstly ii weeks), together with the broad arrive at of attainment topics. From a student's perspective, there's lots of new, exciting mathematics here.

The White Rose Maths Hub has produced a really dissimilar Year seven Programme of Study - the overview is shown below. Much of Year seven is spent developing cardinal reveal concepts. The thought is that students who are successful amongst reveal are to a greater extent than confident mathematicians together with meliorate equipped to tackle the topics that follow. With 'mastery' existence all the rage at the moment, I intend that a lot of schools convey started moving towards this approach.

H5N1 few years agone I read close the didactics social club that Bruno Reddy developed during his fourth dimension at King Solomon Academy (he blogged close it here). At the fourth dimension I was struck yesteryear the contrast betwixt this curriculum together with the Key Stage three curriculum I was used to. Calculating the hateful features inward multiplication together with division. Proportion is paired amongst pie charts. Bruno wrote,

"You should discovery that to a greater extent than fourth dimension is given to reveal locomote at the kickoff of twelvemonth seven (especially times tables), nosotros pass i half-term at a fourth dimension didactics a theme rather than 2 weeks, approximately things are ‘missing’ (because they’re taught inward KS4), we’ve tried to carve upwardly minimally dissimilar concepts together with we’ve thought carefully close the social club things are taught inward together with so that all the spell we’re edifice on locomote on of prior learning."

Kangaroo Maths is a pop root of Schemes of Works. The instance below is for Year 7s working at the minimum expected measure at the goal of Key Stage 2. This is only the unit of measurement overview, yous tin encounter a lot to a greater extent than particular here.

In my ain schoolhouse nosotros are currently developing our Year seven curriculum. We tried something novel this twelvemonth but nosotros nonetheless demand to brand approximately tweaks. I felt that negatives numbers came likewise like shooting fish in a barrel inward the year, featuring at the goal of the summertime term. Changing a Year seven curriculum is a big undertaking equally it has a knock-on acquit upon on the Schemes of Work of all other twelvemonth groups. Assessments, together with perhaps other resources similar homework booklets, also demand to last re-written, which is actually fourth dimension consuming.

I'd beloved to take away heed close your experiences inward developing together with delivering Year seven curricula. Tell me how yous start the year, say me what topics link good together, together with say me how yous educate enthusiastic, inquisitive mathematicians. I'd also similar to take away heed how yous assess Year seven together with at what phase yous make whatsoever baseline assessment. What plant good for you? Please bring together inward #mathscpdchat on Tuesday to allow me know your thoughts.

New A Degree Timings

After examination flavor is over, I hold off that Heads of Maths too Key Stage five Coordinators all over the province volition endure making plans for delivering the novel Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 aeroplane from September.

Timings at Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 aeroplane e'er brand me nervous. I loathe having to rush my teaching. Linear Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 levels are meant to ameliorate the situation, but I'm non convinced that at that spot volition endure much gamble to boring down.

My schoolhouse (a suburban comprehensive schoolhouse alongside a large Sixth Form) has nine hours a fortnight teaching fourth dimension at Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 level. I of late did a poll on Twitter to discovery out how this compares to other schools. Here are the results:

At my previous schoolhouse I solely had 8 hours a fortnight too it worked fine, mainly because the vast bulk of my students got an A* inwards their maths GCSE. I at 1 time convey a lot of students who got a B inwards their GCSE, then the starting fourth dimension of the twelvemonth has to become at a relatively slow pace. Instead of briefly revising surds, indices too quadratics, many students remove these topics taught from scratch. The same volition in all probability endure truthful of marker 6 students starting Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 aeroplane maths this September.

Later inwards the year, fourth dimension is lost to internal exams - at my schoolhouse nosotros convey multiple rounds of 'PPEs' (pre-public exams), amounting to at to the lowest degree vi weeks off timetable over the course of education of Year 12 too 13. Although I exercise come across some benefits to formal internal exams, I'd prefer to come across to a greater extent than of this assessment occur during lessons then that loss of teaching fourth dimension is minimised. 

If a burn downwardly warning goes off when I'm teaching Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 aeroplane I desire to cry! The fourth dimension pressure level is such that every lost hr is a worry. Lessons are too lost to inset days, banking concern holidays too schoolhouse events, then a marker of flexibility has to endure built into schemes of work. 

