The Marches Branch
Branch Contact
We are called The Marches Network because we are now more than an ATM branch. The organising committee comprises representatives of both the ATM and MA, five mathematics consultants from local LEAs, three initial teacher training tutors and local teachers. The NCETM is also represented on the committee, because we are delighted to report that we have received a grant of £1000 from the NCETM. This will be used to cover travel expenses for our workshop leaders and expenses related to providing a venue for our meetings. We shall still need to charge a small entrance fee in order to cover our costs.
Forthcoming meetings
As always we expect these events to be very popular; so make sure you put these dates in your diary now.
Further information about both meetings, and how you can book your place, will be sent nearer the time to those on our email list.
If you would like to be added to our email list please contact barbara@ludlowballs.force9.co.uk.
Sat 2 Oct 2010 at William Brookes School, Much Wenlock
There are four workshops on offer and you will be able to choose two:
Rich Task Maths
Rich Task Maths (for KS2/3 teachers): Barbara and Derek Ball will give you a flavour of their new ATM publication, by working with you on accessible and engaging tasks designed to develop learners’ mathematical knowledge and understanding.
“It lets us experiment”
“It lets us experiment” (for KS3/4 teachers): Ruth Tanner will look at ways of using dynamic geometry software with pupils to encourage geometrical reasoning and proof without the teacher needing to be an expert user of this software.
CRiSPs
CRiSPs (for KS1/2 teachers): Ray Huntley will work with Cognitively Rich Starting Points which offer a variety of flavours to suit all tastes.
Function and meaning in mathematics
Function and meaning in mathematics (for KS3/4 teachers): Brian Robinson will explore how we function mathematically to solve problems - by making assumptions and building mathematical models.
Sat 05 Mar 2011 at Tenbury Wells School
By popular demand Stephanie Prestage and Pat Perks will return to lead a whole morning workshop for teachers from all sectors in which we will work on beginning algebra without equations.
Previous meetings
Sat 13 Mar 2010 at Tenbury Wells School
What do we do when we do mathematics?
Anne Watson and John Mason will led a morning workshop called What do we do when we do mathematics? for teachers from all sectors.
Nearly 60 people spent the morning with Anne Watson and John Mason: they worked collaboratively on mathematics problems and spent time reflecting on their thinking and how this could be described and made more explicit in their teaching and in their discussion with colleagues. As always, the morning was a great success and everyone enjoyed the excellent facilities at Tenbury High School - especially the cakes and the ATM bookstall, where they spent over £600.
Here are some of the participants’ comments:
- I enjoyed talking over how we were interacting with a problem on our table, noticing differences and 'sameness' in approaches.
- I enjoyed working in a group and the struggles to find a common language in order to communicate ideas; how being precise is important.
- Great to have the opportunity to think and reflect on the learning processes related to activities.
- The session encouraged lots of questioning of one's own learning and consequently how to develop the children's learning and thought processes.
- I enjoyed this sense of 'what I am doing' as I was thinking things through.
- I learned to recognise how and when the shifts in perception need to take place.
- I learned about the importance of understanding concepts, making connections and exploring mathematics.
- I learned how important is the vocabulary we use with our pupils.
- I learned the importance of conjecturing and pupils having the opportunity to do it.
- I enjoyed the chance to reflect on learners and teaching.
- It made me think more deeply about why I teach and what I teach.
- You raised issues that really made me think.
- I hope to use some of the ideas that emerged when planning in the future.
- I want more meetings like this with mathematicians who are questioning the way we teach.
- A super morning. Inspiring.
- These Marches sessions are always fab.
- A fantastic morning - combining professional development with socialisation with other professionals. The ATM 'brand' continues to be the one you can trust.
Sat 03 Oct 2009 at Hadley Learning Centre, Telford
Ian Sugarman led a morning workshop for primary teachers and Don Steward led one for secondary teachers.
Nearly 90 people attended this meeting. Ian Sugarman ran a primary workshop: Extending problem solving into uncharted territory. Don Steward ran a secondary workshop: Improving algebraic prowess. Both workshops were a great success and the excellent venue provided plenty of opportunity for people to exchange ideas over refreshments – and spend over £1300 on the ATM bookstall!
Here are some of the participants’ comments:
- I want to go to more events like this! I’ve learnt more in one morning than you could in a week.
- Thank you. Better than any PD day.
- Fascinating and stimulating!
- Thank you. I could not fault this morning.
- Many thanks – worth a Saturday morning.
- Lots of quick ideas that you can take away and use straight away – but are also quite rich mathematically.
- As a TA/HLTA it was good to see what is out there.
Starting with an Isosceles Triangle • Saturday 14 March 2009
This meeting took on a new format and in a new location: Ludlow. As always, the event was well attended and the feedback from those attending was very positive. Pat Perks and Stephanie Prestage worked with all forty participants on a sequence of innovative and practical approaches to teaching geometry across all key stages. The activities they offered teach and consolidate geometrical knowledge and skills, while at the same time encouraging deep progress and understanding.
