I am writing this blog post so that I can always remember this conversation that I had with a pupil. I want to remember it for two reasons: what this pupil said to me resonated so much with my experiences as a pupil and also left me deeply touched.
The pupil in question is applying to study maths at university with the intention of becoming a maths teacher. We were discussing her UCAS application, teacher training and encouraging positive attitudes towards maths. During this conversation she told me she wanted to come back and work in our school. When I asked her why, she replied with 'I know what difference a good teacher makes and a school like this needs teachers like that'. As a former pupil of the same school, I know exactly what she was talking about. I had an incredible maths teacher and she really sparked my love of maths. My life may have taken a very different direction had it not been for her. Great teachers really make the difference for young people and their life choices.
When I left my school as a pupil I thought my journey at the school was over and I wouldn't ever be back but 6 years later there I was, this time as a teacher. After this conversation and many other like it, I know exactly why I came back...for kids like her. I've taught her for 3 years and during that time she has really blossomed as a mathematician. I know it could have happened with any other teacher but it is a privilege to be a part of that. There is something magical about the kids I work with. I also know lots of other teacher's experience similar relationships with pupils but I think we always think there is something special about our kids...just like parents. All I know for sure is the relationships I form with pupils are 50% of why I love my job. The other 50% is getting to talk about maths all day.
Thursday, 28 September 2017
Friday, 15 September 2017
#MathsWeekScotland Round Up
Today concludes Maths Week Scotland for my school. And boy did we have a busy week.
On Monday, the Numeracy and STEM Prefect Team organised an after school scavenger hunt for S4 - 6 pupils. Using problems from the UKMT maths challenges, Chris Smith's maths newsletter and other bits and pieces they put together a loop around the school. The first team with a correct loop won some prizes but all the participants were treated to pizza. The numbers were small which the prefect team felt was quite manageable but everyone had a good time. The prefects pitched the problems at a good level and every team was able to make their way round the loop.
On Tuesday, the S1 - 3 pupils were treated to a Fun Maths Roadshow. Twenty five maths problems were placed around our concourse and pupils had to work in pairs to solve them before moving on to another one. I was also incredibly delighted to get some parent volunteers to come in and assist with the roadshow. Comments from the pupils have been very positive about the roadshow with the S3 year group complaining when I told them that they're time was up. Music to a maths teachers ears - pupils complaining when it's time to finish doing maths. It's amazing what you can learn about pupils when you take them out a classroom setting. One pupil in particular spent almost the whole two hour session on one puzzle because he was determined to get it. In the classroom, he is very quick to give up. Moving forward, I will use this to encourage him in his maths education.
On Thursday, the S4 - 6 pupils had a visit and presentation from two local companies, CRC Evans Offshore and Ross-shire Engineering. Both of these companies came to speak to the pupils about the importance of maths in their workplaces. A lot of what they had to say I'm sure will stick with a lot of pupils. What stuck with me was the following:
Thursday also saw the first ever Parents' Puzzle Night at Alness. Parents were treated to some classic puzzles and brain teasers along with cake. In advance of this event, I created a powerpoint and then parents were given whiteboards so they didn't have to worry about making mistakes. I know that some pupils will definitely be getting some puzzles to do at home from their parents now, especially since Mum and Dad can show off that they know the answers. It was a nice informal evening with some unexpected senior pupil guests (apparently they were not happy that parents were getting all of the fun). There is some work to be done on raising the profile of this event but I am positive that next year it could be bigger and better.
Over the past few weeks, I have been slowly adding some videos on to the school Facebook page to support parents who want to help with maths and numeracy at home. The video I put up for Maths Week is quite a long one on Mental Calculation and Multiple Strategies. Thankfully I had some keen S2 pupils to help with this one and their nerves didn't get the better of them. I'm going to add to this one with a video of how we use the technique in the classroom to hopefully show parents how they can complement what we do in school at home.
I'm not going to lie, Maths Week has been exhausting but in the loveliest way. Seeing enthusiasm for maths in our pupils makes it all worth it. And maybe we will have changed some attitudes towards maths or maybe not, but our department got to showcase their love and passion of maths and take the rest of the school along with them for one week at least. That is a win for me.
On Monday, the Numeracy and STEM Prefect Team organised an after school scavenger hunt for S4 - 6 pupils. Using problems from the UKMT maths challenges, Chris Smith's maths newsletter and other bits and pieces they put together a loop around the school. The first team with a correct loop won some prizes but all the participants were treated to pizza. The numbers were small which the prefect team felt was quite manageable but everyone had a good time. The prefects pitched the problems at a good level and every team was able to make their way round the loop.
On Tuesday, the S1 - 3 pupils were treated to a Fun Maths Roadshow. Twenty five maths problems were placed around our concourse and pupils had to work in pairs to solve them before moving on to another one. I was also incredibly delighted to get some parent volunteers to come in and assist with the roadshow. Comments from the pupils have been very positive about the roadshow with the S3 year group complaining when I told them that they're time was up. Music to a maths teachers ears - pupils complaining when it's time to finish doing maths. It's amazing what you can learn about pupils when you take them out a classroom setting. One pupil in particular spent almost the whole two hour session on one puzzle because he was determined to get it. In the classroom, he is very quick to give up. Moving forward, I will use this to encourage him in his maths education.
On Thursday, the S4 - 6 pupils had a visit and presentation from two local companies, CRC Evans Offshore and Ross-shire Engineering. Both of these companies came to speak to the pupils about the importance of maths in their workplaces. A lot of what they had to say I'm sure will stick with a lot of pupils. What stuck with me was the following:
- Employers may not need their employees to be able to carry out calculations but they must understand what the conclusions of these calculations mean and how to respond to them
- During business meetings, the inability to carry out on the spot calculations undermines a business partner or clients confidence in your abilities particularly in negotiations.
- Pythagoras and Trigonometry are used by some engineers on an almost daily basis.
Thursday also saw the first ever Parents' Puzzle Night at Alness. Parents were treated to some classic puzzles and brain teasers along with cake. In advance of this event, I created a powerpoint and then parents were given whiteboards so they didn't have to worry about making mistakes. I know that some pupils will definitely be getting some puzzles to do at home from their parents now, especially since Mum and Dad can show off that they know the answers. It was a nice informal evening with some unexpected senior pupil guests (apparently they were not happy that parents were getting all of the fun). There is some work to be done on raising the profile of this event but I am positive that next year it could be bigger and better.
Over the past few weeks, I have been slowly adding some videos on to the school Facebook page to support parents who want to help with maths and numeracy at home. The video I put up for Maths Week is quite a long one on Mental Calculation and Multiple Strategies. Thankfully I had some keen S2 pupils to help with this one and their nerves didn't get the better of them. I'm going to add to this one with a video of how we use the technique in the classroom to hopefully show parents how they can complement what we do in school at home.
I'm not going to lie, Maths Week has been exhausting but in the loveliest way. Seeing enthusiasm for maths in our pupils makes it all worth it. And maybe we will have changed some attitudes towards maths or maybe not, but our department got to showcase their love and passion of maths and take the rest of the school along with them for one week at least. That is a win for me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)