By my calculations, I volition convey some 270 hours inwards which to deliver the novel Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 aeroplane over 2 years. This assumes that I volition learn correct upward until the halt of Apr 2018. 

Edexcel's scheme of work recommends 360 hours. So I'm ninety hours under. Eek.

Daniel Fox (@danielfox66) told me that his schoolhouse has applied a 2 thirds reduction to all of Edexcel's suggested teaching times inwards social club to brand things fit. I recall my schoolhouse volition in all probability convey to exercise something similar. Hopefully that volition too move out some fourth dimension for revision too in-class assessment throughout the 2 twelvemonth course. 

Having looked through the system of work, at that spot are some topics where I definitely wouldn't desire to cut back Edexcel's recommended timings. But, for example, their proffer of vii hours inwards Year 12 on binomial expansions could easily endure reduced to 4 hours. We volition remove to become through the system of operate inwards detail, theme past times topic, too operate out where hours tin endure cut. I think it's feasible, it simply requires a chip of work. 

Once the timings are sorted, the adjacent draw of piece of job is to operate out how to sensibly dissever the content betwixt 2 teachers.

I'd similar to listen how other schools are approaching timings, schemes of operate too content splits. It makes a lot of feel for schools to portion what they've done, then that we're non all re-inventing the wheel. Please arrive impact through Twitter or past times commenting below.

Planning For September: Twelvemonth 12

I'm looking frontwards to education the novel linear Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 bird to 2 Year 12 classes this year. I've been preparing some materials for these classes together with idea it mightiness hold out helpful to part them here, inwards instance they are of purpose to anyone.

1. Scheme of operate together with resources
When preparing schemes of work, schools accept had to await really carefully at timings to brand for sure they tin give the sack lucifer all of the Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 bird content into the 2 twelvemonth fourth dimension frame (I blogged almost this here). At my schoolhouse nosotros took the estimated hours from Edexcel's system of work equally a starting betoken together with cutting everything past times or thence a 3rd - it simply almost works, though our education volition hold out rather rushed.

My school's novel Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 bird system of operate looks really similar to our GCSE system of work, alongside a front end page showing an approximate timeline together with thence a to a greater extent than detailed page for each topic showing the specification together with resources. We won't accept whatsoever educatee textbooks thence links to resources are vital. I've blogged almost A bird resources earlier together with many of these are silent useful for the novel Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 level. There are a few gaps for new topics but we'll accept to cross that couplet when nosotros come upwards to it.

Although the content of the maths specification hasn't changed dramatically, at that topographic point are a few tyke tweaks that nosotros ask to await out for. For instance the AS specification instantly includes fractional inequalities similar those shown below (these were previously on FP2 for Edexcel). It's a subtle modify together with straightforward to teach, but could easily hold out missed.

From Pearson Textbook Pure AS (spot the typo!)

Many schools are planning to learn the pure content offset together with travel out the applied content until afterward inwards the year. When nosotros come upwards to the applied content, it volition hold out useful to advert to Edexcel's Teaching Guide for Mechanics together with Teaching Guide for Statistics.

2. First lesson
I've created a here.

First lesson activity from Susan Whitehouse

3. Student blog
At my previous schoolhouse I was a Key Stage five Coordinator together with actually enjoyed running a uncomplicated weblog for Sixth Form students. I promise to create this 1 time again this year. I've laid upwards 1 upwards at glynmaths.blogspot.co.uk and volition purpose it to part information together with exercises alongside students. As they won't accept textbooks, it's of import that I brand for sure they accept access to enough of independent written report cloth throughout the course.

4. Student handbook together with checklist
Our Sixth Form students are required to choke along a course of written report handbook or specification inwards their folder for every subject. This twelvemonth I accept updated our handbook for the novel Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 level, including the topic checklist at the back. If you'd similar to borrow together with adjust this, there's a Word version here.

Delivering the novel Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 bird volition hold out difficult operate for all involved, peculiarly for those education Further Maths. Initially nosotros volition accept all the same challenges that nosotros had for the novel GCSE - a lack of past times papers, relatively few resources, no degree boundaries together with doubtfulness or thence timings. But nevertheless, I intend we're all actually looking frontwards to getting stuck into education it adjacent month.

Teaching back upwards from Tarquin Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 level