gerard mcn
@germinalmaths.bsky.social
I teach maths in a Scottish state-sector secondary school.
Pinned
Nice. How about something like this as
extension or a next step?
“Create as many different expressions as you can using the variables a, b and c.
Decide on a value for each variable and use these to evaluate each expression.”
Or, in pairs, create expressions for your partner to evaluate.
extension or a next step?
“Create as many different expressions as you can using the variables a, b and c.
Decide on a value for each variable and use these to evaluate each expression.”
Or, in pairs, create expressions for your partner to evaluate.
#Mathstoday
Both of my year 9 classes did loads of substitution work today. Got the exercise from the foundation sumbooks 2002. They are available online as a pdf. Loads of questions if the students just need loads of practice.
Both of my year 9 classes did loads of substitution work today. Got the exercise from the foundation sumbooks 2002. They are available online as a pdf. Loads of questions if the students just need loads of practice.
October 8, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Nice. How about something like this as
extension or a next step?
“Create as many different expressions as you can using the variables a, b and c.
Decide on a value for each variable and use these to evaluate each expression.”
Or, in pairs, create expressions for your partner to evaluate.
extension or a next step?
“Create as many different expressions as you can using the variables a, b and c.
Decide on a value for each variable and use these to evaluate each expression.”
Or, in pairs, create expressions for your partner to evaluate.
If your Amazon Prime delivery takes twice as long as expected does that make it an Amazon Composite?
October 8, 2025 at 4:17 PM
If your Amazon Prime delivery takes twice as long as expected does that make it an Amazon Composite?
Some skillfully-presented and adorned work in #MathsToday.
Pity the content is not yet to the same standard.
Back to the drawing board, I suppose.
Pity the content is not yet to the same standard.
Back to the drawing board, I suppose.
October 2, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Some skillfully-presented and adorned work in #MathsToday.
Pity the content is not yet to the same standard.
Back to the drawing board, I suppose.
Pity the content is not yet to the same standard.
Back to the drawing board, I suppose.
Hip, Hip, Array.
September 29, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Hip, Hip, Array.
Reposted by gerard mcn
A gorgeous video for our last daily challenge of #MathsWeekScot courtesy of science.ebird.org/en/status-an...
What can you see happening to the global population of barn swallows over time?
What stories can you tell about this data?
#StatsInTheWild @mathsweek.scot @royalstatsoc.bsky.social
What can you see happening to the global population of barn swallows over time?
What stories can you tell about this data?
#StatsInTheWild @mathsweek.scot @royalstatsoc.bsky.social
September 28, 2025 at 5:45 AM
A gorgeous video for our last daily challenge of #MathsWeekScot courtesy of science.ebird.org/en/status-an...
What can you see happening to the global population of barn swallows over time?
What stories can you tell about this data?
#StatsInTheWild @mathsweek.scot @royalstatsoc.bsky.social
What can you see happening to the global population of barn swallows over time?
What stories can you tell about this data?
#StatsInTheWild @mathsweek.scot @royalstatsoc.bsky.social
Got a real buzz in #MathsToday checking these homework submissions. I love it when pupils have the ability to navigate a question and express their solution strategy in their own unique way. They seem to be developing the relational understanding I would want them to have.
September 26, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Got a real buzz in #MathsToday checking these homework submissions. I love it when pupils have the ability to navigate a question and express their solution strategy in their own unique way. They seem to be developing the relational understanding I would want them to have.
September 21, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Ordering decimal fractions with S1 in #MathsToday.
The task: “Using the four digits 1, 8, 0 and 9 (from today’s date), in conjunction with a decimal point what’s the smallest number you can make.
The biggest?
Create an ordered list.”
The task: “Using the four digits 1, 8, 0 and 9 (from today’s date), in conjunction with a decimal point what’s the smallest number you can make.
The biggest?
Create an ordered list.”
September 18, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Ordering decimal fractions with S1 in #MathsToday.
The task: “Using the four digits 1, 8, 0 and 9 (from today’s date), in conjunction with a decimal point what’s the smallest number you can make.
The biggest?
Create an ordered list.”
The task: “Using the four digits 1, 8, 0 and 9 (from today’s date), in conjunction with a decimal point what’s the smallest number you can make.
The biggest?
Create an ordered list.”
Greenhead Moss, Wishaw, North Lanarkshire is home to a raised peat bog. These stairs aid access to the surface of the bog. The numbers on the risers, not quite an arithmetic sequence, indicate the age of the peat at the corresponding depth.
September 14, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Greenhead Moss, Wishaw, North Lanarkshire is home to a raised peat bog. These stairs aid access to the surface of the bog. The numbers on the risers, not quite an arithmetic sequence, indicate the age of the peat at the corresponding depth.
Times tables.
Sacred Heart and St. Gerard’s Church,
Bellshill,
North Lanarkshire
Sacred Heart and St. Gerard’s Church,
Bellshill,
North Lanarkshire
September 10, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Times tables.
Sacred Heart and St. Gerard’s Church,
Bellshill,
North Lanarkshire
Sacred Heart and St. Gerard’s Church,
Bellshill,
North Lanarkshire
Hamilton Mausoleum, South Lanarkshire.
A hidden geometric treasure.
A hidden geometric treasure.
September 6, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Hamilton Mausoleum, South Lanarkshire.
A hidden geometric treasure.
