Head of Maths at Henley Bank High School alphapapamaths.wordpress.com
Gloucestershire
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Before we break for summer wanted to share some of the fantastic resources the Maths department @HenleyBankHigh have created: Happy to share!
1) Methods Books - Our shared approach to teaching concepts, with clearly labelled steps to help staff with modelling: #mathscpdchat
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As a department we're going hard with Reflect, Expect, Check and Explain @mrbartonmaths , this will be our introduction to it with quite a simple concept so pupils can get the hang of it: drive.google.com/file/d/1Bry…
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Trying a different kind of SSDD with the quadratic formula, spot where the error occurs or mark as correct:
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Other resources:
2) Using show that questions so that pupils aren't just thinking about the answers:
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5 Things I've learned as a HOD. RT's Thoughts welcome.
alphapapamaths.wordpress.com…
With thanks to @mrbartonmaths @hegartymaths @dylanwiliam @daisychristo @johntomsett @Doug_Lemov @mathsjem @EmathsUK @MaxTheMaths @mathsmrgordon @greg_ashman you've helped massively!
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I struggle to come up with a revision strategy for GCSE Maths other than 'bash past papers, answer questions on topic x.' What do other schools do that has been proven to have an impact? @danicquinn @naveenfrizvi @mathsjem @mathsmrgordon @Noni_Rainbow RT's welcome. Thanks!
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What are your top considerations when allocating classes in the timetable? Here's my top 5 alphapapamaths.wordpress.com…
RT's & Thoughts welcome @mrbartonmaths @mathsjem @hegartymaths @StudyMaths @MrMattock @Noni_Rainbow @danicquinn @EmathsUK @mathsmrgordon
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I'm thinking about how we as a department can systematically help pupils get better at problem solving; interested to know what others do? RT's greatly appreciated! @mrbartonmaths @jemmaths @mathsjem @naveenfrizvi @mathsmrgordon @Noni_Rainbow @hegartymaths @amandamckay235
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Let's get rid of constructions for a start. And then pretend we never had them, and then forget to put them back in.
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After reading the first chapter of @DavidDidau making kids cleverer, my response to the "when am I going to use this" is now "no idea, but by making you know more statistically you're more likely to be happy later in life. All knowledge is useful so learn as much as you can"
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I've written a blog about my top 5 for how I plan; alphapapamaths.wordpress.com…
thoughts, comments, RT's welcome: @mrbartonmaths @mathsjem @mathsmrgordon @PlanTeacher @TeachFirstSW @PGCE_Maths @MaxTheMaths @EmathsUK @jemmaths @MccreaEmma @MrMattock @StudyMaths @danicquinn
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Responsive teaching, not marking! alphapapamaths.wordpress.com… influenced by @mrbartonmaths @hegartymaths @daisychristo @dylanwiliam
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#mathschat I've made this quick skills sheet for foundation pupils. tes.com/teaching-resource/ed… Hope it's of use to somebody else
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Reflect, Expect, Check, Explain - I wrote a blog about what it means for me and my practice. A genuinely awesome book that I'd highly recommend, thoughts and RT's welcome. alphapapamaths.wordpress.com… @mrbartonmaths @mathsjem @mathsmrgordon @Arithmaticks @danicquinn @MaxTheMaths
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If I had a sink that had a massive leak in it, I wouldn't spend my money and energy looking for different ways to add water. I'd try to stop the leak first.
Improve the working conditions of those already in it and remarkably more will want to join!
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Apparently year 9 don't like my lesson because 'they don't get to sit in grouped tables to talk about work'. Thank you pupil voice!
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Really enjoying the @Ambition_Inst unit on assessment. Love 'decision driven data collection' & 'assessment is a good servant but a terrible master' @dylanwiliam Figure out what you want to find out, then get the data, not the other way round! #ExpertMiddleLeaders #EML
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Meeting other maths teachers who are also @mrbartonmaths fanboys:
The book, the podcast, dq, variation theory, ssdd problems.
Such an amazing massive positive impact on our profession and consequently our young people.
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Thinking about planning departmental CPD for the start of term. 5 things I've learned.
alphapapamaths.wordpress.com…
With thanks to @Doug_Lemov @TeachLikeAChamp @paul_bambrick & all the @mrbartonmaths podcasts!
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Marking mocks is like watching England at a major tournament : a few moments of hope quickly brought crashing down to earth! #worktodo
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Just browsing through @getdiagnostics and saw this question: I was today years old when I found out you use the verify function to check if something is correctly factorised/expanded !
