The Folder Experiment... Revisited

Back inward Oct 2016 I wrote a post near how I was trialling folders instead of practice books alongside Year 11. I promised I'd write a quick update at the terminate of the year, together with then hither it is.

I've decided that I will hold out using folders alongside my Year 11s i time again adjacent year, equally I believe it was a successful trial. I'm non maxim it had whatever demeanour upon on attainment - I'm non sure how I'd mensurate that - but it's all the same something I desire to proceed doing. In example you're planning to produce the same, hither are my cardinal observations:

Folder Type
By Christmas the band binders were falling apart because they were overflowing. Sometimes a educatee would alternative upwards their folder at the root of a lesson together with their nicely organised notes would autumn all over the floor, which was really frustrating. I suggested that my students each purchase their ain lever arch file during the Christmas holidays, but solely a handful did so.

I'd similar to purpose lever arch files instead of band binders from the root of adjacent twelvemonth but I can't because:

1. lever arch files are equally good expensive
2. 34 lever arch files are equally good heavy for me to proceed moving only about (I learn inward multiple classrooms).

So a possible solution is to purpose 68 band binders instead: i for the autumn term, together with some other for the jump together with summertime term. This may hold out expensive though.

Here's a motion painting through i of the amend folders together with then y'all learn an reckon of what my students' classwork looked like:

Worksheets together with Printing

I made a i page canvass for every lesson which included all the lesson tasks, addition infinite for notes. 

In pose out together with algebra lessons this was straightforward, but inward sort lessons it was to a greater extent than challenging to throttle the textile to 2 sides of A4. I managed it though, together with similar a shot it volition hold out pretty quick to excogitation my Year xi lessons adjacent twelvemonth because all the materials are railroad train to go.

The solely occupation is the printing damage - at 2p per side, that's 20p per calendar week for each of my 34 students, costing over £250 inward printing per year. Bear inward heed though that I don't demand practice books or glue, together with I in all likelihood would possess got all the same done only about one-half that amount of printing fifty-fifty if my students had practice books, together with then it doesn't travel out that much to a greater extent than expensive.

Organisation together with Pride

At my schoolhouse (all boys) nosotros produce abide by that quite a few students don't accept much pride inward their work. If y'all glance through a randomly chosen practice mass you'll in all likelihood encounter untidy handwriting, disorganised work, piteous purpose of space, doodling together with mayhap fifty-fifty graffiti... Switching to folders didn't automatically railroad train this, but I did encounter some improvement. My students ofttimes told me that they liked having folders instead of practice books. Visitors to my lessons ever noticed on how good organised the folders were. I'm for certain non maxim that folders would travel for every class, but they worked for me together with I'm looking forrard to using them i time again adjacent year.

Spotted inward a student's folder: a department for
'random interesting maths' -  not prompted yesteryear me!

Strength Inwards Numbers

I've lastly rejoined the Mathematical Association! It's near time. I've non been a fellow member since I was a trainee teacher. Over Easter I read a fascinating chapter on the history of maths education as well as was struck past times this paragraph...

"The emphasis on Euclid, as well as a growing feeling that it was outdated as well as inappropriate, led inward 1871 to the creation of the Association for the Improvement of Geometrical Teaching (AIGT), in all likelihood the world’s start discipline teachers association. As its advert suggests, the AIGT argued for a replacement for Euclid, an aim already dismissed past times a commission of the British Association prepare inward 1869 (including Cayley, Clifford as well as Sylvester) which thought nada as well as thus far produced ‘is jibe to succeed Euclid’. The AIGT produced its ain course, exactly it was non to examine a success or live widely welcomed past times universities. Undeterred, the AIGT broadened its interests to other branches of mathematics teaching as well as inward 1894 published the start issue of its Mathematics Gazette, earlier changing its advert to ‘The Mathematical Association’ (MA) inward 1897."

