"I'm not good at maths!"
Be honest, how many of you are guilty of saying those five famous words? It's okay, don't be shy, this is a safe space.
If you are guilty of saying this, I don't blame you. There were several issues with how maths was taught in the UK and I’m not the only person to hold this view. The Advisory Committee on Mathematics Education (ACME) highlighted these issues in its report, Mathematical Needs (2011).
As a maths teacher, there is one thing I hate with a passion, the emphasis that maths is all about the final answer. Joining the teaching profession in 2016 gave me hope: our rigid education system could change! The National Curriculum was the first domino to fall: the much-needed shift towards problem-solving and reasoning had begun. *cue crowd cheering*
Why was this so significant? Because maths is about more than obtaining a "correct" final answer. Some of my most interesting classroom conversations/discussions were sparked by an incorrect answer. Maths is a conversation: a conversation about attempting to solve a problem. This conversation involves logic, an ability to reason and willingness to change your mind. This understanding of maths is why I have a potentially controversial belief, that everyone can be good at maths because everyone can attempt to solve a problem.
Websites to help adults improve their maths skills:
National Numeracy Challenge
BBC Skills Wise
Websites to help students improve their maths skills:
Khan Academy
Mr Barton Maths
Problem Solving
Nrich
King’s Maths School's Weekly Problems