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This! An experienced colleague suggested I leave the school I was at: moving from somewhere with no behaviour policy to a different school was like doing a different job. Being able to actually teach was so joyful, and something I now get to experience daily.
When I started teaching, and teaching was nearly impossible because the behaviour was too, I assumed it was just me. After a few months I realised it might be a broader issue
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7 Years ago, I started as HOD @HenleyBankHigh (then Millbrook) knowing very little about anything.
Maths was 1 P/T teacher, 1 pupil got a grade 7+, P8 was -1.3, we had around 50 pupils in Y7
Fast forward to today where we are on the verge of opening 6th Form, 1/n
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Chuffed that I'm not going 2b talking 2 myself & ppl have picked my workshop for #MathsConf25 ! @LaSalleEd
MathsConf is hands down best CPD I've done.
So excited to talk about curric, share the errors I've made and what I'm trying now, hope people find it useful to think about!
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Schools with awful behaviour are far more of a travesty than isolation booths yet seem to receive nowhere near the publicity and criticism.
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Responsive teaching? an interpetation alphapapamaths.wordpress.com… @mrbartonmaths @daisychristo @dylanwiliam @hegartymaths @ThainMike @mathsjem
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I think all department meetings should focus on t & l. Everything else seems like a waste of time!
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Excitingly we are introducing GCSE Stats as part of our core offer, here are 5 things we're working on to make it as successful as possible:
What else do people think is essential when looking at a new curriculum? @mrbartonmaths @mathsjem @danicquinn @MaxTheMaths @mathsmrgordon
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My response to "Are we having a fun lesson today?" is always "Absolutely! We're doing pythagoras, trapeziums etc..." Kids enjoy knowing stuff and being successful even if it isn't obvious to them. Putting santa on a worksheet won't change that
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Other than this excellent one mrreddy.com/blog/2014/03/des… by @MrReddyMaths has anybody written about curriculum design in Maths? @mrbartonmaths @MrMattock @mathsmrgordon @greg_ashman @EmathsUK @mathsjem @dylanwiliam @StudyMaths @danicquinn @naveenfrizvi @ollie_lovell
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I've not seen many questions on bus timetables; so I made this trying to incorporate variation theory. I've also added narrations about what key features I might want pupils to be able to notice. Thoughts, RT's and feedback welcome as ever.
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Thinking about how we get pupils to value Maths not just as a qualification but generally. I know that success is important but interested to know how others go about it? @EmathsUK @mrbartonmaths @MrMattock @mathsjem @jemmaths @dylanwiliam @greg_ashman @danicquinn @naveenfrizvi
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Checking students' books is useful for seeing their performance in a lesson, it is not useful for assessing their learning long term. So many teachers spend such a disproportionate amount of time on this. Correct the performance in the short term, assess the learning over time.
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Definitely going to have a crack at 'last man standing' units in depth. Another really useful #mathsconf18 thanks to @rekenrek101 @mathsjem @booleanmathshub @ThainMike @drewfoster0 for some really thought provoking sessions. Now to go away and implement! @LaSalleEd @EmathsUK
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New staff induction today, absolutely buzzing to welcome some absolute superstars to the team! Excited for summer, but also September! @HenleyBankHigh
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Also developed a series of resources to deliver @PearsonEdexcel GCSE Statistics. Fantastic work done by fantastic people.
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Really good day meeting our new @TeachFirst teacher today. Such a positive atmosphere and buzz about our amazing profession.
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My minimally different surds questions went down a treat with my 10 set 2. Really enjoy planning and delivering these.
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Had the best week off, not done anything in particular other than family time. I realise as teachers we are privileged in the time we have off, however as an industry we need to tackle the fact that having a family and being teachers should be compatible all year round.
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In my experience people who use the phrase 'because Ofsted want it' do so because they are unable to reasonably justify why they are doing what they are doing.
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I am very very excited about starting as a head of maths in September. Brand new dept starting from scratch, hit the ground running!
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Thoughts on #mathsconf9 alphapapamaths.wordpress.com… @LaSalleEd @EmathsUK honourable mention to @Just_Maths @mrbartonmaths @booleanmathshub
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If anybody is struggling to set meaningful work online for the next few weeks the @GreenshawTrust online curriculum is a thing of beauty!
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1st take away from "how I wish I'd taught maths" @mrbartonmaths : I used to set red amber green tasks and pupils choose, lower in confidence would never get onto harder problems, now I'll just write 8 q using variation. Got 2 hours left on the train more as it comes!
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Seen a few tweets criticising centralised planning recently:
I agree that teachers need to be able to adapt to the pupils & planning effectively is key.
However:
To expect all teachers to be planning with the same level of expertise seems bizarre. Not to mention the workload!