Here are some of the comments from participants.
- I really enjoyed my first experience of the Marches network - will definitely be coming back!
- Extremely thought-provoking.
- Real ideas for real classrooms with real teachers!
- Excellent - useful and fun.
- I loved it all.
- Most enjoyable way to spend a Saturday morning.
- I liked the pace, which provided challenge.
- Great - really interesting approach. Never knew there was so much to the isosceles triangle.
- The filter paper exercises and open questions made lessons on circle theorems transformed. The idea of pupil discovery ‘off curriculum’ leading to better ability to tackle standard text questions with confidence is appealing.
- I was able to be playful with geometry.
- I’ve found it extremely useful and interesting and applicable to the daily teaching of mathematics. The connection between the isosceles triangle and lots of other topics in maths is simply beautiful.
- I enjoyed ways of thinking about isosceles triangles from scratch. In primary we usually just present the shape and the properties and we don’t actually get the children to look behind the shapes.
- Very useful content - I will consider re-planning some future work with my Y8 class to use some of the ideas.
- Lots of ideas to challenge and extend my teaching techniques.
- Most of the activities can be differentiated and stretched to all abilities.
- The practical approach was inspiring as you could see how it had a purpose towards the KS3/4 curriculum.
- Good to have the opportunity to work with colleagues round the table.
- Nice to hear ideas from other passionate teachers.
- Will try to involve more colleagues next time.
Mathematical Creativity • Saturday 4 October 2008
This first meeting for the Marches ATM branch under its new name was a great success. 85 people attended the morning - a mix of primary and secondary teachers and consultants and a lively bunch of student teachers and their tutors mainly from UCE and Wolverhampton.
The ATM bookstall was well supported and the participants spent over £1100.
Here are some of their comments about the event:
- “Thank you for an inspiring morning”
- “Excellent sessions - many ideas to take back to my department on Monday!”
- “Very good ideas - will translate very well to classroom”
- “Very thought-provoking”
- “Four of us from work came and we all had a brilliant time”
- “Today filled me with enthusiasm and inspiration which I hope to pass onto my trainees”
- “I enjoyed meeting and working with people”
- “Interesting ways of getting everyone involved”
- “I really enjoyed using simple ideas that can generate deep maths and rich discussion.”
- “You are great at giving me new ideas for my teaching in ITT primary”
- “Enjoyed thinking about different ways of resourcing lessons and kinaesthetic activities”
- “Great to actually do the People Maths activities!”
- “Great ideas for the classroom - lots of movement in the People Maths”
- “Bowland Maths: really excited about what I could do with it”
- “Bowland Maths: some great ideas ? use of pictures as a tool - it seems an excellent resource for teachers”
- “Enjoyable morning - worth getting up!”
01 Mar 2008
This Saturday morning event started with a presentation from Diane Cochrane, explaining her role as a member of ACME. This was followed by a series of workshops on how ICT can be used to enhance and motivate mathematical thinking in KS3 and KS4 classrooms. These are some of the comments of those who attended:
- “As with your other mornings - I have thoroughly enjoyed this morning.”
- “Good to attend informal professional development and meet with others.”
- “Both workshops were great examples of sharing good practice.”
- “Really enjoyed all the ideas about using ICT to promote maths thinking in the classroom.”
- “Both sessions have given me the impetus to try out these ICT activities and to share with colleagues.”
- “Good emphasis on open-ended software.”
- “Some really good new ideas about using interactive whiteboards.”
- “A brilliant introduction to GeoGebra.”
13 Oct 2007
This meeting was much appreciated by over 30 teachers who spent the morning working on motivating and practical activities to help their pupils be more effective at functioning mathematically. The teacher leading one workshop brought along several of her Y8 pupils, who joined in the activities with the teachers.
- These are some of the comments from the teachers who attended.
- Super morning - thoroughly enjoyed it
- Everything was great
- Very practical and hands-on
- This was my first ATM event, and I found it very useful. The workshops were thought-provoking and useful for lesson resources.
- Both workshops gave me plenty of opportunity for reflection and rekindled my enthusiasm for teaching maths!! (Am rejoining ATM.)
- I was initially concerned about the level of maths required for problem solving as a primary teacher - however, it was appropriate and I could see many possibilities for differentiation.
- I learnt that cooperative maths is fun
- I enjoyed working with other maths teachers
- Very friendly people and enthusiastic presenters
The ATM bookstall again proved to be a popular part of the morning and nearly £400 of books were sold.
If you want to be added to the mailing list for the Marches Branch please contact Barbara Ball, the Branch Secretary.
Wondering what or where ‘The Marches’ are? This might help.
