Mr Barton Maths Podcast

Chris Smith is a maths teacher, Pi Day lover, TED Talker, popular newsletter writer, and the 2018 Scottish teacher of the Year. In this conversation we cover everything from lesson planning, time-management, running successful revision days, and the role of fun in maths lessons. Enjoy! For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/chris-smith-injecting-fun-into-lessons-resources-pi-day-revision-days/  

David Didau is a former English teacher turned educational consultant, blogger and author. He has written two of my favourite educational books of all time: What If Everything You Knew About Education Was Wrong? and What Every Teacher Needs to Know About Psychology, which he co-wrote with former podcast guest Nick Rose. David now has a new book out - Making Kids Cleverer: A manifesto for closing the advantage gap - and it is a little on the controversial side! In this thought-provoking conversation we cover everything from intelligence, IQ, heritability, cognitive load theory, desirable difficulties, and parenting! For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/david-didau-making-kids-cleverer/ 

In this special podcast to celebrate Jo's 100th Maths Gem blog post, we end up talking about so much more than resources - although there is plenty of chat about that, so don't you worry. We also cover the role of fun in lessons, practical use of cognitive science in teaching, SSDD problems, what Jo has learned this year, and plenty more besides. Oh, and there is even a quiz! For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/jo-morgan-100th-maths-gems-special/ 

Dr Helen Williams has been teaching, and learning about mathematics teaching, for over 30 years. Her particular expertise is in learning maths with children from 3 to 8 years of age, which is most certainly not my area of expertise! In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss exactly what an early years maths lesson might look like, why manipulatives are so important for children of all ages, and why Helen is not exactly sold on Cognitive Load Theory! For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/helen-williams-early-years-teaching-and-manipulatives/ 

Professor Becky Allen is Professor of Education at UCL Institute of Education, co-creator of TeacherTapp, and the co-author of The Teacher Gap. Here we discuss just how happy (or unhappy!) teachers are, and what the very best schools are doing about it. We also discuss the mistakes schools make in terms of Pupil Premium students and measuring progress, both of which may well contribute to teacher unhappiness, with little positive benefits. There is so much in this conversation! For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/becky-allen-workload-happiness-expertise-progress-pupil-premium/ 

Bernie Westacott is a master of teaching key mathematical concepts in a visual way, using manipulatives and other representations. In this episode he takes me through 3 demonstrations: introducing number, operations with negative numbers, and simultaneous equations. In a world first for the Mr Barton Maths Podcast, this episode is available in both audio and also video so you can see Bernie in action, and watch me struggle! For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/bernie-westacott-teaching-maths-with-visuals-and-manipulatives/ 

Dr Hannah Fry is a mathematician, and a legend. In this interview we discussed her career, books, and TV work, covering topics such as the role maths can play in relationships, parenting, solving crime and driverless cars. The includes a discussion of Hannah's book Hello World, which is outstanding. For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/hannah-fry-algorithms-love-and-being-a-mathematician/ 

After MathsConf16 at Glasgow High School on 6th October 2018, Stuart Welsh (@maths180) and I sat down to share our thoughts and takeaways on the sessions we had seen. We discuss atomising - which was very much the word of the day - provocative statements in maths education, teaching perimeter, solving linear equations with 100% success guaranteed, and much, much more. For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/conference-takeaways-mathsconf16-glasgow/ 

After researchED Scotland at Dollar Academy on 22nd September 2018, Chris McGrane (@ChrisMcGrane84) and I sat down to share our thoughts and takeaways on the sessions we had seen. We discuss the 7 myths of education, the role of metacogntion, feeding forward, curriculum, variation and smashing the bell-curve. For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/conference-takeaways-researched-scotland-september-2018/ 

Jeremy is a Professor of mathematics education researcher at UCL Institute of Education, the co-author, along with Dylan Wiliam, of Mathematics Inside the Black Box, and the co-creator of the ICCAMS project. We had a fascinating and wide-ranging discussion that covered is findings on a project into the best way to teach low-achieving students, the importance of mathematical stories, how to deal with relevance in mathematics, and the key role fingers have to play in learning! For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/jeremy-hodgen-teaching-low-ability-students-relevance-and-fingers/ 

