TickTockMaths

Tag: factorising

  • Factorising Quadratics

    Download the lesson here

    No solving here. Just concentrating on the core skill of factorising. I started with an example and then this

    Giving them one bracket so we build up the skill. But wait.

    *MISCONCEPTION TIME*

    It doesn’t matter which way around the brackets go but on this exercise it kinda makes it look like it does

    *MISCONCEPTION TIME*

    Did this this cause an issue with my students? No. Because I pointed out this to them. Sometimes sharing your thought processes when planning is a really useful thing.

    Then there’s a regular exercise, and then this

    Yes. I’ve had someone make emojis of my own face to use in my lesson resources. This might be one of the most egotistical things any maths teacher has done. Which leads into…
    I’d rather do this as an extension rather than solving as I believe solving is this whole other thing. I’m going to do a PowerPoint wholly devoted to solving quadratics. I really do believe the skills are better split up this way.

    Other thoughts

    • This only deals with quadratics where a=1. I’ve done a whole over PowerPoint on a>1 here.
    • Thinking about factorising quadratics in depth, you could easily do 2 lessons on factorising, 1/2 on non-monic quadratics and 1/2 on solving after you’ve factorised. And that’s without even talking much about graphs. My current year 11 scheme of work has ‘solving by factorising’ in one lesson. There is too much content in GCSE/IGCSE.

  • Factorising Non-monic Quadratics

    Download the PowerPoint here

    Trying to get back into the swing of things.

    I use grid method to do this. I’m a big proponent of grid. Reading through Jo Morgan’s amazing Compendium of Mathematical methods, there’s loads of approaches. But I like to use grid for everything.

    I’ve also updated my expanding double brackets and using the quadratic formula PowerPoints. They’re now simpler, have different questions and just feel a lot more airy and bright.

    As always, tweet me @ticktockmaths for any feedback or questions. I love a good tweet.

  • New(ish) lesson: Factorising Single Brackets

    THE LESSON IS AVAILABLE HERE

    This isn’t completely new. I’ve edited and refined a lesson I’ve had on here before. Except I’ve packed it with MORE STUFF. I’eve tried to use Jo Morgan’s idea of going more in depth. So this lesson has:

    Some I do you do/examples.

    One of my vary and twist activities. Available as a word file here.

    Some ‘does it fit’ whole class discussion. Look at question 4. Oh my!

    A ‘spotting of mistakes’ activity to really hammer the point home.

    Using factorisation to complete calculations. Yes please!

    A problem solving task!

    Oh. Then I thought. How about a plenary.

    On the powerpoint is a quite nicely thought about 5 question mini test thing. It’s quite easy. But Craig Barton has defiantly managed to convince me that chucking a really hard question at the end is a mistake and maybe we should be giving students confidence at the end.

    I know what you’re thinking.

    What if I want some slop. Or some more timed questions? You can get some here. It randomly picks from…wait for it…over 2,000 questions!!!

    Sometimes I think I should plan more lessons like this.

    Including coding and stuff for the questions on the timed questions it took me about 5 hours.

    Maybe that’s why.

    As always give me a shout if I’ve idioted a question up.

    Excuse me if the writing style was mad today. I downed a lot of Cherry Coke whilst coding.