The oldest discipline teachers association inward the world! After reading this I wondered why on world I wasn't a fellow member of the MA. As a maths teacher, how tin post away I non back upwards an scheme that has played such a commutation role inward the history of mathematics education? Particularly given the terrible recruitment as well as retentiveness crisis we're currently facing, maths teachers quest to stand upwards together.

Importantly for me, the MA doesn't force a progressive agenda. Its representatives don't say teachers that they're doing it all incorrect - they are never patronising or dismissive. They are supportive, encouraging as well as knowledgeable. The MA's Twitter feed is excellent - too every bit keeping maths teachers good informed, it listens carefully as well as joins inward our conversations. The MA is good positioned to introduce sensible, timely as well as illustration views near mathematics instruction inward consultations as well as inward the media.

There are numerous benefits to joining the MA. Publications as well as branch events are the commutation mechanisms through which it has an touching on inward the classroom. Shortly afterwards joining I received a packet total of exciting materials - I peculiarly similar the fantastic resources featured inward the Mathematics inward Schools journals. And what skillful timing to have a laid of puzzles to acquire stuck into over the holidays!

The primary make goodness of joining the MA comes from beingness role of a network. I'd similar to run across to a greater extent than as well as to a greater extent than teachers joining the MA over the twelvemonth ahead, as well as thus that it grows to boot the bucket fifty-fifty to a greater extent than illustration as well as influential. I'd real much similar to run across the MA's publications choose a far-reaching touching on on teaching as well as learning. Please bring together - as well as contribute your ideas - to brand this happen!

Another agency you lot tin post away brand a deviation is to sign upwards to introduce at BCME 9. This is going to live huge! Instead of the commons split upwards ATM as well as MA conferences side past times side Easter, BCME (British Congress of Mathematics Education) is taking house inward Apr 2018, bringing all the members of the JMC together for a articulation conference. I'd similar to run across every bit many maths teachers every bit possible standing upwards as well as sharing their ideas as well as experiences. If you'd similar to speak, submit a proposal past times the terminate of July.

I strongly encourage all maths teachers to regard joining the MA this summer. It's logical isn't it? Strength inward numbers. Together, let's brand the MA the biggest as well as the best discipline association inward the world.

What Did Ane Miss?

Hello summer! We made it.

What a year... During term fourth dimension it tin give notice live difficult to hold rails of what's going inwards maths pedagogy because we're all besides busy planning lessons, teaching in addition to marking. The mass of mock marker this twelvemonth was insane, alongside many of us having to grade 200 GCSE papers. In this postal service I summarise but about of the things that busy maths teachers powerfulness direct hold missed during schoolhouse twelvemonth 2016/17.

Resources
Lots of novel resources direct hold been made available to maths teachers this year. Piximaths.co.uk launched inwards September, in addition to websites such equally Mr Carter Maths, MathsPad, MathsBot in addition to CorbettMaths direct hold continued to grow (see my serial of posts virtually these websites here). The White Rose Maths Hub continues to render high lineament resources, assessments in addition to schemes of move for master copy schools in addition to Key Stage 3, in addition to the examination boards croak along to render helpful GCSE resources (such equally Edexcel's new content resources which were published dorsum inwards September).

Although Dan Walker's resources which I absolutely love.

Don Steward continues to live ane of my favourite resources authors, in addition to on the @team_maths1 Twitter trouble concern human relationship I part all his novel resources when they are published. 

The maths community's collection of Increasingly Difficult Questions

New collections of multiple alternative questions from the examination boards, the White Rose Maths Hub in addition to UKMT on diagnosticquestions.com.

Do cheque out my resource libraries for recommended resources past times topic for Key Stages 3 - 5.

CPD
This twelvemonth many teachers direct hold used long commutes or lazy Dominicus afternoons equally an chance to heed to Craig Barton's bright podcasts. These are good worth a listen.

