Cranleigh Abu Dhabi Mathematics Department
PERSPECTIVES
A . What is your go to activity to grab students ’ attention at the start of the school year ? B . What is the most unexpected item that we would find in your Math classroom ?
Heloise Benecke
A . A short introduction from me at the start sets expectations , c r e a t e s consistency , b u i l d s rapport and assures survival for both parties . Letting students see your human side is always an important start . With that you need to create curiosity , so that they always walk into the room thinking – “ What ’ s next ?”
B . Mine is not unexpected , but a necessity - Coffee and a sense of humour .
Siobhan Bee
A . I always start the s c h o o l year with s o m e t h i n g fun and active . I get the pupils to work together in teams , so they feel comfortable with their new classmates . I love finishing the lesson with a challenging problem that leaves them thinking and excited for the next class .
B . The most unexpected thing you would find in my classroom - lots of ‘ Bee themed ’ paraphernalia . The kids love my strange surname and get me the coolest gifts .
Ryan Copley
A . It ’ s always s o m e t h i n g fun . Maths is always perceived as boring ( which obviously I disagree with ). So I usually go with activities like Tarsia Jigsaws and treasure hunts that get students moving , discussing and engaging , but most importantly enjoying the subject !
B . Cribbage boards ! The game of cribbage is heavily Mathematical . I often use it to get students to understand playing cards , particularly in the UAE , where they often don ' t know how many cards are in a deck , cards in a suit , etc . Often playing cards are used in probability questions and very often out here students have no idea how to answer them , not because they can ' t do the Maths , but because playing cards are not commonly used nowadays .
Stephen Deady
A . Space Invaders - a rapid fire , mental facts recall game , working on a knock out basis .
B . A sense of humour - I think this is true for the entire dept . Maths teaching has come a long way from the rote learning of years ago .
Simon Kenworthy
A . The Mars Bar challenge . It ’ s 50 times tables to be c o m p l e t e d in under 5 minutes . If everyone in the class gets 50 / 50 then I will buy them all a Mars Bar each . Within just a few sessions the children ’ s scores go rapidly upwards and their times get faster and faster . Only twice in 17 years have I had to buy the Mars Bars , as there is nearly always someone who gets one or two wrong ! It ’ s fast , competitive and fun : -)
B . A model storm trooper .
Nelson Mitchell
A . Something fun , engaging a n d challenging to set the right tone for the year ahead – usually a Maths based game such as Fizz Buzz , Around the World or a code chase .
B . I have a big picture of a train , also with pictures of my students on board the train . This symbolises the “ train journey to success ”, which all students are aware of . They need to get on board the train because it is not stopping – destination success !
Class Time
| | Sep - Oct 2016 |
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