Stop saying "Just add zeros"!
I wish primary school teachers would stop teaching students that you just add zeros when multiplying by multiples of 10. It often leads...
Not wrong, and yet not the best use of language for conceptual understanding
Area and Perimeter It is curious that so many students when asked about perimeter and area say that “perimeter is the outside” and “area...
Learning Maths is Multi-faceted
This year's TIMSS international maths assessment results for 9 and 13 year old students shows a decline in NZ children's mathematics...
Practical Applications capture student's imagination
Many students can't relate to maths until they come across something that sparks their imagination. This student likes Doll's Houses and...
Quick tests for Divisibility
Number 2 If the number is even it is always divisible by 2. Number 3 If the sum of the digits of a number is divisible by 3 then the...
Geometry
Geometry in The Maths Room this week and a spot of dance for geometric inspiration!
But you don't count zero!
It is a curious thing that several students this year (two Year 8 and one Year 11 and all from different schools) have told me that "you...
Lego combinations
Here is something to challenge your puzzle solving curiousity! How many different ways do you think 6 eight stud lego bricks can be...
Everything is easy when you know how!
Sometimes students who have been struggling to "grasp a maths concept" suddenly say with a laugh, "Oh that's actually quite easy". I...
Equals means equals!
I have observed several students and notes from teachers writing incorrect maths statements when using the 'tidy numbers' method. They...