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Lizi Pepper

@mathspeptalk.bsky.social

Secondary Maths NCETM Mastery Specialist (cohort 7). KS3 Curriculum Lead. Lead Practitioner. Masters in Education. NPQLT. I am an absolute learning nerd, all things Maths, education and Maths education! https://mathspeptalk.blogspot.com/?m=1

317 Followers  |  295 Following  |  64 Posts  |  Joined: 20.08.2024  |  2.1668

Latest posts by mathspeptalk.bsky.social on Bluesky

"What's the same and what's different?"
4 pairs of simultaneous equations with very similar coefficients.

"What's the same and what's different?" 4 pairs of simultaneous equations with very similar coefficients.

I used this task this week to introduce Y10 to simultaneous equations.

Drawing attention to important decisions that need to be made.

#MathsToday

04.10.2025 08:44 β€” πŸ‘ 20    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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#mathstoday Brilliant time with @vwheelhouse.bsky.social in session 1 of MEI’s TGM:Live course, discussing use of ratio tables, double number lines and bar models to support GCSE students to tackle ratio problems. Not too late to join this fantastic cohort of teachers: mei.org.uk/teaching-gcs...

24.09.2025 17:10 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Arranging digits ncetm task

Arranging digits ncetm task

In #MathsToday we used this ncetm checkpoint and followed it up with this Don Steward beauty donsteward.blogspot.com/2013/12/near... for Functional Skills level 1 #FEMaths

16.09.2025 19:08 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Go For Geometry! 7 Using Dynamic Technology to Build Understanding β—Š Episode 7: Pythagorean Squaresβ—Š Today is a β€œperfect square day” since the date is 9-16-25 (or 16-9-25 if you live somewhere that puts the day first…

New blog post on this PYTHAGOREAN SQUARES day! Go For Geometry! 7 is here, how to build the squares-on-sides Pythagorean figure with all technology platforms!
karendcampe.wordpress.com/2025/09/16/g...
Happy 9-16-25!
#MTBoS #iTeachMath #T3Learns #Geometry #MathSky #MathsToday

16.09.2025 13:37 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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MathsTeachers - looking for an excellent CPD? I would highly recommend @mathshubs. Everyone of their courses are brilliant! Please share. Thank you.

26.06.2025 17:26 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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#mathstoday
My year 8 LPA were using mathsbot today to help them collect like terms. It worked really well

12.06.2025 13:09 β€” πŸ‘ 17    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

Teaching #ALevelMaths in 2025/26? Based in Gloucs or Worcs? Want to join a workgroup where there is plenty of networking with a willingness to be challenged on an area of pedagogical teaching?

Then sign up to @ncetm.bsky.social GLOW Maths Developing A Level pedagogy! Info tinyurl.com/3bsymdd9

02.06.2025 21:09 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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In #MathsToday using my fave algebra tiles to factorise quadratics, so that students can visualise which factor pair they need

03.06.2025 17:40 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

More Y9 trig #MathsToday: we ditched the tables in favour of drawing multipliers directly onto the triangles. This lesson went pretty well! Still just using sin and cos, and today I kept everything in one orientation as well.

21.05.2025 16:27 β€” πŸ‘ 31    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
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Looking to support non-specialist maths teachers in your school?

Join the EEF trial of the NCETM’s SKTM Secondary Non-specialists Programme and help shape the future of maths CPD in England.

Book your place by 12/06 rb.gy/p2pgv2

@ncetm.bsky.social‬

20.05.2025 15:02 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

For the next stage of our trig lessons, we looked at the unit circle and introduced sine and cosine as a way to generate a reference triangle for any angle. At this stage they’re still then using similarity and ratio tables to find the missing sides. #MathsToday

19.05.2025 16:21 β€” πŸ‘ 20    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 1
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Great questions on indices from Maths HKO, really getting students to think deeply #mathstoday

19.05.2025 11:58 β€” πŸ‘ 23    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Photo of a whiteboard showing solving simple trig equations via graphs. First section is only number of solutions, second is values.

Photo of a whiteboard showing solving simple trig equations via graphs. First section is only number of solutions, second is values.

