November 4, 2017
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Comments Off on Analogue Clocks: Pointless and Confusing?
Living in a digital world, I ask the question: do we need to teach pupils how to read an analogue clock in schools? Although most of us have converted to digital clocks in our online, digital world with our smartphones, computers and televisions; we cannot deny that our encounters with analogue clocks are not completely […] Continue reading
October 30, 2017
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Comments Off on The System
Following a workshop on the idea of counter-intuitive mathematics, I was intrigued to find out more about how we can look past our intuition or gut feelings to understand mathematical concepts such as probability. I am someone who struggles to grasp this mathematical concept, as I cannot see past the black and white picture: that […] Continue reading
October 25, 2017
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Comments Off on 99p – Maths Behind Consumerism
During my first year placement, a key topic that I was regularly given the responsibility of planning lessons for within mathematics was budgeting. Now, within the Experiences and Outcomes documents there are various outcomes that cover this topic: MNU 2-09a – “I can manage money, compare costs from different retailers, and determine what I can […] Continue reading
October 23, 2017
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Comments Off on Maths Anxiety: What We Should All Fear…
The subject of Maths is divisive, even beyond the system of education, and it has the potential to greatly impact people’s everyday life (both for good and for bad, depending on someone’s experience with it during their school years) (Bellos, 2010). It has been argued that it has the potential to separate humans into two […] Continue reading
September 20, 2017
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Comments Off on More than memorising!
Can I really link everything back to basic mathematics? This is what I am keen to explore and learn about through the Discovering Mathematics module. In this blog post I am going to discuss how connecting mathematical errors made in other areas of maths can be linked back to basic, fundamental mathematical principles. In the […] Continue reading
September 18, 2017
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Comments Off on Stand and Deliver
As part of our introduction to this module it was recommended that we watch the film Stand and Deliver and to analyse the character of Jaime Escalante – a maths teacher at Garfield High School, East Los Angeles, California. We had one question to answer: Why is Jaime Escalante Different? Jaime is different because he […] Continue reading
January 28, 2016
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Comments Off on Building Financial Resilience: Is it our responsibility?
In a recent Mathematics and Science input, we were very fortunate to be visited by guest lecturer Brenda Rochead who works for the Scottish Financial Education Group. The input focused on how we can raise financially capable children in a society rife with poverty and undesirable financial situations through education starting in the early years. […] Continue reading
December 5, 2015
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Comments Off on Look around you!
You’re probably thinking how monotonous it is that I continue to repeat this, but maths is everywhere! Again. I will never lose the amazement or curiosity I have filled with, at the fact that maths is the fundamental principle behind the creation and design of many things – and, much to your shock, as you are […] Continue reading
November 5, 2015
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Comments Off on The Meaning of Mathematics – Maths defined
Numbers, sums, equations, patterns, sequences, problem-solving, formulas, confusion… What comes into your head when you think about ‘maths’? Should we think more about ‘mathematical concepts’ and look deeper into what maths is all about, rather than accepting maths as being solely about numbers and work books? ‘Mathematics’ is defined as, “The abstract science of number, quantity, […] Continue reading