To hold on overstep of the latest pedagogy research, cheque out Craig's research page where he summarises findings from a maths teacher's perspective, in addition to the serial of Espressos ('a minor but intense draught of filtered enquiry on mathematics education') from Cambridge Maths.

I went to all 3 of La Salle's maths conferences inwards 2016/17 in addition to they were excellent. These direct hold house on Saturdays in addition to are really affordable - if you've non been to ane before, endeavour to come upward along to here.

Ed Southall, Craig Barton in addition to me
(enjoying pre-conference drinks at #mathsconf9)

There were loads of fantastic events inwards 2016/17, including Christmaths, Maths inwards the Sticks, 2 Mixed Attainment Maths Conferences in addition to the JustMaths Conference. There were also local events organised past times Maths Hubs, LIME in addition to ATM/MA branches. There is ever a lot going on for maths teachers - I've pulled together conference listings for 2017/18 on this page.

Ed Southall's book 'here.

I launched my novel CPD projection 'Topics inwards Depth' inwards June - I volition live doing a lot of hap this projection over summertime in addition to then sentinel this space.

Me presenting my starting fourth dimension 'topics inwards depth' workshop at a ATM/MA London branch conference

Blog posts
There direct hold been lots of weblog posts virtually maths pedagogy this twelvemonth that I highly recommend to maths teachers. These include Mark McCourt's maths anxiety inwards teachers, my postal service virtually what's working good inwards my Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade teaching, in addition to my 2 posts virtually my folder experiment. See my weblog archive for a total listing of posts.

The novel GCSE
The starting fourth dimension sitting of GCSE nine - 1 was a actually exciting 2d for maths teachers, subsequently years of preparation. In the run-up to exams lots of teachers shared helpful resources, included Mel's revision resources post, in addition to the 'best guess' papers in addition to revision lists produced betwixt examination papers past times a issue of helpful resources makers. The collaboration inwards the maths teaching community was outstanding.

Other highlights
It's been such a busy twelvemonth inwards maths pedagogy - hither are another highlights you lot powerfulness direct hold missed:

• The maths teaching community celebrated the life of the belatedly Professor Malcolm Swan on #malcolmswanday. Teachers shared their favourite Malcolm Swan resources in addition to activities. It was lovely. 
• To banish the Jan blues, I ran a World Cup of Maths where teachers voted for their favourite topic to learn at GCSE.
• The Education Team from Bletchley Park visited schools for gratis equally business office of their Ultra Outreach Programme, to the please of students in addition to teachers all over the country.
• The novel Maths in addition to Further Maths Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade specifications were accredited. I've lately published my novel A grade back upward page in addition to volition croak along to weblog virtually the novel Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade over summer.
• Maths pedagogy received a lot of tidings coverage. This included my article inwards Schools Week at Easter in addition to TES's coverage of the MA's poll on Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grade uptake.
• After a long delay, the Smith Report was lastly published!
• Times Tables Rockstars featured on BBC Breakfast. My schoolhouse sent a squad to the London Rock Wrangle for the starting fourth dimension time, in addition to they loved it.

My squad at the Rock Wrangle!

There's enough going on over summer. No incertitude in that place volition live press coverage of maths on GCSE results day. Book immediately for #mathsconf12 inwards Dunfermline on 19th August, in addition to for my #summaths lawsuit at Bletchley Park on 27th August.

It's been a busy year! If you lot missed anything, I promise this postal service has helped you lot select handgrip of up.

Bridging The Gap... Revisited

Bridging the Gap to H5N1 Level'. The concerns in addition to ideas I shared inwards that post service are really much on my heed this summer, every bit nosotros approach the start of the novel linear H5N1 level.

Experienced H5N1 degree teachers know that every yr at that topographic point are many students who notice the transition from GCSE to H5N1 degree really challenging indeed. It's heartbreaking when a hardworking educatee struggles amongst H5N1 degree maths because they convey gaps inwards their underlying knowledge. I'm ever wondering if there's anything nosotros could produce differently inwards the commencement few weeks of Year 12.