After school further maths getting stuck into some trig equation solving. Planned a really precise approach for yr12 (manipulatives, laminated write-on graphs, small steps that move v quickly) and it’s worked really well for year 10 L2FM too! #MathsToday

16.05.2025 15:30 β€” πŸ‘ 19    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
A bar model showing 4 parts for A and 5 for B. Text underneath reads: 
A : B = 4:5
A is 4 of the 5 equal parts which make B.
A is 4/5 of B.
A =4/5*B

There are similar statements for B is terms of A which are half covered up by grey boxes.

A bar model showing 4 parts for A and 5 for B. Text underneath reads: A : B = 4:5 A is 4 of the 5 equal parts which make B. A is 4/5 of B. A =4/5*B There are similar statements for B is terms of A which are half covered up by grey boxes.

6 questions following the same format as the previous slide. A handwritten annotation next to the first question reads x is _ of the _ equal parts that make y

6 questions following the same format as the previous slide. A handwritten annotation next to the first question reads x is _ of the _ equal parts that make y

Linking ratio and algebra with Y10 #MathsToday

29.04.2025 20:50 β€” πŸ‘ 22    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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If we assume that all colors are equally likely (p=.25), what is the likelihood that I would only get 3 or less strawberry Starbursts out of 34?

Binomial X <= 3 with n=34 and p=.25 is less than 2%

Is this evidence that Strawberry starbursts are actually less likely than other flavors #Statsky ?

30.04.2025 14:43 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
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Another new resource added today, this time from A-level Maths numerical methods:
✨Newton-Raphson Method Fill in the Blanks
Find it at www.draustinmaths.com/a-level
#ALevelMaths #MathsToday #UKMathsChat

27.04.2025 19:08 β€” πŸ‘ 25    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
If n is an integer and n^3+ 5 is odd, then n is even 
[in pink] There is an odd integer k for which k^3+ 5 is odd

Underneath a proof has been written out, using the following sentence starters which are in a different colour. 
Suppose that... 
Then k can be written as...
So k^3+5 = 
which is a contradiction because... 
So there is no...
Therefore…

If n is an integer and n^3+ 5 is odd, then n is even [in pink] There is an odd integer k for which k^3+ 5 is odd Underneath a proof has been written out, using the following sentence starters which are in a different colour. Suppose that... Then k can be written as... So k^3+5 = which is a contradiction because... So there is no... Therefore…

A similarly scaffolded proof that if a is an integer and a^2 is even, then a is even. 
Pink text reads: There is an odd integer k for which k^2 is even

A similarly scaffolded proof that if a is an integer and a^2 is even, then a is even. Pink text reads: There is an odd integer k for which k^2 is even

A similarly scaffolded proof that if a is rational and b is irrational, a+b is irrational

A similarly scaffolded proof that if a is rational and b is irrational, a+b is irrational

A diagram to represent the logic behind proof by contradiction. 
Pale coloured text underneath the diagram reads: If this were true, this would be true, and this would be true,... And this would be true, but I know it can't be.
Since my chain of reasoning is watertight, the problem must be at the very beginning, so the initial statement is false.

A diagram to represent the logic behind proof by contradiction. Pale coloured text underneath the diagram reads: If this were true, this would be true, and this would be true,... And this would be true, but I know it can't be. Since my chain of reasoning is watertight, the problem must be at the very beginning, so the initial statement is false.

Y12 have found proof by contradiction really hard! We did some practice at just writing down the opposite statement first (pink in first 2 pics), and then I’ve been scaffolding the proofs fairly heavily.
Does anyone have a good bank of examples for more practice?
#ALevelMaths #MathsToday

28.04.2025 16:43 β€” πŸ‘ 36    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
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In #mathstoday this odd one out task worked really well and allowed us to recover quite a lot of important vocabulary 😁

08.04.2025 15:40 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Every time I teach fractions to Y7 there are students who already feel they have mastered it. So it was great in #Mathstoday when exploring the relationship between the numerator and denominator, to see that this was new to the whole class as a way to spot equivalent fractions. #MathsChat #Mathtoday

04.04.2025 14:02 β€” πŸ‘ 27    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
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In #MathsToday we had a go at using algebra tiles for expanding double brackets, with my nurture Y9 class. Took a while, but we got there. So pleased for my students.

02.04.2025 21:00 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Growing Middle Leaders – Leading PD in your team Learn about the influence of middle leaders on professional development and their unique support for teaching excellence.

