Susan Okereke: What I think about when starting with new classes

A wide ranging conversation covering engagement, curriculum, classroom culture, and preparing students for maths beyond school

Susan Okereke is a secondary maths teacher in London, recently moving to St. Mark’s Academy in South London as Lead Practitioner in maths. She also leads Work Groups for the London SE Plus Maths Hub. Beyond that, she has developed a role as an independent ‘maths communicator’, aiming to make maths less frightening and more available to all, throughout their lives and not only during school. She does this through her podcast, blog, social media and public speaking.

In this conversation, Susan tells us about what she considers when faced with new classes, including creating the right environment, setting expectations, dealing with disruption and prioritising the classes and students she finds most challenging. She also gives her views on the difficulties with the current GCSE maths curriculum, particularly at Foundation level, what might better replace it and how powerful maths can be as a tool for social mobility

Show notes

Taking part in the discussion are:

• Susan Okereke, maths teacher and Lead Practitioner, St. Mark’s Academy, Mitcham, London
• Gwen Tresidder, NCETM Communications Manager

Episodes:

• 00:00 – Intro and background
• 03:46 – How teaching adult numeracy informs the way Susan now teaches secondary students
• 10:16 – GCSE Foundation maths curriculum ‘not fit for purpose’
• 15:41 – Susan talks about her role as a ‘maths communicator’
• 16:36 – Maths as a tool for social mobility: encouraging diversity and inclusion
• 21:28 – What Susan is thinking about with new classes in September
• 24:56 – The importance of learner engagement: creating an approach response in the brain
• 26:41 – Managing students who are not in the right state to learn

Useful links:

Susan tweets as @DoTheMathsThing

Susan’s website, Do the Maths Thing, contains links to all the projects Susan is currently involved in, and to her blog

Susan co-hosts the Maths Appeal podcast with Bobby Seagull.