Subject Tip Mats

Questioning Grids are an idea I've seen used by a teacher within my old school. Its an Idea I liked very much as it brought together grid reading, probability and if a teacher really wanted to talk about it sample space diagrams. The idea is a student rolls two dice then answers the question on the grid. I also saw the said teacher using this methods with subject specialist key words and the student had to try and fit the word into an appropriate sentence. The grid looks like this. 

Every child does matter not just every grade.

Pupil Premium, bridging the gap, closing the gap, whatever you want to call it, is a matter at the heart of most primary and secondary schools across England. Everyone is looking for the ‘magic cure’, if you do x, y and z the gap will close and your results will increase tenfold. Unfortunately there is no such thing out there and it is not a one size fits all solution in terms of schools and students who are classed under the pupil premium category. So, it then makes sense that there isn't a blanket ‘cure’ to close the gap.

I was asked at short notice to present at NAMA 2015 conference on the 7th March on the importance of social media and blogging. With just over a week to turn the presentation around, it was ironic that I turned to some of my key twitter followers to ask for advice. After speaking with @ICTEvangelist in depth and @TeamTait I felt confident on how to start, thank you for your help and support gentlemen.

After the twitter maths teachers, told me last week about #CelebrationofMaths, I signed up late. I have to say I am so glad that I did. I met with the exam board’s @AQAMaths and @OCRMaths to talk about the new exams, resources and specimen papers.  Unfortunately Edexcel didn’t attend the event. It was great to meet the @AQAMaths team in person after recently writing an article for them on why I give all my resources away, BetterMaths.org.uk.