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Really enjoyed Izzy Ambrose's session, my takeaway; generic strategies can help, but what is important is getting into specific detail of how we teach concepts, and how they fit in curric. (ML need time to be able to deliver this well.) #GLTnationalinsetday @GreenshawTrust
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alphapapamaths.wordpress.com… An update on my responsive tg policy @getdiagnostics @hegartymaths @daisychristo @mrbartonmaths @dylanwiliam
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Loving this conversation about dimensions, coming from multiplicative reasoning. Maths is brilliant for these connections, but I think I need to lie down to process. @jemmaths @boss_maths @Noni_Rainbow @DaveTushingham #GLTbookclub
Also reminder of how fun 3D coordinates are!
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Biggest change made in3 weeks as hod is @hegartymaths parents @ open evening massively impressed. Pupils have answered 46000 q's in 3 weeks!
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Do you want to work somewhere
1) behaviour is tackled whole school
2) obs are about improvement not judgement
3) meetings about t&l, curriculum
4) in beautiful glos
If you're looking to progress in a great school apply eteach.com/job/lead-practiti… or DM to find out more! Please rt!
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Super excited to watch a range of speakers today: @WeAreInBetaPod , #curriculumthinkingweek21 here is my talk about using Core Questions to support our planning in Maths, RT's thoughts, feedback welcome!
weareinbeta.community/posts/…
@HenleyBankHigh @GreenshawTrust
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Buzzing for #mathsconf28 @LaSalleEd
Also have an incredible opp for someone @HenleyBankHigh for a 2nd in Maths.
-Amazing behaviour
-No marking (Feedback instead!)
-Superb collaborative dept
Please RT, if you want to know more send me a DM or see me for a chat at Mathsconf!
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#mathsconf22 even in challenging circumstances @EmathsUK and @LaSalleEd did a great job with the conference. The best cpd I'll do this year. Thanks to @mrbartonmaths @naveenfrizvi @danicquinn @mathsjem @BerwickMaths for the super sessions.
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We like the AQA L2 Further Maths, we've embedded it into our KS4 scheme of work to teach alongside the GCSE. One of my awesome team has put together a folder of resources if you'd like them?
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Enjoyed writing these questions on circle theorems. Whole booklet to follow. (Hat tips to @Corbettmaths @boss_maths @DrFrostMaths )
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drive.google.com/file/d/1zk3…
I don't know if this is of any use to you.
Combination of the amazing @Corbettmaths then some exam practice from shadow papers courtesy of @EmporiumMaths shadow papers.
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They won't; we don't have enough teachers to deliver them, or enough variety in our narrow curriculum.
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Pupils are as ready as they'll ever be. Buzzing for tomorrow! #gcsemaths Time for a 🍺!
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alphapapamaths.wordpress.com… Ban Marking and all of its colour infused connotations! Please RT / Criticism welcome @ThainMike @mrbartonmaths @daisychristo @nmmarking @greg_ashman @mathsjem @EmathsUK
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Reflecting on pupils use of @hegartymaths last year:
@HenleyBankHigh
45 hours per child.
1930 Questions per pupil.
Astonishing work rate and effort, children are amazing!
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This is a really interesting question; I hope I'm not the only one who is now more confused after looking at the replies.
Hi!
I know this will have been asked before, but struggling to find an answer I am happy with:
"What is the difference between a formula and an equation?"
y = 3x + 1 as the equation of a straight line seems to fit most definitions of formula that I see.
Any helps appreciated!
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I really love teaching, but I also really love planning highly subject specific CPD!
@danicquinn & @mathsjem blogs are still so relevant and super helpful, Twitter is still such a wealth of brilliant information!
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People are obsessed with how books look instead of asking how are we assessing learning and giving feedback.
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All my own, I love writing questions! Here's some of my questions, my simplifying ones are better, I'll dig them out when I'm at my computer #mathscpdchat
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My 3 year old just literally fell asleep in the middle of me explaining the difference between 2D and 3D shapes.
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Ours goes:
3 x 2 grid retrieval practice
input/modelling
practice
Problem framing - look at misconceptions/explain/true or false etc
MCQ
I think when you've been teaching for a while its easy to dismiss a structure, but when you're new to teaching maths a useful starting point.
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I love this model of a learning episode, I think the 'Barton model' is pretty catchy @mrbartonmaths
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#mathscpdchat We thought about hierarchy & what needs 2b revisited. It's something we would normally do, but this has given us more time to think abt sequence. Hierarchy looks like this, (colours are an indicator of where we'd hope to get to rather than a strict you must do this)
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Even though I was only in school with 6 pupils today it was awesome. Kids are class, being a teacher is the best. Easy to forget when we haven't seen them for so long!
