The NCETM Maths Podcast, from the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics, invites teachers, maths experts and anyone with a passion for teaching maths to talk about topics that shine a light on great maths teaching. With ideas for classroom activities, inspirational stories of careers in maths, and lively debates on contemporary topics, the NCETM podcast has something for everyone. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Episodes
Thursday Oct 08, 2020
Thursday Oct 08, 2020
Martyn Yeo teaches Year 4 at a primary school in Warwickshire. In this episode, he discusses the benefits of using manipulatives for teaching maths, and how restrictions on sharing equipment means that he has had to adapt. He discusses the use of online versions of his favourite manipulatives and other ways he has adjusted his usual approach.
Show notes
Taking part in the discussion are:
- Martyn Yeo: Year 4 teacher and wider curriculum lead, from Goodyers End School in Warwickshire
- Gwen Tresidder: NCETM Communications Manager
Useful links
Martyn tweets as @martynyeouk. His YouTube channel, a collection of useful videos for maths teaching is Mr Yeo’s Maths Mastery. Martyn also leads CPD Work Groups for the new Origin Maths Hub.
During the conversation, Martyn mentioned:
- MathsBot online manipulatives tools
- NCETM’s #mathscpdchat on Twitter: this is an online chat between teachers each Tuesday evening 7-8pm. The chat is hosted each week by a different teacher and the topic is posted in advance.
Wednesday Jul 15, 2020
Wednesday Jul 15, 2020
Hisham Alhassan is a secondary maths teacher and Key Stage 5 coordinator at a school in Oxfordshire. In this episode, he discusses the school’s decision not to bring Year 12 students back into the building, some tactics he has deployed for engaging participation during online lessons, and his increased involvement in the maths education CPD community during school closure. Taking on a new role as director of maths in September, he explains how he is planning to approach Covid recovery in a school he doesn’t yet know.
Show notes
Taking part in the discussion are:
- Hisham Alhassan: Maths teacher and KS5 coordinator from Wheatley Park School in Oxfordshire
- Gwen Tresidder: NCETM Communications manager
Useful links
Hisham tweets as @AlhassanMaths. He writes a blog, Adventures in maths teaching, most recently reflecting on online teaching, attending his first maths conference (online) and on being a BAME educator.
During the conversation, Hishim mentioned:
- Diagnostic Questions
- Hegarty Maths
- Dr Frost Maths (specifically the new DFM whiteboard feature)
- Craig Barton, maths teacher
- Jo Morgan, maths teacher
Wednesday Jul 01, 2020
Wednesday Jul 01, 2020
Deb Friis is a secondary maths teacher and Research Associate at a research school in Sussex. She also co-leads on secondary mastery for the Sussex Maths Hub. In this interview she talks about what it’s like to be back teaching Y10 students, how research has informed her maths department’s priorities during this period, and their early thoughts about September. She also talks about the difficulties of the GCSE grading process this year.
We hope that this interview, with others in the series, will generate ideas and allow listeners to reflect on what works best for their own situations.
Show notes
Taking part in the discussion, recorded on 29 June 2020, are:
- Deb Friis: Maths teacher and Research Associate at Durrington High School, Sussex
- Gwen Tresidder: NCETM Communications Manager
Episode chapters
- 00:06 – Intro and how Deb found lockdown
- 02:54 – How the school organised return of Year 10
- 06:51 – Any plans to get Years 7 to 9 back?
- 07:21 – Thoughts about September
- 09:46 – The school’s role as a Research School
- 11:41 – How did GCSE grading work out?
Useful links
Deb tweets as @runningstitch
During the podcast, Deb mentions:
EEF best evidence on supporting students to learn remotely
Back to teaching Year 10 this summer – Deb’s blog post
Google learning platform (schools can now apply for funding to set up the Google learning platform or the Microsoft equivalent)
Research into impact of Christchurch earthquakes on attainment
EEF best evidence on impact of school closures on the attainment gap
Wednesday Jun 24, 2020
Wednesday Jun 24, 2020
Melissa Molnar is a Canadian teacher who moved to London for experience and never quite left! She teaches Year 1 (though is currently in an EYFS bubble) and leads maths across her school and the larger school partnership. Melissa talks about her thinking behind planning the partnership’s home learning curriculum, the recovery curriculum and about her involvement in creating the NCETM Primary Lesson videos, and how she has used them since.