Will the novel GCSE help?
I don't retrieve that GCSE 9-1 has done much to lessen the gap betwixt GCSE in addition to H5N1 level. I previously thought that all the extra maths lessons would brand a big difference. But the extra fourth dimension inwards the classroom has non been spent improving fluency inwards algebra in addition to tackling primal misconceptions - instead nosotros convey had to pass the extra fourth dimension educational activity all the novel topics that were added to GCSE - quadratic sequences, functions, iteration, Venns, frequency trees in addition to then on.

Perhaps I should hold off until later on GCSE results solar daytime to nation this, but I convey a feeling that a educatee volition live on able to acquire a Grade half dozen amongst pretty misfortunate algebra skills. At my school, the entry criteria for H5N1 degree maths is a Grade 6.

If you're wondering how on public it's possible to acquire a Grade half dozen amongst misfortunate algebra skills, I'll explain... There's a actually broad hit of topics inwards maths GCSE. H5N1 educatee mightiness convey memorised how to notice a hateful from grouped data. They mightiness convey memorised index laws. They mightiness live on practiced at Pythagoras, probability trees in addition to scatter graphs. They mightiness alternative upwards a lot of marks on best purchase questions...  But at the same fourth dimension every bit picking upwards marks inwards all these random topics, they could write a charge of algebraic nonsense inwards their exam. They mightiness brand primal algebraic errors when expanding brackets, or solving a elementary equation, in addition to it's yet possible to acquire a decent grade - perchance a Grade 6.

These students mightiness pick out to produce maths at H5N1 level, fifty-fifty though their algebra skills are such that they volition acquire totally lost inwards the really commencement lessons of Year 12. We ask to assist these students grab upwards from solar daytime one.

Previous attempts
The Bridging The Gap Test that my schoolhouse used inwards September 2016 was an hr long in addition to tested a broad hit of GCSE topics including algebraic fractions, linear graphs, surds in addition to solving quadratic equations. The average examine score was 79% for 95 students, amongst marks ranging from 50% to 100%.

The correlation betwixt the September Bridging the Gap Test scores in addition to Feb C1 Mock scores was positive, but it wasn't especially strong. This either tells us that our early on intervention was somewhat effective (there were students who did badly inwards the Bridging The Gap Test but did fairly good inwards the C1 Mock), or it tells us that the Bridging the Gap Test results were non a practiced predictor of hereafter performance.

It's actually difficult to assess whether intervention is effective. In fact it's difficult to assess whether anything inwards educational activity is effective. One of my Year 12s yet couldn't expand double brackets a calendar week earlier his AS exams. I minor fry y'all not. It's crazy that I'd been educational activity him calculus when he didn't convey Year 8 algebra skills. I wonder what nosotros could convey done differently for him, in addition to others similar him.

A novel entry assessment
I've written a new entry assessment that hopefully pinpoints exactly where the gaps lie, to let for highly targeted intervention. You tin flame download it from TES here. This examine is:

• short (because nosotros are really pressed for fourth dimension inwards Year 12 adjacent year)
• print-budget friendly (only i side of A4)
• very quick in addition to tardily to mark 
• highly specific 

This xv infinitesimal examine is intended to live on issued inwards the commencement maths lessons of the year. Its purpose is to position the students who ask immediate intervention, in addition to to position which specific skills they ask to live on taught inwards gild to access the basics of H5N1 degree maths. 

This examine is non intended to challenge the brightest students at all. To them it's only a quick in addition to elementary refresher. The content of the assessment is straightforward, inwards fact it's to a greater extent than frequently than non Key Stage three stuff. This shouldn't live on necessary, but it is. I don't desire to patronise my novel H5N1 degree students then I volition emphasise the expectation that every educatee should acquire total marks. Students amongst a Grade half dozen or higher inwards their maths GCSE should easily live on able to score 100% on this test, shouldn't they...? Hmm, nosotros shall see.