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Teaching circle theorems soon? I've put together a ppt/booklet with worked example problem pairs, reasoning prompts and deliberate practice. (Not all my own work, some taken from @Corbettmaths @DrFrostMaths @boss_maths ) Hope somebody finds it useful docs.google.com/presentation…
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Interview for promotion 2day: get so caught up in wanting 2talk about teaching and learning, literally forgot about dozens of other things I do. Didnt get the job, but really useful experience. Best thing I can do now is keep trying to be a really good hod & the rest will follow.
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I think being able to move objects in geometry is really powerful.
Also never used to have to worry about pens running out or having to buy refills.
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#mathschat
We start every lesson with a 3 x 2 grid, this is always practicing retrieval. We don't have a forumlaic system, but do base it on what has come up that they haven't remembered. This is a Y11 one.
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In dept meeting I asked staff to rank things that took up most of their time outside of lesson.
1) Planning
2) Retrieval Quizzes
3) HW
4) Behaviour
5) Marking
Everybody put marking at the bottom. Spend time on the things that make the most impact!
Did I mention we're hiring?
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We have a maths specialist TA: who pre-teaches any content to our very weakest in morning interventions.
Curriculum that is fluid with time rather than "this week you will be teaching 'x'"
Also in terms of staff allocation, most experienced staff with the very weakest groups.
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Thoroughly enjoyable book club tonight with @Noni_Rainbow @DaveTushingham @DavidDidau @SeanDelahoy my take away is to think about how we can layer the curriculum to enable our novice learners to become experts!
Also thinking about 'infectious explanations'
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1) what is a surd
2)estimating surds
3)rules of operations with surds
4)simplifying surds
5-6) multiplying surds
7) multiplying fractions with surds (including conjugates without telling them)
8) rationalising with 1 term on the bottom
9) finding the conjugate
10) rationalising
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@mhorley @KidsBeKids3May @NickyMorgan01 @NickGibbMP @educationgovuk you don't fatten a pig by weighing it!
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Got to drop the boy off at school, been for a 5 mile run, now some absolutely quality CPD to choose from. As inset days go #GLTnationalinsetday this one is definitely up there! @GreenshawTrust @HenleyBankHigh
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My staff were praised about how they all actively check the kids work during a lesson. Then told that the lack of interaction with exercise books was a weakness, some people can't get their head around assessing learning in smarter ways.
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Sorry, late to the party, here's one I made earlier, hope it's useful!
docs.google.com/presentation…
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1) Make sure it is an assessment/feedback policy instead of marking.
2) Regularly Assess/Feedback - Every lesson by live circulation and questioning.
3) Use a system to find out gaps in pupils knowledge and a plan to fix them. (No teacher writing in books required!) #mathscpdchat
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Interested in Maths curriculum?! Join us on the 26th June discussing coherence with lots of practical takeaways! @GLOWMaths @HenleyBankHigh Please RT @MaxTheMaths @Noni_Rainbow @JoeAmbroseGLT
Link to signup is here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F…
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I worked in a school with a "no consequences, restorative behaviour system" the results were disastrous.
Sounded great in theory, in practice not being able to sanction poor behaviour limited every pupil with constant minor disruption.
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Had a thought today chatting through Maths curriculum with the fantastic @JoeAmbroseGLT :
Responsive teaching is a term that gets used a lot in terms of adapting to needs of the pupils in front of us, however what does that look like at a curriculum level? A thread 1/7
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This is my prompt for teaching it too; I've actually tried getting them to chant that "dividing is the same as multiplying by the reciprocal" hopefully its made a difference!
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Some very sensible advice on feedback. It should be instant. Books don't indicate retention, assessments do that.
My latest piece for @tes. Put down the red pen and reclaim your weekend.
tes.com/news/school-news/bre… #workload #MoreThanMarking
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@profbeckyallen is far knowledgeable than me on this,
google.com/amp/s/rebeccaalle…
Pp/disadvantaged aren't a homogenous group so for me it's more about identifying who is underperforming early, rather than their characteristics or unhelpful labels.
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If any MATHS teachers are thinking of changing jobs, consider working with me!
1) Feedback (not marking) policy
2) Fully centralised detentions (with superb behaviour)
3) Opportunities to grow at one of the most rapidly improving schools in the country!
DM me (RT welcome!)
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Today I taught a lesson on exact trig ratios that was the closest thing to a lecture I've ever done. Literally me demonstrating for half the lesson, with few questions throughout, would never have done that 3 years ago!
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