We hope that this interview, with others in the series, will generate ideas and allow listeners to reflect on what works best for their own situations.
Show notes
Taking part in the discussion, recorded on 22 June 2020, are:
- Melissa Molnar, Y1 teacher and Maths Lead in Greenwich, London.
- Gwen Tresidder: NCETM Communications Manager
Episode chapters
- 00:06 – How home learning started
- 05:06 – Melissa’s working week
- 07:08 – Comparing what children do at home and at school
- 08:08 – Looking towards September
- 08:38 – Creating video lessons for NCETM
- 12:38 – Is teaching via video more difficult?
- 15:26 – Collaborative planning online
Useful links
Melissa tweets as @WoodhillMaths.
During the podcast, Melissa mentions:
Home learning packs from her school
Thursday Jun 11, 2020
Thursday Jun 11, 2020
Laura Behan talks about working in the EYFS keyworker bubble as the rest of her school opens up to Reception, Year 1 and Year 6. We hear about how the school has organised staff, children and the buildings, and how they are providing learning from home and support for the rest of the pupils.
We hope that this interview, and others, will generate ideas and allow listeners to reflect on what works best for their own situations.
Show notes
Taking part in the discussion, recorded on 10 June 2020, are:
- Laura Behan, Year 2 teacher and Maths Lead at a primary school in Greater Manchester
- Gwen Tresidder: NCETM Communications Manager
Episode chapters
00:06 - Introduction to Laura's school
03:41 - How the phased re-opening started
05:14 - How bubbles work
08:21 - How much social distancing in bubbles
11:51 - What work has been sent home
13:06 - Evidence of pupils' lost learning
15:16 - Thoughts about start of autumn term
16:41 - Advice for schools still to start re-opening
Useful links
Laura tweets as @LauraBehan21. She runs a teacher resource website and blog, Teacher Tips, tweeting as @TeacherTipsUK .
During the podcast, Laura mentions:
Tuesday May 26, 2020
Tuesday May 26, 2020
Craig Tilstone talks about the difficulty of engagement in remote learning in an area with a low socio-economic profile. He talks about the decisions made and steps taken that have improved engagement in maths learning. And he gives an insight into the juggling act of doing all this while schooling his own children from home!
We hope that this interview, and others, will generate ideas and allow listeners to reflect on their own practice, remembering that different contexts require different approaches.
Show notes
Taking part in the discussion, recorded on 20 May, are:
- Craig Tilstone, Maths Lead, SLE and Year 6 teacher at a Nottinghamshire primary school
- Gwen Tresidder: NCETM Communications Manager
Episode chapters
- 00:06 – Introduction, and Craig’s new working week
- 02:56 – What learning is being sent home
- 06:26 – What is producing the best engagement at home?
- 07:56 – Opening after half-term?
- 09:06 – Immediate needs for Year 6 pupils?
- 10:06 – Looking ahead to September
- 12:36 – Anything you’ve personally learnt during the lockdown period?
Useful links
Craig tweets as @CraigTilstone
During the podcast, Craig mentions:
White Rose Home Learning resources
Maths No Problem textbook scheme
During April and May 2020 the regular Tuesday night Twitter-based #mathscpdchat frequently discusses teachers’ approaches to remote teaching. Accounts of all these conversation can be found at: https://www.ncetm.org.uk/mathscpdchat.
Thursday May 21, 2020
Thursday May 21, 2020
Nick Edwards reflects on how his experience of supporting students through the Grenfell tragedy informed his school’s decision to provide regular video lessons for classes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We hope that this interview, and others, will generate ideas and allow listeners to reflect on their own practice, remembering that different contexts require different approaches.