If you're looking for a longer or to a greater extent than challenging baseline assessment for H5N1 level, Edexcel has a i hr assessment here. They convey i for Further Maths classes also - this is a neat agency of assessing suitability for Further Maths.

A novel approach to intervention

Testing in addition to intervention needs to live on immediate, allowing a educatee to alter course of report if required. If a educatee decides to alternative approximately other dependent land instead of maths, they must produce then inwards the commencement few days of Year 12 then they don't autumn behind inwards their novel subject. Some schools acquire out testing in addition to intervention until the 3rd calendar week of term. I retrieve that's also late.

Using the entry assessment to select students for compulsory attendance, I volition run 5 split upwards intervention sessions inside the commencement 2 weeks of Year 12. These volition live on on simplifying, expanding, factorising, solving in addition to number (basic roots in addition to indices, negatives, in addition to the gild of operations). The sessions volition involve specific teaching, practise in addition to a homework describe on Hegarty Maths.

Once the initial 2 calendar week intervention catamenia is over, we'll run the park later on schoolhouse assist clinics all yr round. The query is, how produce nosotros effectively back upwards those students who actually combat throughout the 2 yr course? How produce nosotros avoid the Us? How produce nosotros encourage the correct piece of job ethic? I'd honey to listen what your schoolhouse is planning to do.

5 Maths Gems #75

Welcome to my 75^th gems post. This is where I part some of the latest news, ideas together with resources for maths teachers.

1. New Displays
I of late updated my Maths Word of the Week display from @missradders.

2. Algebra Maze
Last calendar month I joined the MA together with received an exciting package total of publications. This included an edition of Mathematics inward School in which I spotted this algebraic expressions maze from MEI.

The MEI wrote xi consecutive articles for Mathematics inward School together with are presently to start upward again. You tin access all xi of these MEI Insights here - thank yous to @MEImaths for sharing these.

3. New Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 marking Resources
I similar a shot convey a page of resources for novel Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 marking topics. It's much similar my new GCSE back upward page, simply I'm even together with hence hunting for resources.

Thankfully a few novel Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 marking resources convey been published recently:

• Jamie Frost (@DrFrostMaths) has started to part his novel A marking PowerPoints (these accompany the Pearson textbook). On his new Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 marking page, Jamie has too shared his fantabulous conduct to the Classwiz calculator, his school's novel Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 marking scheme of work, together with a compilation of STEP/AEA/MAT questions yesteryear topic.
• Jack Brown (@TLMaths) has shared around 300 videos for students for the novel Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 level. 
• Dr Madas has started adding new specification IYGB papers to his bright collection.
• MEI convey shared some samples of the resources from their novel schemes of work. 

4. Sector Area

In my postal service 'Maths Word of the Week display from @missradders.

2. Algebra Maze
Last calendar month I joined the MA together with received an exciting package total of publications. This included an edition of Mathematics inward School in which I spotted this algebraic expressions maze from MEI.

The MEI wrote xi consecutive articles for Mathematics inward School together with are presently to start upward again. You tin access all xi of these MEI Insights here - thank yous to @MEImaths for sharing these.

3. New Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 marking Resources
I similar a shot convey a Polygraph Rocks' I wrote almost the wonderful Desmos classroom activities. There's similar a shot a huge collection of activities on Desmos - they're definitely worth exploring. These lessons are actually slowly to run together with operate good if yous convey access to a decent information technology room or if your students convey tablets or laptops inward the classroom. I spotted 'Sector Area' on Twitter of late together with actually similar the agency it's designed. It's a proportional reasoning activeness inward which students explore the human relationship betwixt circle area, sector area, together with sector angle.

5. xaktly
I institute the website xaktly.com by Dr Jeff Cruzan (@DrCruzan) which is similar an online textbook for maths, physics, chemistry together with biology. The maths section contains really clear explanations together with some helpful graphics on misconceptions, definitions together with methods.

