mrallanmaths
@mrallanmaths.bsky.social
Mathematics teacher at a Scottish secondary school.
This thread is absolutely perfect for stuff I’m trying in my classroom these days. I’m taking part in a “Developing Mathematical Thinking” project with University of Dundee and we are looking at things like this. Will try out lots of these. Did the 4 digit palindrome one. S-C-G would’ve improved it.
February 2, 2026 at 6:34 AM
This thread is absolutely perfect for stuff I’m trying in my classroom these days. I’m taking part in a “Developing Mathematical Thinking” project with University of Dundee and we are looking at things like this. Will try out lots of these. Did the 4 digit palindrome one. S-C-G would’ve improved it.
Thanks for sharing. I’ve seen this before but will have a proper look and see if this is the kind of thing I’m thinking of. Using the same numbers almost makes it look a bit closer to same surface. Thinking more of questions where it’s not immediately plausible that the same method might be used.
January 29, 2026 at 6:50 AM
Thanks for sharing. I’ve seen this before but will have a proper look and see if this is the kind of thing I’m thinking of. Using the same numbers almost makes it look a bit closer to same surface. Thinking more of questions where it’s not immediately plausible that the same method might be used.
I’ve read this book. Will need to have another look for that bit and read it again. Thanks.
January 28, 2026 at 7:16 PM
I’ve read this book. Will need to have another look for that bit and read it again. Thanks.
It was non-calc for 12 year olds today. I think the idea of Different Surface Same Deep is certainly interesting. Do you know if this has been explored before? I know SSDD is very popular.
January 28, 2026 at 6:18 PM
It was non-calc for 12 year olds today. I think the idea of Different Surface Same Deep is certainly interesting. Do you know if this has been explored before? I know SSDD is very popular.
1. Two complementary angles are such that one of them is twice the size of the other. Find the size of each angle.
2. You earn £18.69 per hour for overtime at time and a half. How much do you earn per hour if it’s not overtime?
Different surface, same deep?
2. You earn £18.69 per hour for overtime at time and a half. How much do you earn per hour if it’s not overtime?
Different surface, same deep?
January 28, 2026 at 5:57 PM
1. Two complementary angles are such that one of them is twice the size of the other. Find the size of each angle.
2. You earn £18.69 per hour for overtime at time and a half. How much do you earn per hour if it’s not overtime?
Different surface, same deep?
2. You earn £18.69 per hour for overtime at time and a half. How much do you earn per hour if it’s not overtime?
Different surface, same deep?
They didn’t say “don’t rub out your answers yet”.
July 25, 2025 at 4:35 PM
They didn’t say “don’t rub out your answers yet”.
Even 15 years ago it was £2.50 for a bottle of water. The prices make me sick, especially since I know exactly what the cinema (used to) pay for the stuff. 3kg bag of popcorn was only a few quid to buy in and one tub had a tiny amount of that and would already let the cinema do more than break even.
June 23, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Even 15 years ago it was £2.50 for a bottle of water. The prices make me sick, especially since I know exactly what the cinema (used to) pay for the stuff. 3kg bag of popcorn was only a few quid to buy in and one tub had a tiny amount of that and would already let the cinema do more than break even.
As someone who worked in a cinema for 6 years, I’ve heard this line a hundred times (maybe more???)
June 23, 2025 at 9:14 PM
As someone who worked in a cinema for 6 years, I’ve heard this line a hundred times (maybe more???)
30% is 45
÷3 ÷3
10% is 15
×10 ×10
100% is 150
÷3 ÷3
10% is 15
×10 ×10
100% is 150
May 26, 2025 at 6:33 PM
30% is 45
÷3 ÷3
10% is 15
×10 ×10
100% is 150
÷3 ÷3
10% is 15
×10 ×10
100% is 150
I prefer rows so that pupils are facing the front. They also behave better in rows. Less chance of distraction.
I choose the seats, not the pupils. Even before the first lesson with a new class.
I prioritise ASN needs, then behaviour, then other factors.
I choose the seats, not the pupils. Even before the first lesson with a new class.
I prioritise ASN needs, then behaviour, then other factors.
April 23, 2025 at 6:05 AM
I prefer rows so that pupils are facing the front. They also behave better in rows. Less chance of distraction.
I choose the seats, not the pupils. Even before the first lesson with a new class.
I prioritise ASN needs, then behaviour, then other factors.
I choose the seats, not the pupils. Even before the first lesson with a new class.
I prioritise ASN needs, then behaviour, then other factors.
Give me your top tips on creating effective seating plans. We have a whole school Learning and Teaching meeting after school today. It’s about effective seating plans. I read this from @Inner_Drive to get psyched: www.innerdrive.co.uk/blog/psychol...
The psychology behind a great seating plan | InnerDrive
Should you sit your students in rows or groups? Who do you put next to whom? Research says these are the seating plan choices to make based on your goals.
www.innerdrive.co.uk
April 23, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Give me your top tips on creating effective seating plans. We have a whole school Learning and Teaching meeting after school today. It’s about effective seating plans. I read this from @Inner_Drive to get psyched: www.innerdrive.co.uk/blog/psychol...
