Last year we set up a branch of the Association of Teachers of Mathematics (ATM) in Singapore. The ATM is a UK professional organisation and I used to go to their meetings in the UK and in Hong Kong.
Last year, one of my colleagues in the Infant school decided to set up an ATM branch in Singapore. (Setting up a branch is free and astoundingly easy.) So far the ATM branch has met four times with about 50 teachers each time.
We had a meeting this week and it was brilliant to meet both primary and secondary colleagues from around Singapore to talk about maths teaching ideas. And eat cakes and fruit drink wine!
The theme for our meeting was shape and geometry teaching ideas. One good idea that was shared in the Secondary teachers chat was a gift-wrapped sphere with a note that said, “This Secret Santa present is yours if you can estimate its volume to within 50 cm2.” I made an estimate (without a calculator) but apparently I was 52 cm2 off the correct answer! Doh. I never did find out what was in that package.
I shared an idea for teaching about the surface area of a sphere using an orange that you unpeel. It’s described on this wonderful blog by William Emeny. (His blog’s name is eerily similar to my own!)
If you work in Singapore, please come along to our next meeting! We meet once a term (three times a year) and email invites are sent out.
If you don’t live in Singapore, consider joining a professional group near you. I highly recommend it for meeting new friends, hearing about other schools, and sharing ideas.