Matheletiics Help

My aim is to get rid of the stigma attached to learning mathematics.

I have used many strategies for raising student achievement through effective teaching and learning, these includes knowing my learners, so thus knowing how and when to differentiate my lessons for gifted and talented learners as well as learners with learning difficulties and learners with EAL.

I am passionate about learners being given equal opportunities to learning, so as part of my PGCE I attended enrichment training on English as an additional language, this has allowed me to discover ways to teach learners with EAL, including first generation immigrants. My own education was received in a diverse community, and my work as a volunteer mentor in Wythenshawe has allowed me to develop my communication skills further.

During all of my placements my planning has been commented upon as excellent, teachers have been impressed with some of my resources and have gone on to using the resources for their own lessons. My lessons have been recognised as very engaging by a number of teaching staff throughout my schools. I plan lessons that are creative and allow learners to be inspired and to love mathematics. When planning a series of lessons I research and think carefully about the skills required and how I can make mathematics engaging by using physical and practical ideas.

To ensure my learners are receiving good written feedback and assessment is used successfully in all my lessons, at the start of each topic I prepare an objectives sheet for each lesson included in the topic, this is in a table. I include a field for learners and teachers to comment on how they feel they have worked on in each lesson. Here I am able to comment on where learners can make improvements and also make learners aware of their strengths too. Having the field for learners to comment on how they think they have been working on the topic allows them to self-assess and take ownership of their learning.

Along with the objectives sheet, for each lesson I prepare a Power point slide and ensure I set a few minutes at the start of each lesson to go over the goals for the lesson. In doing this I set high yet achievable and realistic expectations. During the lessons, I aim to remind learners of the expected learning outcomes for the lessons.

I use assessment to ensure I am able to pitch my lessons at the right level and to be able to set targets for learners to secure progress for every learner. I share the learning objective with all my learners with the success criteria for the lesson to ensure learners are clear about what they will achieve in the lesson and the steps they need to take to meet the intended objective.

After several years working in accounting and Book Keeping I decided I needed a more fulfilling career. In order to become a mathematics teacher I successfully completed a 6 months mathematics enhancement course and I am currently working my way through my full time PGCE. My degree in Accounting and Finance, incorporated various elements of mathematics. The change of career has required focus, determination and hard work this demonstrates my enthusiasm, commitment and motivation to work with children and young people. I am almost at the end of the course and I am even more committed to the teaching professions, I really enjoyed helping young children to achieve and observers have commented that I can build strong relationship with learners and I can create an atmosphere in the class that facilitates learning.

I have incorporated ICT in lessons to aid in learning through using SMART and Promethean boards and fun power point presentations, for example in my last I often played 'bingo' using power point as a starter or plenary. I have used electronic voting pads and mini whiteboards for assessing learners as part of plenariesI have an excellent manner with my learners; and have developed very productive and positive relationships with all my classes.