Working Mathematically

Codebreakers

This article for Primary and Secondary teachers is all about the mathematics behind solving puzzles, unravelling mysteries and breaking codes.

Mathematical Problem Solving in the Early Years

This article describes how the NRICH Early Years resources aim to further develop young children's natural problem-solving abilities in the context of mathematics.

Mathematical Problem Solving in the Early Years: Developing Opportunities, Strategies and Confidence

Age 3 to 7

In this article for Early Years practitioners, Dr Sue Gifford outlines ways to develop children's problem-solving strategies and confidence in problem solving.

Encouraging Primary Children to Work Systematically

Age 3 to 11

This article for primary teachers suggests ways in which to help children become better at working systematically.

Primary Children's Mathematical Recording

Age 3 to 11

This article for teachers outlines different types of recording, depending on the purpose and audience.

Opening Out

Age 5 to 11

Bernard Bagnall describes how to get more out of some favourite NRICH investigations.

Developing Logical Thinking: the Place of Strategy Games

Age 5 to 11

This article outlines how strategy games can help children develop logical thinking, using examples from the NRICH website.

Exploration Versus Calculation

Age 5 to 11

This article, written for teachers, discusses the merits of different kinds of resources: those which involve exploration and those which centre on calculation.

Geometry in the Primary Curriculum

Age 5 to 11

This article looks at how the National Curriculum aims of problem solving, reasoning and fluency can be embedded in geometry, using NRICH tasks.

Experiencing Problem Solving

Age 5 to 11

Bernard Bagnall looks at what 'problem solving' might really mean in the context of primary classrooms.

Reasoning: the Journey from Novice to Expert (Article)

Age 5 to 11

This article for primary teachers suggests ways in which we can help learners move from being novice reasoners to expert reasoners.

Using NRICH Tasks to Develop Key Problem-solving Skills

Age 5 to 11

This article, written for primary teachers, discusses what we mean by 'problem-solving skills' and draws attention to NRICH tasks which can help develop specific skills.

Developing a Classroom Culture That Supports a Problem-solving Approach to Mathematics

Age 5 to 11

This article offers you practical ways to investigate aspects of your classroom culture.

Why Dialogue Matters in Primary Proof

Age 5 to 11

In this article for Primary teachers, Ems explores three essential features of proof, all of which can be developed in the context of primary mathematics through talk.

Problem Solving and the New Curriculum

Age 5 to 11

Is problem solving at the heart of your curriculum? In this article for teachers, Lynne explains why it should be.

Developing Number Fluency - What, Why and How

Age 5 to 11

In this article for primary teachers, Lynne McClure outlines what is meant by fluency in the context of number and explains how our selection of NRICH tasks can help.

Using NRICH Solutions as a Resource

Age 5 to 11

In this article for primary teachers, we suggest ways in which children's solutions on the NRICH site can be used as a teaching resource in their own right.

Children's Mathematical Writing

Age 5 to 11

Bernard Bagnall discusses the importance of valuing young children's mathematical representations in this article for teachers.

Group-working Skills

Age 5 to 11

This article for teachers suggests a range of activities to help children get better at working in groups.

What's the Problem with Problem Solving?

Age 5 to 11

Becoming a mathematical problem solver really is the point of doing mathematics, so this article offers ideas and strategies to ensure that every lesson can be a problem solving lesson.

Group-worthy Tasks and Their Potential to Support Children to Develop Independent Problem-solving Skills

Age 5 to 11

In this article for teachers, Jennie Pennant outlines how group-worthy tasks support the development of children's problem-solving skills.

Mastering Mathematics: the Challenge of Generalising and Proof

Age 5 to 11

This article for primary teachers discusses how we can help learners generalise and prove, using NRICH tasks as examples.

Reasoning: Identifying Opportunities (Article)

Age 5 to 11

In this article for primary teachers we consider in depth when we might reason which helps us understand what reasoning 'looks like'.

Pupils' Recording or Pupils Recording

Age 5 to 14

This article, written for teachers, looks at the different kinds of recordings encountered in Primary Mathematics lessons and the importance of not jumping to conclusions!

Using National Young Mathematicians' Award Tasks to Develop Problem-solving and Group-working Skills

Age 7 to 11

This article for primary teachers uses National Young Mathematicians' Award tasks as contexts in which to develop learners' problem-solving and group-working skills.

Back to the Practical?

Age 7 to 14

In this article for teachers, Bernard uses some problems to suggest that once a numerical pattern has been spotted from a practical starting point, going back to the practical can help explain why the pattern occurs.