Talking About Maths, Part I

Lots of materials and prompts on the Medway site:

http://www.medway.gov.uk/index/learning/schoolinfo/38557/37417/37419/48953/65451.htm

Also includes resources for visualisation, AfL and vocabulary bookmarks.

Mathematical Images

A host of mathematical images, some animated, which can be used freely.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mathematics

How To Improve Your Maths Grade (Without Knowing Any More)

An article on 9 ways to avoid losing marks on the GCSE. Aimed at students taking the Intermediate tier, but applicable to others as well.

http://www.articlestree.com/education/intermediate-gcse-maths-revision-mistakes-to-avoid-in-the-intermediate-gcse-tx108765.html

In a similar vein, "Stop Making Stupid Mistakes" at The Art of Problem Solving has a slightly blunter approach:

http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Resources/AoPS_R_A_Mistakes.php

Creative Thinking

Prompts and activities which could be used in different subjects or in form time.

http://www.acblack.com/MEDIA/Creative_Thinking.PDF

Make A Jigsaw

Free Tarsia software to make jigsaws, card sorts, dominoes and Follow Me/loop cards - could be used for any subject, but it allows you to format expressions and equations correctly.

Once you have downloaded it, you can also view, edit and print other .fjsw files.

http://www.mmlsoft.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=15&Itemid=58

Graphs: Interpreting Line Graphs With Archimedes

An entertaining animated resource in which the depth of Archimedes' bath is graphed.

http://www.mathsonline.co.uk/nonmembers/gamesroom/sims/archi/data.html

KS2 Maths Test Analysis

From the Luton Learning Grid: Juliet Parker has produced sheets for analysing the KS2 National Curriculum Tests.

Test A, 2004
http://www.learning.luton.gov.uk/index.cfm?s=1&m=256&p=76,view_resource&start=1&kw=&el=&sc=11&id=5368

Travel Graphs: Distance-Time

Some Flash movies from Australia:

The journey of a single car - animation on one side, with the graph drawn simultaneously on the other side.

http://resources.education.tas.gov.au/item/edres/4723cb87-afb3-a2c2-5997-45b9dfb3f086/1/ViewIMS.jsp

Same format, but with several cars.

http://resources.education.tas.gov.au/item/edres/227a196b-6c0e-1840-874c-2d4c6c0b811a/1/ComplexTravelGraph.zip/complex.swf

GCSE Maths Revision Guide

A brilliant, colourful resource, which breaks down all the skills and shows exactly what you need to do for each grade in each topic.

http://www.clearcreativelearning.com/downloads/Maths_Revision.pdf

Great KS3 Starters

A booklet by the Brighton and Hove KS3 consultant, full of good ideas.

http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/downloads/education/mental+oral_starters.pdf

Little Ernie's Daily Maths Tasks: a Flash application which generates a sheet of problems with today's date on.

http://www.fieryideas.com/flash/EDMT.swf

BLP and other ideas... putting it all together

An Australian paper about different innovations.

http://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/edulibrary/public/teachlearn/innovation/Big_Ideas_in_School_and_Teacher_Improvement.doc

Building Learning Power

Some resources linked to "Building Learning Power", a set of learning skills devised by Guy Claxton based on resilience, resourcefulness, reflection and relationships.

Building Learning Power (the official website)
http://www.buildinglearningpower.co.uk/

Guy Claxton's website
http://www.guyclaxton.com/blp.htm

BLP in Solihull
http://www.solgrid.org.uk/solgrid/13.cfm

...and in Bristol
http://breazshare.net/blp/

An overview of the skills
www.thegrid.org.uk/leadership/programmes/conferences/documents/guy_claxton_presentation.pdf

Relating to mathematics: an NCETM wiki page
http://www.ncetm.org.uk/Default.aspx?page=22&module=enc&mode=100&enclbl=Building+Learning+Power+in+Mathematics

A primary school's explanation for pupils
http://www.luckwell.bristol.sch.uk/learning/learning_blp1.html

Using Music In Lessons, Part II

Some ideas for songs to use in maths lessons for learning formulae, equations and rules.

TES:

http://www.tes.co.uk/section/staffroom/thread.aspx?story_id=2428867&path=/mathematics/&threadPage=1

NCETM:

http://www.ncetm.org.uk/Default.aspx?page=14&module=COM&mode=103&COMtid=6596

Using and Applying Mathematics

Activities to help pupils develop their skills in this area:

http://www.tes.co.uk/section/staffroom/thread.aspx?story_id=2456517&path=/mathematics/&threadPage=1

Using Music In Lessons

An article about a school which uses music throughout the curriculum:

http://www.tes.co.uk/search/story/?story_id=2137237

Memorable Lessons

This thread from the TES staffroom is full of interesting, entertaining and fun ideas - although it's aimed at science teachers, there is much that could be adapted for other subjects.

http://www.tes.co.uk/section/staffroom/thread.aspx?story_id=1525252&path=/science/&threadPage=&messagePage=1

IGCSE Maths: Extra Questions

Lots of questions for all topics, with answers. A great resource for practice or revision.

One possibility: a fortnightly "selections from..." to help students to remember, consolidate and revise the topics we've covered so far.

http://collinseducation.com/subjects/details.aspx?group=2&subjectid=1&seriesid=311&itemid=961

IGCSE Maths: Teachers' Guide

Just found on the Edexcel website - a useful guide showing what is expected for different grades in each topic area.

http://www.edexcel-international.org/VirtualContent/83089/IGCSE_Mathematics_4400_Teacher_s_Guide_UG013033.pdf

How Much Food Do You Waste?

Jump on the carbon-footprint bandwagon and sample some cross-curricular work - stats, percentages, ratio...

http://education.guardian.co.uk/egweekly/story/0,,2209721,00.html

Should maths lessons be compulsory?

An article in today's Guardian argues possibly not:

"There still needs to be a syllabus that stretches the most able and provides them with a route on to A-level and university," [Andrew Hodges] says. "But I think we should consider abandoning it as a compulsory subject. What's the point in a system that brands all those who don't get a maths GCSE as failures? All it does is reinforce their sense that maths is boring and difficult, which is the last thing we should be doing."

http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,2209769,00.html