A hidden geometric treasure.
Simultaneous Linear Equations with my S4 class in #MathsToday.
These tasks seemed effective in delivering my aim to help consolidate learning to date and with general sense-making.
Just realised my wording could be better in task 2.
These tasks seemed effective in delivering my aim to help consolidate learning to date and with general sense-making.
Just realised my wording could be better in task 2.
August 22, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Simultaneous Linear Equations with my S4 class in #MathsToday.
These tasks seemed effective in delivering my aim to help consolidate learning to date and with general sense-making.
Just realised my wording could be better in task 2.
These tasks seemed effective in delivering my aim to help consolidate learning to date and with general sense-making.
Just realised my wording could be better in task 2.
Relatively “new” and definitely improving department in an improving school. In my 19th year teaching, after two full years at Smithycroft, I don’t recall a time when I was happier at my work. Only two days left to apply to be part of this!
Teacher of Mathematics - Smithycroft Secondary School - GLA13995
Teacher of Mathematics - Smithycroft Secondary School - GLA13995
Location: Glasgow North East; Salary: £40,305.00 - £50,589.00 per year; Closing date: 17/08/2025
myjob.scot
August 15, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Relatively “new” and definitely improving department in an improving school. In my 19th year teaching, after two full years at Smithycroft, I don’t recall a time when I was happier at my work. Only two days left to apply to be part of this!
Teachers in Glasgow (and elsewhere in Scotland) are back in schools tomorrow, pupils returning on Thursday.
I’ve been assembling a garden bed this afternoon. What maths can I do with my pupils using this as a prompt?
I’ve been assembling a garden bed this afternoon. What maths can I do with my pupils using this as a prompt?
August 11, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Teachers in Glasgow (and elsewhere in Scotland) are back in schools tomorrow, pupils returning on Thursday.
I’ve been assembling a garden bed this afternoon. What maths can I do with my pupils using this as a prompt?
I’ve been assembling a garden bed this afternoon. What maths can I do with my pupils using this as a prompt?
Episode one features new evidence suggesting Homo sapiens existed 300 000 years ago, one third more than the previously accepted estimate of 200 000 years. Cutting edge, indeed.
July 17, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Episode one features new evidence suggesting Homo sapiens existed 300 000 years ago, one third more than the previously accepted estimate of 200 000 years. Cutting edge, indeed.
Starter for summer reading, courtesy of my colleague, Garry. Recommended.
July 10, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Starter for summer reading, courtesy of my colleague, Garry. Recommended.
Garden path geometry. Lagos, Portugal.
July 10, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Garden path geometry. Lagos, Portugal.
More last day mini-whiteboard maths.
What is each catchphrase?
What is each catchphrase?
June 25, 2025 at 2:44 PM
More last day mini-whiteboard maths.
What is each catchphrase?
What is each catchphrase?
Last day of the school year here in Glasgow. Having some fun on mini-whiteboards with senior pupils.
June 25, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Last day of the school year here in Glasgow. Having some fun on mini-whiteboards with senior pupils.
Square with right angles removed.
Octagon
Polygon with eight sides and eight vertices.
🔗 blogenigmath.wordpress.com/2025/04/13/o...
#enigmath #math #polygon
Polygon with eight sides and eight vertices.
🔗 blogenigmath.wordpress.com/2025/04/13/o...
#enigmath #math #polygon
June 24, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Square with right angles removed.
This was reasonably effective in #MathsToday with my new Advanced Higher class. They encountered the product rule for the first time last lesson.
June 16, 2025 at 5:04 PM
This was reasonably effective in #MathsToday with my new Advanced Higher class. They encountered the product rule for the first time last lesson.
Changing the subject of formulae in #MathsToday.
I’ve been working on sequencing questions to build skill and understanding.
I’m quite pleased with this question set.
I’ve been working on sequencing questions to build skill and understanding.
I’m quite pleased with this question set.
June 2, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Changing the subject of formulae in #MathsToday.
I’ve been working on sequencing questions to build skill and understanding.
I’m quite pleased with this question set.
I’ve been working on sequencing questions to build skill and understanding.
I’m quite pleased with this question set.
My daughter is working in Iceland as a chef. One of her colleagues in the kitchen needed a certain piece of equipment and, despite being fluent in English, couldn’t think of the word for it. She described it as “a circle triangle for making water smaller”.
What was she looking for?
What was she looking for?
June 1, 2025 at 1:01 PM
My daughter is working in Iceland as a chef. One of her colleagues in the kitchen needed a certain piece of equipment and, despite being fluent in English, couldn’t think of the word for it. She described it as “a circle triangle for making water smaller”.
What was she looking for?
What was she looking for?
Here are two slides from my “Graphical literacy” workshop at the recent Scottish Mathematical Council’s annual conference.
The full presentation - along with some others - can be found on the SMC website.
scottishmathematicalcouncil.org/conference-p...
The full presentation - along with some others - can be found on the SMC website.
scottishmathematicalcouncil.org/conference-p...
May 30, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Here are two slides from my “Graphical literacy” workshop at the recent Scottish Mathematical Council’s annual conference.
The full presentation - along with some others - can be found on the SMC website.
scottishmathematicalcouncil.org/conference-p...
The full presentation - along with some others - can be found on the SMC website.
scottishmathematicalcouncil.org/conference-p...