iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

SATURDAY 15 MARCH 2025, BRACKNELL SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2025, NOTTINGHAM SATURDAY 11 OCTOBER 2025, MANCHESTER

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 23/10/2024

‘Mastery’ in Maths particularly - does it mean the same to everyone?

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 06/10/2024

In a class, it can be difficult to cater for all mathematical learning needs - especially when you have some kids struggling to add a couple of single digit numbers and others who are ready for much more complex ideas. @markmccourt.bsky.social @peterfoulds77.bsky.social @brunoreddy.bsky.social

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 05/10/2024

Probably because she didn’t ‘get it’ when taught it in Primary & what @peterfoulds77.bsky.social suggests here hasn’t been done. 2) put in place a systematic approach to keeping known facts from previous years alive 3) put in place a systematic approach to mending gaps quickly from prev year

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 04/10/2024

Tutoring a Y8 yesterday for the first time. Found she couldn’t do simple sums like 13+3= without counting on. Asked to do 10+3= which she couldn’t do without counting on. Went right back to 1+3= ….which she couldn’t do. 3+1= she could do - and that’s where we’ll start next week.

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 02/10/2024

“Wrong answers only” Love it ❤️ The way to make kids never make mistakes - brilliant!

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 02/10/2024

Square numbers and cube numbers ….kids just love them. Interesting they are numbers that even very low ability kids (even those with the worst memories) can remember without much persuasion. @jwrightmaths.bsky.social @peterfoulds77.bsky.social @brunoreddy.bsky.social

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 02/10/2024

Aged 14, I was assessed with a reading comprehension age of 6.6 years. I was at the top of the top set for Maths but could hardly read! My parents had me assessed and paid privately for me to have 1-1 lessons. I was lucky! Aged 16 - I passed my GCSE English first time - it was a miracle!

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 30/09/2024

This is a ‘real’ life teacher - seems to be in control and on top of things. 4 weeks in - many teachers pretend they are ok but are already ‘behind’. In our push to improve, we need to have ‘what it’s really like to be a teacher in 2024’ at the forefront of our mind: @patricebain.bsky.social

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 30/09/2024

It surely is time! At the moment teachers seem to just be busy, busy with ‘tasks’ they ‘have’ to do and so have little time to concentrate on providing the best teaching and learning.

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 29/09/2024

www.emaths.co.uk/images/Inter... @peterfoulds77.bsky.social @brunoreddy.bsky.social @jwrightmaths.bsky.social Only 14 minutes - it’s a must-listen - on @markmccourt.bsky.social book ‘Teaching for Mastery’. ‘Ah ha moments - pupils truly owning the knowledge’

emaths.co.uk

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 29/09/2024

October’s Real PCD Maths Challenge - don’t wait until half term….. Only 14 minutes of your life - it’s a must-listen if you want to really make a difference. It’s all about kids getting those ‘ah ah’ moments and truly owning the knowledge. www.emaths.co.uk/images/Inter...

emaths.co.uk

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 28/09/2024

www.emaths.co.uk/images/Inter... @markmccourt.bsky.social new CPD maths book. Teaching for Mastery. Only 14 minutes Students getting those ‘ah ha’ moments - and truly owning the knowledge.

emaths.co.uk

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 27/09/2024

I tutor in secondary. I am working with some fantastic kids in Y9 who don’t know their times tables… One lad improved from 11/60 on a speed test when we started in June, to 43/60 yesterday and said, “Mrs. Sheridan, I think one day soon I’m going to know them all.” What fulfilling work!

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 27/09/2024

Wonderful from NCETM “Foulds and Thomas call for a curriculum that supports pupils to apply learning fluently before moving on. The NCETM, Maths Hubs and the thousands of teachers who have already embedded a mastery pedagogy agree and support this call for change.” www.ncetm.org.uk/features/ali...

ncetm.org.uk

Aligning curriculum reform and assessment with teaching for mastery in primary maths

Charlie Stripp and Debbie Morgan respond to a recent TES article by David Thomas and Peter Foulds regarding the primary curriculum and potential reform

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 25/09/2024

Brilliant Bruno - it’s far better than anything I’ve come across. I know I’m being pernickety but I would really like the number 1 straight - and the line on the 9 straight as well. However, this will really help so many SEND kids by causing less ‘Cognitive Confusion’. Thank you so much.

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 25/09/2024

I am looking for someone to create a font for word, where: 1 - would be just a straight line 4 - would be opened not closed 9 - would be a c on top of a stick @brunoreddy.bsky.social

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 25/09/2024

Is there anyone out there who could (or knows someone who could) create a font for word for handwritten numbers ? 1 4 9 Instead they would look like how we would like a youngsters to write these numbers.

