Explain this
Reaching the Core of AS Mathematics
How the publisher describes it:
“The book includes student resource sheets and detailed teachers' notes. The supporting CD contains six computer programs which include help to reinforce and consolidate algebraic skills in the context of solving problems, and three ‘big picture’ programs that can be used in many different ways.”
Review by Alison Parish
In brief:
I would certainly recommend this book to anyone teaching C1 and C2, it might even inspire you to create similar activities yourself!
“It is not a textbook. This book has tried and tested activities.”
Looking for a change? Wanting ideas to help check your students’ understanding without formal questioning or testing? If so, this is the book for you!
It is not a textbook. This book has tried and tested activities that were originally published by ATM under the titles ‘These have worked for us at A-level (1984)’ and ‘These have also worked for us at A-level (1985)’. The activities encourage cooperative working, discussion and building confidence. The activities are divided into eight sections and can built into existing C1 and C2 schemes of work (Specification links are included).
The book contains teacher’s notes and photocopiable student resources which are also on CD. The CD also has specially written interactive programs that can be run on a computer system or using the whiteboard.
The games need little preparation apart from copying and cutting, (the page also has the solution so it is not appropriate to get the students to cut them!). They include loop cards and sorting activities.
Do you have problems setting creative homework? Many of the activities in this publication are suitable for students to take home to use, they can be used for homework, as reinforcement, and for preparation prior to a lesson during which they could work as a group to share their ideas and feed back to the whole class about what they have found out as generalisations.
What I particularly like is that the time spent on the activities is teacher controlled as feedback can take place without the activity being completed by every student. In a trial of quadratic sorting the activity took ten minutes, making it ideal as a starter or plenary. They are also suitable for an interlude in the two hour lesson that seems to be being introduced in several AS classes. Another advantage of this book is that if a teacher is unavailable they can use the time constructively working together on an activity that will help to cement the concepts needed for AS.
The programs are quick and easy to load, providing another dimension to the lessons; the activities run in Excel and the student resources are PDF files. Instructions are included in the Excel files.
I would certainly recommend this book to anyone teaching C1 and C2, it might even inspire you to create similar activities yourself!
Alison Parish • Second in Mathematics, Stowmarket High School, Suffolk
Reaching the Core of AS Mathematics
Book and CD £50 (non-members) or £37.50 (members)
