CREATING

A MATHEM

ATICS C

ULTURE

W H A N G A R E I •M AY 6

• 2 0 1 3

J IM H

OGAN

TEAM SOLUTIONS

MY GOALS• For you to “think outside the square” a bit,

reflect and ponder about your practice and classroom

• For you to learn some new problems, share others, experience learning

• For all to have a bit of fun with mathematics

PLAN DU JOUR1.A wee bit of reflection

2.A few problems across the strands

3.A reading

4.A commitment to try some thing and tell me about it.

Please remind me about feedback…

DRAW A MATHEMATICS TEACHERThis is a wonderful activity that has little

direction and lots of creative potential.

Try it now.

And add some characteristics that a mathematics teacher needs…

- Robust relationships, deep mathematical knowledge, management skills, eyes in the back of the head, endless energy, wine, a range of mathematically flavored clothing, blocks, tools, memory, Google powered search engine, ability to have 6 conversations at once, be empatheic after having items stolen, can flip from Y7 number to Yr 13 a+ib to Year 11 inference without crashing, can run with a cup of tea, can referee rugby and netball, can see around corners, ability to plan a complete day and then toss it out at 8:41am due to unforeseen circumstance…

DESIGN A MATHEMATICS T-SHIRTCreate a mathematics design on the T-Shirt.

Best design hint….KISS!

Make a wall display and print the best.

YOUR CLASSROOMWhere are your

desks?

This is a curious insight into the culture of the school, the department and the classroom teacher.

Take a tour around the school and see what other teachers do.

Do you have - a problem corner?- a reading corner?- a thinking seat?- a construction table?- a messy glue place, sink

bench?- some physics stuff- two or three computers

Whose room is it?

YOUR CLASSROOMHow are your desks placed?

WHO SITS WHERE?Deal out the coloured

cards randomly and this is where you are sitting today to solve these problems.

Other groupings might be based upon ability, gender, friendship, houses, …

Try and avoid hair colour, height, shoe size, …

PROBLEM 1

Number and Algebra

King Arthur.

This is a wonderful story and ideal for generating a reason for sequence (and series).

The answer is powerfully odd!

One story (that is certain to be false) is that he gathered his “Knights of the Round Table” and told them he would select a knight worthy of marrying his daughter. The selection process would be, he explained, starting with chair number 1 that he chose, he would say STAY then moving to chair number 2 he would say GO, and then STAY, GO, STAY, GO,.. until he had one knight left. That knight would marry his daughter and become wealthy, have many heirs and live happily every after.

PROBLEM 2, 3 AND 4Geometry and Measurement

Shape foldingSpace ShuttleGPS Problem

PROBLEM 5The Middle Number

BIG IDEAS IN MATHEMATICSWhat do you think is the most fundamental idea in

mathematics?

What is the most fundamental idea in statistics?

List a few things you were never taught.

Hmmmm…

MY FIVE BIG IDEAS IN MATHEMATICS1. One can be anything I choose 1 to be.

2. When I combine or compare things in mathematics I do so using the same size bits.

3. The middle number is very important in all strands

4. A visual model is the most powerful

5. It is better to solve one problem 5 ways than five problems 1 way.

6. Resonance is a big idea in Physics

7. SHAPE is a big idea across all strands.

MATH QUIZ TIMEDesignI use 20 questions stapled together with Group A, B, C, D, E, F, G for 28 kids.

Questions are on a topic either as a pretest, or a post test, or just mixed up for fun.

Look for the keen quizzers, they are your Math MIND team.

Group based on ability is good so all get a chance to succeed. Set a goal for each team. Top students race the clock.

Correct question 5 points and loose a point on each attempt. Hint for 5th attempt.

MAKE A GOALHave a think about everything and make a goal (an inquiry) of

something to attempt.

This could be part of your appraisal/registration requirements.

And tell me about what happened.