Explain this
Main Activity: Student Book Bk. 1: Problem Solved!
How the publisher describes it:
“Provides skills and strategies for KS3: every key mathematics skill is drawn upon in a variety of problem-solving contexts.”
Review by Karen HancockMelissa Rodd
In brief:
A class set of these is, without doubt, a resource worth investing in for your department. With so many lessons to choose from everyone is sure to find a topic they can use this book with.
“There are also suggestions for extension material for any gifted and talented pupils”
Following on from the books of ‘Starters’ Brian Fillis has produced the 'Problem Solved!' series. The aim is ‘provide pupils with opportunities for your pupils to develop their problem-solving, reasoning and communicating skills in mathematics’. Book 1 is aimed at Y7.
It comes in two books: a fairly thin (112pp) student book and a far more substantial teacher book - and this appears to be a gem!
The student’s book contains over 400 problems all laid out in SATs question format, in fact on first read through I did wonder whether I’d seen them before, covering every area of the national strategy.
The teacher’s book is split into 30 individual lessons. Each lesson starts with a lesson plan with ideas (and timings) for starter, main activity and plenary. Any OHTs or worksheets follow the lesson plan and problems from the student book are identified according to the level your pupils are working at. The majority of the lessons are accessible for students working between levels 3 and 6, and there are also suggestions for extension material for any gifted and talented pupils. Key questions are included, as well reference to the national strategy objectives and unit that the lesson fits with.
One minor downside would appear to be that the answers to the problems are scattered throughout the teacher book. They tend to be towards the end of each lesson plan, although occasionally they are including with a series of prompts or questions to develop the problem, which leads the answers to one exercise to run to four pages!
A class set of these is, without doubt, a resource worth investing in for your department. With so many lessons to choose from everyone is sure to find a topic they can use this book with.
Karen Hancock • Assistant Head of Maths, Howard of Effingham School & Melissa Rodd • Centre for Studies in Mathematics and Science Education, University of Leeds
Paperback: 112 pages
Publisher: Badger Publishing (May 2003)
Language English
ISBN-10: 1844240339
ISBN-13: 978-1844240333
Product Dimensions: 25.8 x 19.2 x 0.8 cm
