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Monday 10 October 2022

 This year I've been working with a small group of students who are aiming for any level of pass in their upcoming IGCSE.

In order to simplify the study, we've concentrated our efforts on about 45% of the paper. Pretty much all of the algebra (apart from completing the square and graphing and lines of equations) and FDP, as well as data.

Some of the students have difficulty with processing complex information or struggle with cognitive load, so most of the topics we cover are the straightforward questions that can be solved with a a simple algorithmic approach.


Anyway each week se spend 45 minutes on only algebra, and 45 minutes on everything else, leaving the extra double lesson to look at past papers or teach/refresh a new topic.

The constant spaced repetition seems to be working - so sharing the sheets I created, questions, taken from a variety of places, including the amazing Dr Austin and Boss Maths to name a couple. When I get to the end, I simply start again from the start! I'm adding more to the Everything Else sheets as we teach it.


Algebra Qs


Answers


Everything Else Qs


Answers

Tuesday 13 February 2018

Division Games


Here are some activities for division, particularly useful in a primary setting.

The 'Race To One' sheet is particularly liked by my recent year 3 class.





Slideshow of them (So I can dynamically add to the slides over time) or you can download as PDF version below.




Download Slides as PDF


Monday 12 February 2018

Circles and Pythagoras


I've not used Geogebra for a while - I forgot how fun it is!




This is similar to a problem from many sources, such as this excellent University of Georgia article



Saturday 10 February 2018

Find Me... Grids


A simple but rich activity.

Find Me Grids

There is a template version available to create your own - although it isn't hard to create the model yourself.




Depending on age and ability, they could create their own - or explain understanding.

The document is visible on google slides, you can print any page you need - there are a couple that are slightly different just because it is hard to create fractions in google slides.


I will keep adding to the slide link below so keep this page bookmarked.

Template Link

Tuesday 24 October 2017

A New Chapter

A lot has changed since I last posted on the blog. And I do mean a lot. After spending a year working in Primaries and tutoring students from age 6 to 26 in Maths and English, and most importantly caring for my children, it was time for a fresh start.

So... we moved... to Hong Kong. This is not a blog about moving to Hong Kong. That is here. I am now part of an international school, working at primary level. So as a result, my blog is being resurrected, as this past year I have spent collating and sharing some of the great resources we have in secondary with primary teachers. Now, my big job is to support this idea of mastery - identify resources that allow teachers to dig deeper into certain topics, and offer tips and hints on some of the basics too.

Many of the resources I refer to will be referenced and praised as they should - but there will be a real mix of age related resources so I will at some point try to organise it in the way Don Steward or Resourcaholic does.

Monday 3 October 2016

Indices/Powers Extension


Once you have mastered Indices at GCSE, there isn't a lot of investigation without going into logs, so I created these sheets - they are difficult and would probably do well in A level classes too.




Tuesday 2 August 2016

Drawing Challenges - Geometry Proof

I've used these for introduction to proof, angles and any geometry subject really.

Encourage the student to give an absolute reason why they might not be able to complete any of the challenges.

I usually ask students to prove or draw on the whiteboard as we are going along. Students can use peer work as they work themselves. Sometimes I might send someone who is wrong up to the front to draw their solution - this normally generates great debate and questions many students working.