This is a great video that triggers great discussion during a form session. What do we actually know! Gravity. The stars in day. Thoughts. The human genome. Time. Atoms. So much of what really matters in the world is impossible to see. A stunning animation of John Lloyd’s classic TEDTalk from 2009, which will make [...]
The government published its consultation on the reform of GCSE exams on 17 September. The main proposals are as follows: Qualifications will be linear with assessment done at the end of the course. The government’s preferred option is to have 100 per cent external exams, with no or very minimal coursework and controlled assessment, although [...]
A great task to do in an anti-bullying lesson or in a form class session. This had a great impact with the class and really had the class engaged and generated some amazing honest discussions. Give each learner a piece of paper. Ask them to crumple it up and step on it, crease it, [...]
This is a great problem to extend KS3 learners!! Langford problem: 1 , 1 ,2, 2 ,3, 3 rearrange the numbers so that the 1s are 1 apart, 2s are 2 apart and 3s are 3 apart Solution: 3 1 2 1 3 2 Now try for: 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4 Now try for: 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7 Only works when [...]
This is one of my favourite extension puzzles or starter; Where on the planet? 1) MOVE 1KM South 2) MOVE 1KM EAST 3) MOVE 1KM NORTH We are now back at our starting position! Answers below;
1) Put any 3 digit number in your calculator 2) Now put in the same 3 digits to make a 6 digit number e.g 721 721 Now Divide by 7 Divide by 11 Divide 13 Explain your answer!!! : ) This is a great starter to develop high level thinking skills and encourage discussion!
Before a Calculator lesson as a starter I like getting learners to have fun with their resource. I get them to enter the following into their calculators and watch their amazement when they see the answer. 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321 A great extension to this is asking the question “Why does this happen.?”
This is a great starter for lessons on set of numbers and involves learners developing high level thinking and problem solving skills. I have attached a worksheet that you could use so that learners can spend more time on solving the problem and less time drawing it. Mathematics Starter Cycling Squares Square Numbers Please [...]
All staff have a full and active part to play in protecting pupils from harm. School child protection policies vary but predominantly the aims are summarised below; To support the child’s development in ways that will foster security, confidence and independence. To raise the awareness of both teaching and non-teaching staff of the need to [...]
The national numeracy project defines numeracy as “knowing about numbers and number operations” The policy states that numerate pupils should be confident in numeracy without immediately going to teachers or friends for help. In summary they should; Have a sense of the size of a number and how it fits into the number system Know [...]
Although nowadays schools have cover supervisors, it is sometimes necessary for teaching staff to deal with emergency cover. The following advice and strategies on how to manage a classroom when doing a cover lesson might be useful; Spend 5 mins at the beginning of the lesson to talk to the learners informally about their subject and their [...]
Teacher absence is sometimes unavoidable but it is paramount to phone in and set cover work for learners. Cover work should; Be set the night before absence or by phoning in the morning as soon as possible. The cover work should be set at the right target level. The work set should not be of [...]
Homework is paramount to ensure learners consolidate learning in the classroom. Through observing other teachers and advice I have developed the following strategies when setting homework; Do not set homework for the sake of setting homework Homework should consolidate learning in the classroom Make sure you set a maximum amount of time that is spent [...]