Show notes
Taking part in the discussion, recorded on 19 May, are:
- Nick Edwards: Director of Maths working in a secondary school in West London
- Gwen Tresidder: NCETM Communications Manager
Episode chapters
- 00:06 – Introduction, and Nick’s new working week
- 02:12 – How Nick’s department prepared for remote teaching
- 06:06 – Mix of recorded and streamed videos/lessons?
- 07:011 – Description of school
- 08:57 – Level of student engagement
- 11:17 – Plans for helping kids who haven’t been engaging
- 12:36 – Thoughts about re-opening
- 13:44 – Has the Grenfell fire experience helped?
Useful links
During the podcast, Nick mentions:
Google learning platform (schools can now apply for funding to set up the Google learning platform or the Microsoft equivalent) and
Friday May 15, 2020
Friday May 15, 2020
The fourth of our conversations exploring how schools and teachers are managing the challenges of providing remote learning in maths, supporting students and looking after their own wellbeing during the COVID-19 school closures.
We hope that this interview, and others, will generate ideas and allow you to reflect on your own practice, remembering that different contexts will require different approaches.
Show notes
Taking part in the discussion, recorded on 13 May, are:
- Dan Poulson, secondary head of maths at a rural 11-16 school in Lincolnshire
- Gwen Tresidder, NCETM Communications Manager
Episode chapters
- 00:06 – Introduction, and Dan’s new working week
- 02:21 – How Dan’s department prepared for remote teaching
- 03:46 – Which resources is Dan using
- 04:16 – Description of Dan’s school
- 09:16 – Plans for after May half-term break
- 10:31 – Thoughts about students coming back into school
- 13:56 – What has Dan learnt during this phase of school closures
Useful links
Dan mentions these three websites, used by his department
- Mathsbox – mathsbox.org.uk
- GCSEpod – gcsepod.com
- Hegarty Maths – hegartymaths.com
Find the other podcasts in this school closures-related series at https://www.ncetm.org.uk/resources/51240
Thursday May 14, 2020
Thursday May 14, 2020
The third of our conversations exploring how schools and teachers are managing the challenges of providing remote learning in maths, supporting students and looking after their own well-being during the Covid-19 school closures.
We hope that this interview, and others, will generate ideas and allow listeners to reflect on their own practice, remembering that different contexts will require different approaches.
Show notes
Taking part in the discussion, recorded on 12 May, are:
- Laurie Luscombe: secondary maths teacher working in Oldham
- Gwen Tresidder: NCETM Communications Manager
Episode chapters
- 04:21 – How the maths department planned for remote teaching
- 07:01 – Engagement levels of students
- 09:26 – Exactly what maths work was sent home
- 12:06 – Getting a sense of students’ home life?
- 13:41 – Thoughts about when schools start to open
Useful Links
Laurie tweets as @mrluscombemaths
During April and May 2020 the regular Tuesday night Twitter-based #mathscpdchat frequently discussed teachers’ approaches to remote teaching. Accounts of all these conversation can be found at: https://www.ncetm.org.uk/mathscpdchat.
Wednesday May 13, 2020
Wednesday May 13, 2020
The second of our conversations exploring how schools and teachers are managing the challenges of providing remote learning in maths, supporting students and looking after their own well-being during the Covid-19 school closures.
We hope that this interview, and others, will generate ideas and allow listeners to reflect on their own practice, remembering that different contexts will require different approaches.
Show notes
Taking part in the discussion, recorded on 11 May, are:
- Jo Brown, primary teacher (Year 5), maths lead and maths SLE, working in a school in Kent
- Gwen Tresidder: NCETM Communications Manager
Episode chapters
- 00:00 – Introduction, and Jo’s working week
- 03:55 – How Jo approaches her maths teaching
- 06:10 – Engagement levels of pupils
- 09:43 – Feelings about schools’ phased return
- 11:17 - Lessons learned for the future
Useful links
The NCETM materials, mentioned by Jo: www.ncetm.org.uk/masterypd
During April and May 2020 the regular Tuesday night Twitter-based #mathscpdchat frequently discussed teachers’ approaches to remote teaching. Accounts of all these conversation can be found at: https://www.ncetm.org.uk/resources/51240