Using movement, visuals and play so kids understand what maths actually means

I love having coffee with my friend Chris. Always fun, not just because she's awesome, but because of our shared passions:

• ways to use movement, visuals and play to help kids understand what maths actually means

• belief that there is no point teaching maths, unless you teach mathematical thinking

• (the choir we both sing in)

• (cats)

A lot of my maths teaching is already inspired by her ideas. Most of my maths students have already enjoyed turning Play-Doh into fractions.

In the coming weeks she's going to hand over the bundle of activities she developed when she was in charge of the national maths curriculum. I am looking forward to times-table origami and piles of coloured matchsticks – very geekily excited.