Product reviews for Conceptual Maths

Very early in my career, I was asked what my philosophy was in the teaching of mathematics. My reply was to create enthusiasm for and excitement in the subject for students of all ages and abilities. The other question – what is maths? – has always been a more challenging one. Mattock asks this question and answers it by looking at the subject as ‘definitely … not ... a collection of procedures’ but being deeper than just procedures, it is about the structure of its concepts.

Conceptual Maths is a tour de force. It is written to provide ideas of methodologies for teachers in primary, secondary and post-16 settings. This substantial book with over fourteen chapters covers number, addition and subtraction, multiplication and multiples, division and fractions, equality, equivalence and congruence, proportionality, functionality, measures, accuracy, transformation and vectors, chance, charting and graphing and data handling.

Mattock is an excellent communicator. He has clearly given a lot of thought and analysis in developing his methodologies. He writes in a fluent, conversational style which is easy to read and holds the reader’s attention. Most teachers become used to introducing ideas and concepts using a method with which they are most familiar or with which they are most comfortable. Mattock provides a variety of ways of thinking about and exploring each concept which will make every teacher think about their own methods and explanations and then adapt them to embrace those described. His writing is littered with clear illustrations and diagrams which make good use of colour to reinforce the ideas and methodologies. Mattock progresses through mathematics starting with the basics of numerical calculations and on to GCSE level concepts. There is a wealth of ideas for teachers to explore individually or to use as a very valuable material for training and development.