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Mathematics Teaching 160 - September 1997
Mathematics Teaching is the journal of the Association of Teachers of Mathematics. It is a professional journal sent to all members of the Association. It is not a refereed journal. Submissions are reviewed by the editorial team. Many articles have additional information or associated files placed on the journal website. To make your views known go to the ATM forum add your views, ideas and comments.
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MT160 Contents
Editorial - Barbara Ball
Learning to tap-dance, I needed the support of the teacher and the rest of the class to keep me in step and to remind me of the correct movements. On my own I merely practised incorrect movements and my efforts were counter-productive. I could also hide my mistakes when I danced with the rest of the class.
Seeing is believing - Margaret Jones
Nowhere in the National Curriculum for ITT can I find any reference to attitudes or good work habits.
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Mental mathematics: introduction - ATM
Mental mathematics is the totality of algebraic, geometric, logical and symbolic manipulation that can be carried out in the head.
Mental methods of computation - Mike Askew
Strategies that are successful include insisting that nobodY puts a hand up until the teacher gives the signal and silently counting to five or ten before giving the signal or insisting that everybody keeps as still as possible, that not even by raising an eyebrow should anyone indicate that they think they have the answer.
Some notes on mental mathematics - David Fielker
Seeing the calculation written down is easier on the memory, but the arrangement of the writing can affect your method of calculation.
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Effective exercise - Emma Brown
A programme of regular exercise for pupils in school, so that they become increasingly skilful and flexible at doing maths in their heads.
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Recall or strategies? - Meindert Beishuizen
Dealing with numbers in a holistic way makes numbers and number operations more meaningful than carrying out the standard tens and units algorithms.
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Soroban - Tandi Clausen-May
The soroban is a type of abacus, with beads which can be moved up and down on a frame of rods.It comes from Japan.
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Mental mathematics tests - Annie Gammon
I have therefore tended not to use mental tests except where there is a need to prepare for external assessments of a similar type. Instead, preferring that they work on tasks where students can learn and achieve successfully.
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Exploring mental arithmetic - Kevin Holloway
They are actually focusing the teaching and learning going on in the classroom rather than leaving the children to make what sense they can of sets of commercial materials.
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An anecdote - Declan O'Reilly
his child had a very good understanding of the concept of multiplication, regardless of his ignorance of the standard algorithm for that operation.
Dividing by three-quarters: what Suzie saw - Tim Rowland
One incident with Not a member? Join or click to buy ‘Dividing by three-quarters: what Suzie saw’ for £3
SCAA mental arithmetic tests - Davina Jones
In February of this year SCAA circulated the sample materials for the 1997 pilot tests in mental arithmetic. Davina's evaluation is based on these materials.
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Believing is seeing - Phil Boorman
At the end of that lesson the Head of Dept said "You don't need to do any more, Phil -setting in maths is out. You've convinced me - or rather the kids have. Seeing is believing." But for me it was - as so often before - "Believing is seeing."
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Letters - Gertrud Walton; Dick Tahta; Nick Connolly; Joan Stephens
The danger of the abuse of mathematics as an instrument of mystification.
Reviews - ATM
Fermat's Last Theorem; Passport to planning the mathematics scheme of work (KS2); Tracking significant achievement in primary mathematics.
Personal View - David Rooke
We need to 'let go' more and create an ethos which supports and values the development of independent thinking though an increased emphasis on discussing and developing children's own mental methods.
