Dave Taylor

Less thank 2 weeks to go now until Teachers Talk Radio Connect in Manchester on 14th March! 🤩🤩🤩

The event is entirely FREE for teachers, and you'll get to hear from some amazing colleagues sharing their ideas and experience. 🏫
You can get your FREE tickets 🎟️ at: www.ttradio.org/connect2026

This all depends on how many lessons you teach a day, and who you're teaching.
I imagine poorly engaged Year 8, Wednesday lesson 6 is the reason many leave the profession.

A TV series doesn't succeed because Episode 5 of Season 3 was amazing. It succeeds because of quality long-term storytelling.

Period 5 on Wednesday doesn't need to be the best lesson ever taught. But it does need to be part of a well-constructed journey through maths.

Lovely set of quadratic sequences from @taylorda01.bsky.social used in #MathsToday. We particularly liked exploring the different ways to approach sequences (f) and (g). My year 10s also wanted to explore cubic sequences and quartics! I love their enthusiasm. taylorda01.weebly.com/uploads/4/2/...

Looking forward to this, can’t wait to see everyone!

Announcing! Three more fantastic speakers in the Maths strand at TTR Connect! Teachers - Get your tickets for Connect 2026 here, Saturday 14th March in Manchester and it's FREE, link in the comments!

I can't wait for this event. Looking forward to sharing my thoughts on assessment in the secondary maths classroom!

The @ttradioofficial.bsky.social Connect event on 14th March in Manchester is looking to be absolutely brilliant!
In the Maths Strand you'll hear from the wonderful teachers below, along with some brilliant main stage speakers.
The event is totally FREE!
Tickets at: www.ttradio.org/connect2026

Absolutely. I'm flummoxed by the abstract-only gang.

I think that you're right.
Get a feel for something before you formalise it.

Collecting like terms with skittles before algebra tiles, before abstract notation.
Mid points on maps before coordinates and a formula.

Lots of experience with something before formalising develops deeper understanding.

🎉 We are excited to announce MC40!

Join like-minded people in a celebration of all things maths at City of Derby Academy.

🗓 Date: Saturday 18th April 2026
📍 Location: City of Derby Academy

We look forward to seeing you there! 🙌

👉 BOOK HERE: completemaths.com/community/ma...

#MathsConf40

Have you thought about sticky tape? Go around with a dispenser when needed and give tape to every kid. It can take some time, but if you do it as they work (first kids work on it stuck in).

Tape along the edge means it can be opened up still if double-sided.

Teachers Talk Connect 2026 | Teachers Talk Radio The multi subject national event from TTR - Free for teachers!

What does a former exam board Head of Maths returning to the classroom think about assessment in the secondary maths classroom?

Well, I'm speaking about this at TTR Connect 2026 in Manchester on March 14.
Find out more, and sign up to speak, here: www.ttradio.org/connect2026

Does anyone have any experience of using UpLearn at A level Maths? It’s a it a worthwhile purchase? Do you use it for intervention or independent learning?

A selection of the fantastic speakers in the Maths Strand at TTR Connect 2026 - Saturday 14th March in Manchester, make sure you get your free ticket here: www.ttradio.org/connect2026

@TAYLORDA01 Date: September 28 2025 I'm back in the swing of things and enjoying being back in the classroom. I am Assistant Subject Leader in a school of ~1000 students which is part of a small MAT. I'm...

My favourite tables resource is the SMILE booklets (mathsteachers.wordpress.com/wp-content/u...)

I've added an Excel sheet to my website (taylorda01.weebly.com) under 'Resources' and 'Maths Resources' which takes the 'best bits' and randomises for using repeatedly if needed. I hope it's useful!

Today's the day! Let's get puzzling! www.gchq.gov.uk/news/gchq-ch...

Ruby, in the future when she gets 3 points for speeding: "THAT'S SO UNFAIR BRO! I DIDN'T EVEN GET A VERBAL WARNING! BRUH!"

I suspect B and C are also the case, but ultimately, if you're not there to learn new content you won't be able to answer it on the exam when your peers with better attendance can.

Just putting this out there, in case someone hasn't seen it, and needs to have a chat with any Year 11 pupils about their attendance... www.health.org.uk/evidence-hub...

** Announcing ** Our first main speaker in the Maths Strand for TTR Connect 2026 - it's the brilliant Dave Taylor! More Maths strand speakers to be announced soon, join us in Manchester on Saturday 14th March 2026 here (for free): ttradio.org/connect2026

Significant levels of entitlement without the responsibility.

Kirsty Gallacher says judge has 'no empathy' after being banned from driving The presenter asked the court to spare her from a driving ban, saying it would prevent her from taking care of her teenage sons

I found this one fun for entitlement this week: www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/kirs...

Earns £150,000 a year, £80,000 in savings, and can't afford to pay for taxis...

Never underestimate the power of a change in seating plan.

That said, sometimes it's like trying to complete an impossible Sudoku puzzle.

This would be the means. I'll take a look at it at some point, I hope! :)

I've also added some links to the Backward Faded Exam Papers page. AQA's Example-Problem Past Papers and Pearson have added something called Model-Solve Exam Practice Pairs. They look familiar, but I can't quite put my finger on it.

@TAYLORDA01 Date: May '25 Having had a year out of the classroom as Head of Curriculum for Maths at AQA, I am back in the saddle and enjoying the challenge and opportunity that young people provide on a daily...

I've just spent a little time adding some content to taylorda01.weebly.com, specifically on the 'Stories' page (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, remarkable prime numbers, a festive activity, Frobenius numbers, and Lagrange's Four Square Theorem).

Any more to be added?

@TAYLORDA01 Date: May '25 Having had a year out of the classroom as Head of Curriculum for Maths at AQA, I am back in the saddle and enjoying the challenge and opportunity that young people provide on a daily...

4/4. The last blog for this weekend is up at taylorda01.weebly.com

This one looks at The End of The Lesson.

Happy School Year's Eve!

@TAYLORDA01 Date: May '25 Having had a year out of the classroom as Head of Curriculum for Maths at AQA, I am back in the saddle and enjoying the challenge and opportunity that young people provide on a daily...

The hat trick has landed. Following on from 'The Start of The Lesson' and 'Just After The Start of The Lesson', I've just blogged about 'The Lesson' at taylorda01.weebly.com

I hope you're all as excited as I am about getting back to teaching this week!

@TAYLORDA01 Date: May '25 Having had a year out of the classroom as Head of Curriculum for Maths at AQA, I am back in the saddle and enjoying the challenge and opportunity that young people provide on a daily...

Yesterday I posted a blog at taylorda01.weebly.com called The Start of The Lesson, considering routines for the coming academic year.

I've just followed it up with another - Just After The Start of The Lesson.