Abacus NW Maths Hub
🌟 Year 7 Shine in Live Maths Lesson with Abacus NW Maths Hub
Date: 25th June 2025
Location: Penwortham Girls’ High School
Programme: NCETM – Led by Mrs Bennett, Work Group Lead
🔍 A Showcase of Adaptive Teaching in Action
As part of their professional development journey, Early Career Teachers (ECTs) from across the Abacus NW Maths Hub gathered at Penwortham Girls’ High School to observe a live Year 7 mathematics lesson. The session, led by Mrs Bennett as part of the NCETM’s Specialist Knowledge for Teaching Maths – Early Career Teachers programme, focused on adaptive teaching which is a dynamic approach to tailoring instruction in real time to meet students’ needs.
đź“š Year 7 Lead the Way: Exploring Geometric Sequences
The spotlight was firmly on the brilliant Year 7 class, who tackled the topic of geometric sequences with enthusiasm and insight. Their learning journey included:
- Defining geometric sequences and identifying the common ratio
- Comparing arithmetic and geometric patterns
- Applying their understanding to real-world contexts, such as the lily pad doubling problem to illustrate exponential growth
Through engaging tasks, paired discussions, and scaffolded challenges, the students demonstrated curiosity, resilience, and a strong grasp of mathematical thinking.
👩‍🏫 Teaching that Responds to Learners
Mrs Bennett modelled adaptive teaching strategies that responded to the needs of the Year 7 learners in real time. ECTs observed how she:
- Identified moments of uncertainty or disengagement
- Diagnosed whether confusion stemmed from misconceptions or gaps in prior knowledge
- Used targeted questioning, visual representations, and flexible pacing to support understanding
The Year 7 students responded positively, showing confidence and adaptability as the lesson evolved to meet their needs.
đź’¬ ECT Reflections: Learning from Learners
Following the lesson, ECTs engaged in a reflective dialogue using the Adaptive Teaching Feedback Loop:
- What did you notice about student engagement and understanding?
- How did the teacher interpret and respond to student needs?
- What adaptations were made during the lesson?
- How might you apply these strategies in your own classroom?
The Year 7 students’ responses and progress provided a powerful learning experience for the observing teachers.
âś… Key Takeaways
- Year 7 students demonstrated exceptional engagement and understanding, making them a model group for adaptive teaching in action.
- Adaptive teaching is about being responsive and flexible—not about planning multiple lessons.
- Real-life contexts help make abstract mathematical ideas more accessible and meaningful.
- Observing and reflecting on student behaviour is a vital skill for all teachers.
- Collaboration between schools and hubs like Abacus NW strengthens both teaching and learning.
Mrs Bennett
Mathematics Department
