Resource Sharing - sometimes a bad thing?

It's been a while since I posted, as life has been fairly hectic in recent months.

A new job has kept me busy, and I have enjoyed the challenge of a new school and department fighting their way out of special measures. However, with much of my time spent on behaviour management and familiarising new routines, I have barely had time to consider fresh ideas on teaching strategies and writing new resources.

Thank goodness for Resourceaholic, Don Steward and #mathschat. Barely a week has gone by in the last four months without spending some time on these sites. I raid my extensive pen drive for resources, and then cross check the two blogs above to confirm whether or not there are better resources available.

All of this leads me to ask a serious question about my current attitude to resource sharing. Have I become too lazy to value my own ideas for teaching? I am excited to use well thought out and substantiated resources, without question. I do wonder though, would I be more enthusiastic if I used my own ideas?

One lesson in particular was a parallel lines and angles lesson with a low ability year 9 class. I had a plan ready, but only 9 students turned up to the lesson. So I did something I have rarely done. I ditched the plan and went with an idea in my head.
We put some tables together, sat round it and stuck some coloured tape across the table. We marked some angles, did some measuring, and proved some angle rules. The students were really engaged, they got to write on the table, and they left the lesson with a real positive attitude. It was clear they enjoyed it as much as I did.
This isn't a preach of how good this resource is - and it certainly isn't some revolutionary new resource, but it was my own idea at that time.

Was it the idea, or the fact I was enthusiastic and showing a willingness to do something different?
I have always been commended on my use of interesting ideas (cue trumpet blowing noise) and yet, given the other pressures of teaching and the fantastic blogs and resources out there already, I have turned my back on my own thoughts, and settled for other teacher's fantastic resources.

Perhaps we should always take time to produce a really well thought out resource if, for nothing else, it inspires us to believe in our own work.

Resources - BIDMAS, BODMAS, PEDMAS

I like topics that drip through and affect other areas of the curriculum. If you don't get order of operations, it could haunt you for the next 5 + years.
As oppose to say, circle theorems.


I'll start by directing to Resourceaholic - there is almost everything you need on there. In fact, once you click on this link, I may never see you again.

Resourcaholic Number

I start by playing Family Fortunes with the BIDMAS or BODMAS (whatever the school preference is) and ask the pupils to guess the order, with sound effects. It's not easy to upload this and explain how to set this up, but if you message me I will tutor the process.

I then explain BIDMAS and PEDMAS (American version) too.

We have a discussion about whether it matters about addition and subtraction. I always write

3 - 2 + 1

And explain I can actually get two answers (zero and two).

2 + 1 = 3

3 -  3 = 0

This causes great debate until we conclude that the negative in front of the two is IMPERATIVE.

Then activities, some from the link above, some from: Number Loving and some from Maths Box - which I have linked to here:

I use the order of operations settler as a competition - each person highlights five questions. Then they work out the answers. Then they add them up, and I give a prize to either the highest, lowest or nearest to 20 etc etc.

Round Robin Bidmas is a good activity. The idea here is each person answers a question, but the others do not say anything - they also do not correct anything. Then, when it is done, they check all the answers together, looking for any mistakes. That is when the discussion is great and rewarding.

Also some treasure hunts in the link too.

My activity Crack The Padlock can be used with this Bidmas resource

Finally a puzzle to finish:

All resources are here, or in links above

Data - Averages Resources

Here are some resources I use when teaching Averages.

I find the word 'average' fascinating. Used in everyday language, and as a mathematician, I immediately think, "well... which average?"

I always wonder this when entering an "average speed check" section on the motorway. Which seems to be everywhere in the north west now.

Here is an activity linked to Speed Cameras, and some real life application.

The powerpoint with questions on slides is available here: Law Abiding Drivers
It links well with SDT topics too.


Here are a mixture of questions and projects including some that take longer than others.

Mixing Numeracy and Literacy

Football related averages - could be easily changed to Rugby

Quick question which is certainly seen in real life

Another interesting Football study - prizes for top predictions

This last one I have used for nearly every class I have ever taught. Every time I have done it, boys have outperformed barring the odd outlier. I have also done this with a target Velcro game in class. If a big class, then can be used for mean from a table as well.

Another project I did last year and will do probably every major football tournament is based on Yummy Math's World Cup Draw

I have written up my own task which is available here. Bit dated now but the idea can be used for the future : Fair Draw

Oh and the obligatory averages puzzles: (I think from Don Steward)

Answers via the link - Problem averages

Other useful links for averages worksheets

Maths Sandpit - Splitting The Steps average from table

Resourceaholic - lots of good stuff