I Can't Do Maths!
In this NCETM podcast episode, Professor Alf Coles and Professor Nathalie Sinclair talk about their book, I Can’t Do Maths! Why children say it and how to make a difference.
In the book, Alf and Nathalie identify, unpick and challenge some of the most commonly-held beliefs about maths teaching and learning. In Part 1 (of 3) of the conversation, they explore the background to the book and the first two dogmas, or myths, about maths education.
Show notes
Taking part in the discussion:
Professor Alf Coles, University of Bristol
Professor Nathalie Sinclair, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia
Julia Thomson, Communications Manager, NCETM.
Episode chapters
00:05 - Introduction to part 1
01:02 - Meet Professors Alf Coles and Nathalie Sinclair
02:06 - Unpacking the concept of ‘dogmas’ in maths education
05:52 - Exploring the first dogma: maths is a building-block subject
11:51 - Challenging the second dogma: maths is always right or wrong
16:58 - Conclusion and preview of Part 2.
Useful links
I Can’t Do Maths! Why children say it and how to make a difference by Professor Alf Coles and Professor Nathalie Sinclair (Bloomsbury, 2022)
Journeys on the Gattegno Tens Chart by Alf Coles, 2014
Explore previous episodes of the NCETM podcast in our archive.