# MathsClass

A blog about teaching and learning in a maths classroom.

## Archives → January 2011

### For the new year

Sunday, 30 January 2011 ·

Here are some resources for the new year…

### Mathematician’s Dice

Tuesday, 25 January 2011 ·

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!

### To a new teacher…

Tuesday, 18 January 2011 ·

A quote:

Learning math is like learning to play the piano. First menial arithmetic and endless scales, but then Chopin and one’s imagination. @mathematicsprof

Having done both (learn maths and learn the piano) I love this quote. I hated scales when learning the piano. It wasn’t till I had got through my many years of formal piano lessons that I understood how fundamental learning scales was to everything I can do on the piano. As teachers of maths, we face that same kid, trying to convince them that what they are learning now will bring them greater understanding later.

### Double Strength Cordial and Ratio

Monday, 17 January 2011 ·

When introducing the topic of ‘ratio’, I use the mixing of cordial as an illustration that most kids get.
The idea of using 1 part of cordial to 4 parts of water makes sense to them – and they get the idea of equivalence when you mix the cordial in a different sized container (I use the examples of using cups to fill a bottle for a picnic, and using buckets to mix a big batch for a party).

### Coffee and Teaching Aids

Friday, 14 January 2011 ·

I wrote about my t-shirt box back in 2009.  It’s a resource I still use in my classroom.  When teaching surface area I have peel off sides for the box which can be placed on the board to show the net.

### 4 years on

Friday, 14 January 2011 ·

Four years ago today, the first post on this blog was published.

New  Subscribe to the …

Simon Job — eleventh year of teaching maths in a public high school in Western Sydney, Australia.
MathsClass is about teaching and learning in a maths classroom. more→

@simonjob