The conference is a chance to open a philosophical debate that has long been shut: What is the point of maths education? We find ourselves in an impoverished system that focuses exclusively on outcomes and, specifically, measurable achievement in public examinations. As Professor Roy Lowe describes in his book The Death of Progressive Education, students have become ‘victims’ of education. They are labelled and ‘set’ in classes depending on someone’s notion of how well they will perform in the final exam. There is an alternative in which children value the experience of education. They learn to see mathematics as a way of understanding and communicating about the world; they learn how to do mathematics, rather than have it done to them. At the heart of this vision lies mixed attainment classes engaged in inquiry. Such a vision invokes a conception of social justice that is, unfortunately, alien to our times of inequality, greed and deprivation. The conference shines a light on an alternative way for maths education and, dare I claim, a more just way for our society
Andrew Blair - @inquirymaths
Andrew Blair - @inquirymaths
If you love mathematics and respect young people it can be very tough working in an English school. Mathematics lessons may be subject to extraordinary constraints and young people reduced to a set of colour codes on a spreadsheet. The conference on Saturday was a supportive and uplifting gathering of people with many shared values who work in very different contexts. Those who are blazing new trails, or have years of experience of mixed attainment teaching were an inspiration for those who would like to do things differently. We have a shortage of maths teachers in England or rather we have a diminishing number of qualified teachers prepared to stay in the system. Given the space and trust to work in the inclusive and mathematically rich ways that were shared on Saturday I like to think that many would be happy to return.
Corinne Angier - Corrinne is on the General Council of ATM
On Saturday I felt to be in the company of many people, (slightly over 100) who were keen to discuss and work on the many issues concerning teaching and learning in mixed-attainment mathematics groups at KS3 and KS4. I felt there was much sharing of practice and ideas and pedagogical implications for looking at the alternative to creating ‘ability’ sets. Something that was important was the fact the presenters gave up their own time for this non-profit making conference. Nobody was selling published resources or schemes of work created with profit motives in mind.
I was aware some people took photos and wondered if they might like to send any of them to either myself or Helen so they can be posted on the mixed-attainment website. For example I know a couple of folk took photos of the whiteboard which showed a spider diagram based upon all the different mathematical concepts and skills which are accessible through the use of a 9-pin square Geoboard together with a simple grid of nine dots.
I hope this conference becomes the embryo of a community of practice involving teachers who are keen to develop their own schemes of work for use in mixed-attainment classrooms.
To finish, I am aware my first two sentences contain the words “I felt”. I invite others who attended the conference, therefore, to write a short piece for the website about what you felt the day was all about.
Mike Ollerton
Sam Hoggard, one of the workshop presenters has written an interesting blog about tasks that provide students with the opportunity to shift their relationship with mathematical objects and ideas. You can find Sam's blog using the link below.
Corinne Angier - Corrinne is on the General Council of ATM
On Saturday I felt to be in the company of many people, (slightly over 100) who were keen to discuss and work on the many issues concerning teaching and learning in mixed-attainment mathematics groups at KS3 and KS4. I felt there was much sharing of practice and ideas and pedagogical implications for looking at the alternative to creating ‘ability’ sets. Something that was important was the fact the presenters gave up their own time for this non-profit making conference. Nobody was selling published resources or schemes of work created with profit motives in mind.
I was aware some people took photos and wondered if they might like to send any of them to either myself or Helen so they can be posted on the mixed-attainment website. For example I know a couple of folk took photos of the whiteboard which showed a spider diagram based upon all the different mathematical concepts and skills which are accessible through the use of a 9-pin square Geoboard together with a simple grid of nine dots.
I hope this conference becomes the embryo of a community of practice involving teachers who are keen to develop their own schemes of work for use in mixed-attainment classrooms.
To finish, I am aware my first two sentences contain the words “I felt”. I invite others who attended the conference, therefore, to write a short piece for the website about what you felt the day was all about.
Mike Ollerton
Sam Hoggard, one of the workshop presenters has written an interesting blog about tasks that provide students with the opportunity to shift their relationship with mathematical objects and ideas. You can find Sam's blog using the link below.
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