Study Block 1: Geometry – ThomasJPitts.co.uk

Google Books link to appropriate reading

ThomasJPitts 2nd November 2010

Google Books link to appropriate reading

After Study Block 1, taught session 2, we were given a reading to look through and digest. We were given Chapter 5 (pp. 79-104) from “Children’s mathematics 4-15: learning from errors and misconceptions” by Julie Ryan, Julian Williams. (McGraw-Hill International, 2007) The mistakes children make in mathematics are usually not just ‘mistakes’ – they are […]

A reflection through an axis followed by a reflection across a second axis parallel to the first one results in a total motion which is a translation.

ThomasJPitts 1st November 2010

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Parallel axes of reflection

The discussion at our last MaST meeting about parallel axes of reflections lead me to think about this a lot. And it wasn’t until I sat down with some paper and drew things that I could see it clearly. At the last meeting, we looked into exploring reflection using a skipping rope and children mirroring […]

ThomasJPitts 30th September 2010

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Action Research, Reflections, Study Block 1: Geometry

Shape & Space – Year 3

Having just finished my work with a bunch of Year 3 – who are far fussier than I remember – I feel quite pleased. They were able to build and complete the secret construction quicker and more accurately than I first hoped, they used a good range of language – next to, on top of, […]

ThomasJPitts 29th September 2010

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Action Research, Reflections, Study Block 1: Geometry

Preparations for working with Year 3

Tomorrow, I work with Year 3, completing some of the activities that were so successful with Year 6. I plan to introduce the session with a secret construction, along similar lines to the one made at the start of last Wednesday’s lesson with Year 6 – a simple house like structure using only a couple […]

Shape & Space Activities – Year 6 outcomes, day 2

ThomasJPitts 25th September 2010

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Reflections, Study Block 1: Geometry

Shape & Space Activities – Year 6 outcomes, day 2

On Thursday I followed up Wednesday’s work outside by taking it a step further. My Year 6 pupils were asked to create mini versions of our large circle using wool and paper plates. I had pre-cut the plates to have a range of evenly distributed and more random slots around the edges. Pupils were then […]

Shape & Space Activities – Year 6 outcomes, day 1

ThomasJPitts 23rd September 2010

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Reflections, Study Block 1: Geometry

Shape & Space Activities – Year 6 outcomes, day 1

I’m not entirely happy with the way yesterday went. For a start, we didn’t manage to fit in everything I had originally expected, which stops me from trying out all three activities with the small group as planned. Also, the group had grown by two to thirteen, making it a little on the large side […]

ThomasJPitts 21st September 2010

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Study Block 1: Geometry

Shape & Space Activities – Working with Year 6

Tomorrow I am trying out two of the three activities we were shown during the first meeting with 11 of my Year 6s – the rest are having a cycle training course, so I have a reduced number. For once this is a helpful thing! I plan on starting with a secret construction task – […]

Self-evaluation Tools Results: Understanding Shape/Geometry

ThomasJPitts 18th September 2010

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Study Block 1: Geometry

Self-evaluation Tools Results: Understanding Shape/Geometry

The NCETM has a series of tools for analysing how confident you feel about various areas of mathematics. Part of the MaST programme requires me to complete each area over time. I also have to complete the sections for a range of Key Stages – 1, 2 and 3 – to demonstrate a broad knowledge […]

ThomasJPitts 17th September 2010

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Reflections, Study Block 1: Geometry

Thoughts after meeting one

Here we go then… I attended the first meeting of many over the next two years as I begin my professional journey to a richer, greener, hopefully much improved, teaching field. I have many ideas about what I would like to achieve from this course – specific, actual targets aren’t something I’ve thought about. Yet. I know […]