In this episode, I got to interview one of my all-time heroes, Simon Singh. Simon is the author of some of my favourite books, including Fermat's Last Theorem and the Codebook. But not content with retelling some of the most wonderful stories about our subject, Simon also wants to help develop mathematics excellence through his work with the Parallel Project. This is an episode not to be missed. For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/simon-singh-fermats-last-theorem-and-stretching-high-attainers/  

Slice of Advice returns, and in this episode over 30 world-class educators give their answer to the question: What does the first lesson with your class look like? You will hear about specific activities, setting expectation, establishing routines, and much more from the likes of Bruno Reddy, Mark McCourt, Jemma Sherwood, Jo Facer, and many more besides. I love this episode! For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/slice-of-advice-what-does-the-first-lesson-with-your-class-look-like/ 

Following his game-changing appearance on the podcast in early 2017, Greg Ashman returns to talk about his wonderful book, The Truth about Teaching. And this is one sequel that does not disappoint. We cover everything from effect sizes to growth mindset, calling in at game-based learning, slow-motion problem solving and whole class feedback along the way. This is definitely one to share with your non-maths teaching colleagues. For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/greg-ashman-the-truth-about-teaching/ 

In an experimental episode, I asked 50+ of my favourite people one question: "what did you learn this year?". You will hear from the likes of Dylan William, Andrew Smith, Katharine Birbalsingh, Claire Sealy, Andrew Percival, Dan Meyer, and many others talking all things from feedback, work-life balance, signalling, metacognition, working abroad, and everything in between. A must listen for teachers of all subjects and age groups. For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/slice-of-advice-what-did-you-learn-this-year/ 

After the JustMaths on 25rd June 2018, Jo Morgan (@mathsjem) and I sat down in Alton Towers to share our thoughts and takeaways on the sessions we had seen. We discuss the interesting ways AQA are using their exam questions, Mel and Seagar's secrets of their success, Ofqual's take on last summer's GCSEs, Edexcel's reaction to Year 11s Twitter postings, Jo's favourite new maths resource sites, and just why am I both dangerous and clueless? For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/conference-takeaways-justmaths-conference-2018/ 

After the LaSalle Maths Conference in Manchester on 23rd June 2018, Jo Morgan (@mathsjem) and I sat down to share our thoughts and takeaways on the sessions we had seen. In a cracker of an episode (if I do say so myself!), we discuss AQA's Level 2 Certificate, the role of storytelling, Desmos, teaching indices in depth, working in a department with non-specialists, intelligent variation, and plenty more. For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/conference-takeaways-mathsconf15/ 

I had the pleasure of attending and speaking at the Festival of Education. And if that wasn't enough, I also got to reflect on each day's session with Kris Boulton (@Kris_Boulton) from a sun-soaked Master's garden. So sit back, relax and listen to us discuss everything from curriculum, knowledge, reading, measuring progress, Ofsted, and even Love Island For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/conference-takeaways-festival-of-education-day-2/ 

With the summer 2018 Maths GCSEs finally behind us, I thought it would be nice to reflect on the experiences of teachers and students over the first two years of sitting of the new GCSE Maths specification. And who better to join me on this voyage of discovery than my very own Head of Department, Karen Wilkinson, and the Head of Maths at Edexcel, Graham Cumming. Settle yourselves down for an enlightening discussion on good and bad questions, tiering decisions, and much, much more. For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/gcse-maths-exam-special-graham-cumming-and-karen-wilkinson/ 

Tom Sherrington is a vastly experienced teacher and headteacher, blogger, speaker, and the author of one of my favourite books, The Learning Rainforest: Great teaching in real classrooms. In the episode we tackle all the big issues, from curriculum to assessment, lesson observations to different approaches to teaching. No matter what your subject, I think you will enjoy this one. For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/tom-sherrington-the-learning-rainforest/ 

After the researchEd in Rugby on 9th June 2018, Jemma Sherwood (@jemmaths) and I sat down to share our thoughts and takeaways on the sessions we had seen. We discussed when it is best to introduce algebra, things we have not borrowed from higher performing regions, knowledge organisers, marking, getting carried away with research, and much more! For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/conference-takeaways-researched-rugby/