These articles represent my views of mathematics education, and the teaching of mathematics, as the result of research and experience over the years in secondary level education.

The articles listed here are my older articles on mathematics education. I only display the most recent three mathematics articles on the main articles page.

I hope you find these mathematics articles interesting and enjoyable.

Think Outside The Box

Quite often in mathematics, students are taught one ‘method' of solution for each particular type of problem.

That's not always the case.

Sometimes a problem can only be solved by approaching it from a very different angle to the usual path.......(more)

Learning to Teach

How hard is it?

In the UK in the 1970s, the then Tory Government thought it wasn't, when they ‘invited' married women (with a couple of kids experience of course) to become primary school teachers.

One of the ‘problems' with education is that everyone has..........(more)

More Than Two Answers

Many students go through their schooling believing that there are only two answers in mathematics - a right answer and a wrong answer.

Many insecure mathematics teachers also believe there are only two answers as confirmed in the back of a textbook.

Left Side, Right Side, Offside

In mathematics education success depends mainly on mathematical ability. Is there anything in the dominance of the left side of the brain in mathematical ability?

Are boys better than girls in mathematics, because of left brain dominance? (more)

Setting Good Exam Papers

What exam papers are set?

In most schools, there are topic tests, tests after short intervals, for example monthly tests, and tests after longer intervals, for example term (semester) tests, mid - year, end of year tests. Then there are external exams, or externally moderated ones. (more)