Paul Smith

Maths teacher, Engineer, Doctor of Philosophy

[Paul Smith @drpas1001]

@MathsDotScot I find that 'Fraction of a circle' is easier to explain and to learn: it ties in with geometry instead of learning yet another opaque formula. It may be 'harder' in a few cases, but those cases connect nicely with solving equtions with factions.

[Paul Smith @drpas1001]

Teaching finding stationary points via differentiation today, I decided to only teach them how to find the x and then y-values, and let them practise that process. Next lesson I'll just teach about completing nature tables: https://t.co/kKxIiJjNmY

[Paul Smith @drpas1001]

Here's my expressions round from our department's mathematical Christmas quiz. Share and enjoy!

[Paul Smith @drpas1001]

Some practice for the kinds of Higher Circle questions that pupils find hard. Because, as @mrallanmaths points out, it's really just S1/2 geometry questions. Feel free to use with either year group! https://t.co/QHJAy2KpgU

[Paul Smith @drpas1001]

I made this towards the end of our topic on quadrilaterals (and they had previously done circles). Pupils always need more practice of working backwards, and this worked well: the difficulty ramps up nicely. Worksheet with answers is at https://t.co/olfodqTsYL

[Paul Smith @drpas1001]

@MrSMaths11 Those look great! Thank you for sharing.

[Paul Smith @drpas1001]

@mrwatkinsmaths Thank you! I've wanted something like that too - and it's arrived just in time for me to use it this week.

[Paul Smith @drpas1001]

@ChrisMcGrane84 @mathsjem Just what I need for my Nat 5 class, thanks. They'll benefit from not having to (yet) find the turning point.

[Paul Smith @drpas1001]

@MrsSCantley @onechriswhite @hartmaths @mathsjem Thanks - that line has been modified on the version on TES.

[Paul Smith @drpas1001]

@onechriswhite @hartmaths @mathsjem I have no problem with pedants. Do you have a better suggestion? (I also wondered about that phrase when writing it, but since in Scotland we refer to Standard Index Form as Scientific Notation I thought I woudl be safe...)

[Paul Smith @drpas1001]

@ChrisMcGrane84 Thanks! (and I didn't notice either, when I read your book - I've forgotten about writing most of those Higher tasks)

[Paul Smith @drpas1001]

@ChrisMcGrane84 @ChrisMcGrane84 I have a set of separate Powerpint files in a folder - would you like me to send them to you?

[Paul Smith @drpas1001]

@mathsjem Here's the TES link:
https://t.co/B8sW3bTPvN

[Paul Smith @drpas1001]

@mathsjem I made this up last week to tackle exactly that issue with my bottom set. I'll put it up on TES when I get a chance.

[Paul Smith @drpas1001]

@MrScottKing @edsouthall Scottish S2 (age 14). Most pupils here wouldn't meet negative indices for at least another year.

[Paul Smith @drpas1001]

This pupil answered a reverse percentages question with a method that I'd never thought of, but which makes perfect sense. They've just invented negative indices with a 'real' context.

[Paul Smith @drpas1001]

@draustinmaths I love the challenge - it will be great for my class after Easter.

[Jo Morgan @mathsjem]

New! My 156th gems post. Ideas, resources and updates for maths teachers. 💎

https://t.co/SKKfOXNabn

Hat tips to follow!

#mathsgems #mathschat #teammaths

[Paul Smith @drpas1001]

@mathycathy @Desmos Thanks! I'd had the same idea about making a Desmos version - it would be a great way to be able to see _every_ pupil's idea to then compare and contrast, especially if you challenge them to try to be unusual.

[Paul Smith @drpas1001]

So I had this idea for a worksheet. Any suggestions before I try it out on pupils next week?

[Paul Smith @drpas1001]

Get the pdf version of the sheet here https://t.co/8iZb32WwUW 4/4

[Paul Smith @drpas1001]

So this task was great today - lots of engagement and rich discussion. 1/4

[Paul Smith @drpas1001]

As a starter we did this great task from @giftedHKO, which had them already thinking about pairs. 3/4