Growing Middle Leaders: leading professional development in your team

In this blog professor Stuart Kime explores how middle leaders can become the engine room for professional development in their teams and help their colleagues to grow and thrive.

Read it here πŸ‘‰ buff.ly/We9KPjD

#EduBlogShare

01.04.2025 05:12 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Worked solutions for two questions:
Simplify 5a^2 x 2a
Simplify 45 x 6
Annotated with things that are the same about both examples.

Worked solutions for two questions: Simplify 5a^2 x 2a Simplify 45 x 6 Annotated with things that are the same about both examples.

Worked solutions for two questions:
Simplify 5a^2 x 2a
Simplify 45 x 6
Annotated with things that are different about the two examples.

Worked solutions for two questions: Simplify 5a^2 x 2a Simplify 45 x 6 Annotated with things that are different about the two examples.

Another same&different activity with Y8. I think they were surprised that there turned out to be more the similarities than differences. #MathsToday

31.03.2025 16:48 β€” πŸ‘ 20    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

What a loss for future training teachers! Hoping you find other ways to share your wealth of knowledge and expertise πŸ™

29.03.2025 08:53 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Y8 #MathsToday: we extended the tables downwards, and they pretty quickly realised they could use the numbers they could see in order to evaluate these. We even managed negative fractional indices!

Honestly this way of teaching indices is a game changer. Thanks @blatherwicksam.bsky.social

28.03.2025 17:35 β€” πŸ‘ 23    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I've been fortunate enough to visit some colleagues to see some amazing different lessons around my school and in one of the schools I'm working with. Strikes me we really should plan and teach together more. It really is the best CPD. Teachers need more time to do it. #MathsToday

28.03.2025 17:24 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Maximise the marks: quick and easy wins in GCSE maths It’s GCSE maths crunch time and you’re looking for a list of last-minute topic wins? We got you. AND we’ve included handy links to associated resources.

SECONDARY MATHS TEACHERS

We asked an experienced maths teacher to give us a list of topics that are perfect for last-minute, easy wins for GCSE students.

Our blog delves into a list of topics for higher and a list for foundation, as well as links to resources.

#LbQMaths #UKmathschat #mathstoday

25.03.2025 14:29 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Added set 4 later to keep my S3 class on their toes - after all, the old stuff can seem harder alongside the new stuff.
#MathsToday

25.03.2025 21:38 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A spreadsheet with powers of 2 in column A and multiples of 2 in column B. It has been annotated with similarities in blue and differences in green.

A spreadsheet with powers of 2 in column A and multiples of 2 in column B. It has been annotated with similarities in blue and differences in green.

The powers of two from the previous slide with questions alongside that use index notation.

The powers of two from the previous slide with questions alongside that use index notation.

A power table, annotated in several colours with patterns that students had spotted. Each column in the table contains powers of a different base.

A power table, annotated in several colours with patterns that students had spotted. Each column in the table contains powers of a different base.

A power table that has lots of arrows drawn on. These are the remnants of working from a number of different questions which have now been erased. 3 questions are currently shown: 16^4, 16^(Β½) and 81^(ΒΎ)

A power table that has lots of arrows drawn on. These are the remnants of working from a number of different questions which have now been erased. 3 questions are currently shown: 16^4, 16^(Β½) and 81^(ΒΎ)

Started indices in Y8 #MathsToday.

Our previous topic was sequences, so we began by comparing two that I’d made in a spreadsheet.

And then we moved onto power tables, using the jumps method that I stole from @blatherwicksam.bsky.social. By the end of the lesson they were using fractional powers!

26.03.2025 17:30 β€” πŸ‘ 20    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 6    πŸ“Œ 2
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Looking at angles in polygons, deriving the formula several different ways and connecting the maths to the diagrams, building connections with factorising and expanding, nth term of linear sequences. I had a lovely time.
#MathsToday

26.03.2025 16:35 β€” πŸ‘ 25    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
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onmaths Maths GCSE Revision Resources All the help you need to revise maths and make sure you are as prepared as you can be.

Maths GCSE Predicted Papers are now on the site.

Edexcel βœ…
AQA βœ…
OCR βœ…
Eduqas (foundation) βœ…

www.onmaths.com

09.02.2025 19:49 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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