Exponentiation I was prompted by a recent tweet to think more about exponentiation. The problem being posed was how to convince students that the laws of indices apply even when the exponent is not a whole positive number. There is a deep issue lurking here, which is that the more abstract the mathematics, the less […]
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This summer saw the first sitting of the new-style GCSE Science courses. When results day rolled round, many teachers were surprised when Ofqual stepped in to ensure that higher tier students who weren’t able to achieve a 4-3, the lowest grade expected to be awarded for the tier, could be awarded a 3-3 rather than […]
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Shock waves in the human sciences! Six more of Brian Wansink’s published papers are being retracted, Cornell University announced September 20 , bringing the total to 13, and the professor has resigned in disgrace. It is not just scientific peers who are affected as Brian Wansink’s flawed methodology is exposed and his papers are withdrawn from journals. Millions of ordinary […]
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Like almost everyone else in Maths education, I have recently decided to broach the ‘mastery’ word. It does feel a bit odd to do so, given that it’s been around at least since at least the 60’s, and I’ve never felt a need to use it before – despite having been an advocate of the […]
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Rebecca Royle Barnsbury Primary School and Nursery, Surrey Our Journey We are a two-form entry primary in Woking and the Numicon approach to teaching and learning maths has become an integral part of our school’s ethos. At Barnsbury Primary School and Nursery the Numicon approach to teaching and learning in mathematics is embedded from the start […]
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As a Speech and Language Therapist, I am constantly amazed by the number of skills a child needs to acquire in those all important early years. ‘Children can express themselves effectively, showing awareness of listeners’ needs. They use past, present and future forms accurately when talking about events that have happened or are to happen […]
Read more Deputy maths lead Claire Hall discusses the massive impact Numicon has made on the students and staff at Tilbury Pioneer Academy. Back in 2013 Tilbury Pioneer Academy was due to be closed as students weren’t achieving their expected grades, staff weren’t being supported and the school was deemed not worthy of KS2. However, since the implementation […]
Read more Cunning criminality is nothing new. But the “faithful duplicity” of some recent forgeries has stunned art experts and shaken the markets and social organizations that envelop this area of knowledge. Stories of stolen fortunes and international detective work however, can kick-start student interest as we use fake art to raise questions about real art. The […]
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The recent changes in the exam system have required students and teachers to make some significant adjustments. With the first 9-1 exams over, now is a good time to reflect on the areas that students have found particularly challenging. One of these is the need for students to apply their knowledge to unfamiliar contexts. For […]
Read moreby Ann Clucas How do you teach about the abstract and symbolic to those who may be most comfortable with the concrete and literal? How can you explain wildly varying opinions of what is true (and what truth itself means) to those who may struggle to see more than one point of view? Each person […]
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