Category Archives: Numeracy

Back in my prime

By A Maths Teacher | Published: 28/03/2016

Today is my birthday and, for the first time in four years, my age is a prime number. After this year, it will be another six years before I am “prime” again. Hold old am I? (And just a little context, in case you don’t know me, I am not (alas!) a very young teacher, […]

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Times Tables, part 2

By A Maths Teacher | Published: 04/01/2016

And so it rumbles on, the great times tables debate: should pupils be expected to know – by heart – their times tables to twelve by the end of Year Six? Christine Blower, the leader of the NUT, has waded in to the argument, suggesting that tables don’t need to be known of pat as […]

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I ate and I ate …

By A Maths Teacher | Published: 03/01/2016

The Government has announced that it expects all children to be able to recall their times tables – up to and including 12 x 12 – by the time they reach age 11 and leave Primary School. Quite right too. They should know them before age 11, but it makes sense to test them at […]

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Numbers Christmas Party

By A Maths Teacher | Published: 16/12/2015

It’s the numbers Christmas party. After a year of being added, subtracted, multiplied and divided by millions of schoolchildren, bothered by accountants and misused by politicians, the time has come for them to share a few drinks and let their hair down … Twelve and Six were lurking in the corner, spitefully passing judgement on […]

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The Real Thing

By A Maths Teacher | Published: 02/04/2015

I stumbled across the above puzzle the other day. What is the number underneath the car? Don’t worry if you don’t get it – you won’t be alone.  I had the problem up on the board as a starter for my Upper Sixth A-Level class. The lad who is on course to get an A* […]

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