Definitely agree with you.
April 13, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Definitely agree with you.
Back to work tomorrow. Ironing done. Bag packed. Lunch made. I’m ready!
2 weeks to study leave. N4 kids to get to the finishing line. Highers need to revise stuff and be re-taught a few things.
Form time working group continuing to plan. Enterprising Maths in Dundee to plan.
2 weeks to study leave. N4 kids to get to the finishing line. Highers need to revise stuff and be re-taught a few things.
Form time working group continuing to plan. Enterprising Maths in Dundee to plan.
a cartoon llama with the words bring it on written above it
ALT: a cartoon llama with the words bring it on written above it
media.tenor.com
April 13, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Back to work tomorrow. Ironing done. Bag packed. Lunch made. I’m ready!
2 weeks to study leave. N4 kids to get to the finishing line. Highers need to revise stuff and be re-taught a few things.
Form time working group continuing to plan. Enterprising Maths in Dundee to plan.
2 weeks to study leave. N4 kids to get to the finishing line. Highers need to revise stuff and be re-taught a few things.
Form time working group continuing to plan. Enterprising Maths in Dundee to plan.
My second years had a third level numeracy test today. We’ve done practically no revision because I want to know their actual level rather than how well they can remember something we revised this week.
Would you have done some revision? What would the test results tell you?
Would you have done some revision? What would the test results tell you?
December 12, 2024 at 3:49 PM
My second years had a third level numeracy test today. We’ve done practically no revision because I want to know their actual level rather than how well they can remember something we revised this week.
Would you have done some revision? What would the test results tell you?
Would you have done some revision? What would the test results tell you?
Haven’t seen it. Have now. Thanks!
November 16, 2024 at 9:13 PM
Haven’t seen it. Have now. Thanks!
In reality, Wednesday is house assembly. So Thursday sometimes becomes “THe Geoguesser Thursday” (a few of my kids really like it) with Thankful Thursday running in the background.
November 16, 2024 at 9:05 PM
In reality, Wednesday is house assembly. So Thursday sometimes becomes “THe Geoguesser Thursday” (a few of my kids really like it) with Thankful Thursday running in the background.
Excellent. Thanks. I am having a great time doing:
Music Monday: a song they should know.
Tricky Tuesday: a card or maths trick.
Whereabouts Wednesday: pretty much geo guesser but no frills Google Maps version.
Thankful Thursday: write a thank you to a member of staff.
Funny Friday: I tell a joke.
Music Monday: a song they should know.
Tricky Tuesday: a card or maths trick.
Whereabouts Wednesday: pretty much geo guesser but no frills Google Maps version.
Thankful Thursday: write a thank you to a member of staff.
Funny Friday: I tell a joke.
November 16, 2024 at 9:05 PM
Excellent. Thanks. I am having a great time doing:
Music Monday: a song they should know.
Tricky Tuesday: a card or maths trick.
Whereabouts Wednesday: pretty much geo guesser but no frills Google Maps version.
Thankful Thursday: write a thank you to a member of staff.
Funny Friday: I tell a joke.
Music Monday: a song they should know.
Tricky Tuesday: a card or maths trick.
Whereabouts Wednesday: pretty much geo guesser but no frills Google Maps version.
Thankful Thursday: write a thank you to a member of staff.
Funny Friday: I tell a joke.
Hello! Think my email is verified. When I set this up I tried to make things as locked down as possible but can’t really remember what I managed to achieve.
November 14, 2024 at 8:01 PM
Hello! Think my email is verified. When I set this up I tried to make things as locked down as possible but can’t really remember what I managed to achieve.
Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #6,104,375! That better not be factorial.
October 6, 2024 at 7:31 PM
Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #6,104,375! That better not be factorial.
Can probably do it on an older board the same way.
August 25, 2024 at 1:41 PM
Can probably do it on an older board the same way.
No special software needed on the board. I have a Promethean Active Panel of some description. It’s one of the TV style ones.
August 25, 2024 at 1:31 PM
No special software needed on the board. I have a Promethean Active Panel of some description. It’s one of the TV style ones.
I could almost do this. My pupils have all been issued with laptops with touchscreens. Stylus pens are available in the school. Main barrier is that so many kids don’t bring their laptop or they haven’t charged it or it is broken.
August 24, 2024 at 8:06 PM
I could almost do this. My pupils have all been issued with laptops with touchscreens. Stylus pens are available in the school. Main barrier is that so many kids don’t bring their laptop or they haven’t charged it or it is broken.
One of the coolest things about the whiteboard in my new classroom is that I can write straight onto OneNote ClassNotebook pages and the notes/examples appear instantly on pupil devices. All my notes and examples are saved. Everything from every lesson. Wow. 🤩
August 24, 2024 at 7:53 PM
One of the coolest things about the whiteboard in my new classroom is that I can write straight onto OneNote ClassNotebook pages and the notes/examples appear instantly on pupil devices. All my notes and examples are saved. Everything from every lesson. Wow. 🤩
Stories like this make me so angry.
August 21, 2024 at 7:17 PM
Stories like this make me so angry.