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 25/09/2024

Most schools use White Rose Maths which has some wonderful resources and a clear progression from one year to the next. Many academics have never actually taught using this scheme - so professionals who are teachers in the here & now, probably have much more idea of what does & doesn’t work.

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 24/09/2024

I think when they understand the why rather than just getting it right by a process - that’s when they retain the knowledge.

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 24/09/2024

@josgar.bsky.social When I said the information had come via Alfie Boe - she said she would try it!

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 24/09/2024

Thank you for this @jwrightmaths.bsky.social Arrived at a school this afternoon - the young, just out of school TA working with me has totally lost her voice. I asked her if she’d tried pineapple juice. She wasn’t convinced when I told her I hadn’t tried it, but a Maths Teacher had recommended

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 23/09/2024

Fluency Assessment Proposal Just like phonics…. MTC - Multiplication Tables Check Y4 Re-takes Y5 ATC - Addition Tables Check Y2 Re-takes Y3 @brunoreddy.bsky.social @peterfoulds77.bsky.social

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 23/09/2024

I think a fluency of addition facts within 20 like the MTC would transform Maths results both at KS2 & GCSE. I’d go with Y2 - re-test in Y3 for those who weren’t quite ready in Y2. I think the MTC is ok in Y4 but there should be a retest in Y5. @brunoreddy.bsky.social @peterfoulds77.bsky.social

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 22/09/2024

Love that - “It’s wrong more than it’s right!”

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 22/09/2024

And left-handers cover the maths they have immediately written - so as well as having to push their pen ….they are constantly having to lift up their hand to see what they’ve just written - to solve a problem. A right-hander is able to continue writing and be reading what they’ve just written.

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 22/09/2024

Absolutely agree that fine motor control needs to be in place before any teaching of handwriting. Repeated and varied opportunities to explore and play with small world activities, puzzles, arts and crafts and using small tools, with feedback and support from adults.

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 22/09/2024

My biggest bug-bare is the printed 4 and 9 on worksheets….nothing like the way we are asking young children to write them. @markmccourt.bsky.social @peterfoulds77.bsky.social @brunoreddy.bsky.social @jwrightmaths.bsky.social

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 22/09/2024

Only the other day - a colleague told me I was an absolute zealot where forming numbers correctly was concerned. I didn’t disagree! Have you ever considered that we are teaching children to write 2345 at the same time as cadog? Numbers start top left Those letters start top right?

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 22/09/2024

I think it’s absolutely a thing. It’s something I discovered working in EYFS in 2017 and devised a programme to sort it out. Now I’m teaching Y7 - Y11 Incorrect handwriting of numbers I now see as a massive barrier to learning. Kids read their own numbers incorrectly and so make mistakes.

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 22/09/2024

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 22/09/2024

Key ideas about reading from @suchmo83.bsky.social It doesn’t stop at children being expert at phonics!

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 22/09/2024

Bravery for sure - and suicidal in terms your job/career ….maybe!

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 22/09/2024

After 1 is formed from top middle, 2345 from top left, 6890 are formed from top right, with 7 back to top left Is this causing cognitive confusion - especially as the letters caogd have the opposite staring point to 2345? @brunoreddy.bsky.social @peterfoulds77.bsky.social @markmccourt.bsky.social

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 22/09/2024

In maths - how young does cognitive confusion start? I believe when we are teaching children to form numbers at the same time as forming letters. Opposite starting points; opposite orientations: are we explicit? @brunoreddy.bsky.social @markmccourt.bsky.social @peterfoulds77.bsky.social

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 22/09/2024

Have you ever considered that we are teaching children to write 2345 at the same time as cadog? These numbers starting at the top left and those letters starting at the top right? @brunoreddy.bsky.social @markmccourt.bsky.social @peterfoulds77.bsky.social

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 21/09/2024

And everyone knows all SLT members can recognise everyone’s handwriting (I’ve been on both sides of the fence!). Constructive criticism is often interpreted as ‘being negative’.

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 21/09/2024

So very interesting. I wonder if teacher’s’ evaluation forms said the same?

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 21/09/2024

Maybe you should be picking some numbers for the lottery tonight!

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Helen Maden-Sheridan @fastmaths123.bsky.social · 21/09/2024

Absolutely agree that phonics without the teaching of the spelling of those others few thousand words that don’t work phonetically (about 50% of words in the English Language) is dire for kids learning to spell. @peterfoulds77.bsky.social

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