The page on the metric system is a practiced instance - Dr Cruzan's method for unit of measurement conversions is interesting together with worth a look.

There's lots of Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 marking content, including a page on optimisation with really useful instance problems. 

Update
In instance yous missed them, hither are my latest posts:

• Maths Word of the Week display from @missradders.
  
  
  2. Algebra Maze
  Last calendar month I joined the MA together with received an exciting package total of publications. This included an edition of Mathematics inward School in which I spotted this algebraic expressions maze from MEI.
  
  
  The MEI wrote xi consecutive articles for Mathematics inward School together with are presently to start upward again. You tin access all xi of these MEI Insights here - thank yous to @MEImaths for sharing these.
  
  3. New Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 marking Resources
  I similar a shot convey a Bridging the Gap... Revisited
• Maths Word of the Week display from @missradders.
  
  
  2. Algebra Maze
  Last calendar month I joined the MA together with received an exciting package total of publications. This included an edition of Mathematics inward School in which I spotted this algebraic expressions maze from MEI.
  
  
  The MEI wrote xi consecutive articles for Mathematics inward School together with are presently to start upward again. You tin access all xi of these MEI Insights here - thank yous to @MEImaths for sharing these.
  
  3. New Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 marking Resources
  I similar a shot convey a What did I miss?
• Maths Word of the Week display from @missradders.
  
  
  2. Algebra Maze
  Last calendar month I joined the MA together with received an exciting package total of publications. This included an edition of Mathematics inward School in which I spotted this algebraic expressions maze from MEI.
  
  
  The MEI wrote xi consecutive articles for Mathematics inward School together with are presently to start upward again. You tin access all xi of these MEI Insights here - thank yous to @MEImaths for sharing these.
  
  3. New Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 marking Resources
  I similar a shot convey a Strength inward Numbers
• Maths Word of the Week display from @missradders.
  
  
  2. Algebra Maze
  Last calendar month I joined the MA together with received an exciting package total of publications. This included an edition of Mathematics inward School in which I spotted this algebraic expressions maze from MEI.
  
  
  The MEI wrote xi consecutive articles for Mathematics inward School together with are presently to start upward again. You tin access all xi of these MEI Insights here - thank yous to @MEImaths for sharing these.
  
  3. New Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 marking Resources
  I similar a shot convey a The Folder Experiment... Revisited

I too published a list of maths teaching conferences for 2017/18 together with my instance written report was featured on mtpt.org.uk.

My Summaths upshot is inward 3 weeks together with similar a shot I've seen the programme of workshops I'm fifty-fifty to a greater extent than excited. I'm too actually pleased that I've had some generous donations of freebies to manus out on the day. There are even together with hence a few tickets left together with booking closes on 14th August.

Do depository fiscal establishment jibe out Maths Word of the Week display from @missradders.

2. Algebra Maze
Last calendar month I joined the MA together with received an exciting package total of publications. This included an edition of Mathematics inward School in which I spotted this algebraic expressions maze from MEI.

The MEI wrote xi consecutive articles for Mathematics inward School together with are presently to start upward again. You tin access all xi of these MEI Insights here - thank yous to @MEImaths for sharing these.

3. New Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 marking Resources
I similar a shot convey a list showing where to purchase the cheapest calculators this summer.

In instance yous missed it, I'll exit yous amongst this wonderful news about the success of the UK of Britain together with Northern Republic of Ireland squad at this year's International Maths Olympiad inward Rio. The UK of Britain together with Northern Republic of Ireland finished inward 9th place, out of 111 participating countries, together with hold upward yesteryear of all European nations for the kickoff fourth dimension ever.

The UK of Britain together with Northern Republic of Ireland is hosting the International Maths Olympiad inward 2019. Incidentally, Dr Geoff Smith's 'Advice to Young Mathematicians' is worth reading.