MathsClass

Where do you go for maths lessons and good lesson ideas?
Here’s the start of my list, I’m not particularly recommending these sites, just listing them as places to look for ideas.

Feeling nerdy? Backing this project on KickStarter will get you a Mathematician’s Dice for just $5 (2 for $10, 4 for $20).

Rather than the boring numbers 1 to 6, these dice have the six most important numbers in mathematics on them — i, 0, 1, φ, e and π!

Jeff of Webmaths points out a new Australian TV show, Letters and Numbers.

The end of term series of posts are some of the most popular on this site.

I just posted on my personal blog about how I use the web, looking at how the various technologies (RSS) and tools (Google Reader, Delicious, Twitter) fit together.

Here’s a great example of a graph that is just wrong, the data may be correct, but it has obviously been represented the wrong way. Watch the video…

Having found this tip on elearnr.org Doug Belshaw’s blog about using PowerPoint:

Find graphics that represent things you do frequently in lessons (perhaps from clipart) and always use these when doing a similar activity. For example, a pen writing for when it’s time to start work or two people talking for discussion/group work. These help reinforce good habits and aid classroom management.

I went looking for some nice graphics to use.

I wonder how often maths teachers make confusing statements like this in class:

Single aged pensioners may lose one-third of an expected $30-a-week increase in the May 12 budget. [emphasis mine, front page of smh.com.au on 26th April 2009]

What they actually mean is that the expected increase will be $20.

Eating chocolate could improve the brain’s ability to do maths.

[full story: telegraph.co.uk]

AKA, justifying the use of Freddos in the maths classroom.

Dilbert answers:

We celebrated 12345678890 Day in class today…

An embarrassing, and slightly funny, example of why Mathematics is important (in this case, being able to read a calendar).

Recently Dan Meyer posted his thoughts on the ideal maths textbook, which would actually be a digital archive of very interesting mathematical media.  This is a great idea, and whilst I don’t have a projector in my classroom yet (although fingers-crossed), it would be something that I would buy/subscribe to.  Anyway, there was a challenge in this for me: being mindful of the media I consume and the world around me to collect digital bits and pieces that might help explain a mathematical concept (I commented on Dan’s blog that I missed the opportunity to take a picture of 3m³ of dirt I had delivered).  The second, to my mind harder, challenge is to take that item and make a meaningful and engaging connection with a concept being taught in class.

I’m currently sorting through the many teaching blogs I subscribe to, trying to cull the list.  The thing about Maths related blogs that tends to keep them in the list is that Maths teachers generally write more practical posts.

The end of year activity of choice this year, will be making Zombies!

Two very handy fonts that will help make worksheets and other computer created resources look great.

Another game, this time for the most basic “technology” in the maths classroom - the calculator.

I’m trying to build up a collection of maths games for lesson fillers, reward and skills practise.

Here’s a nice page of resources for Mathematics teachers, published via the EAA (Educational Assessment Australia, UNSW).

CombiNumerals is a really handy font for Mac and Windows.

In the 16th January 2007 episode of the BBC’s program Digital Planet, Gareth Mitchell talks to the authors of a report about children and technology.  The report is titled “Their Space: Education for a digital generation”.  It’s a free PDF download.  I haven’t read it yet… maybe some reflections in a future post.