Just over a week ago LogiqBoard and Chessplus joined together to present at the Joint Maths Conference in the English town of Stratford-upon-Avon. The ‘Shape Up’ Conference brought together the five main maths associations with teachers, maths enthusiasts and leaders in maths education.

LogiqBoard + Chessplus Unite

Myself and John Foley, director of ChessPlus Limited presented the morning workshop ‘Mathematical Activities through the Chessboard’. We had a range of tasks, from strategy games, problem solving tasks and our own creations. Check out our feedback! We had a great time.

The morning workshop

Our participants were natural games players, exploring moves and strategies. We had people from different backgrounds, a trainee teacher, chess, secondary and primary school teacher and tutors. It was great to hear their own variation tasks, a true sign that we were in the maths teacher games zone.

Low floor high ceiling tasks

Our morning included low floor, high ceiling tasks. This means that our selection of tasks are accessible to all learners but with careful planning they provide rich reasoning opportunities. All children will achieve but some will go further and deeper in challenge.

Games are universal

Our games and puzzles work from primary years to secondary years and beyond. We shared ways to scaffold and support learning. Whether it’s through questioning, resources or minor variations the tasks are inclusive.

As a primary maths teacher I share how these activities build a problem solving ethos and growth mindset in my classroom or games club. Students quickly learn that through collaboration and the sharing of ideas we can become better problem solvers. Everyone can achieve. Everyone is a mathematician.The emphasis is on thinking critically and communicating ideas.

Visible maths v.s hidden maths

There are the obvious and visible maths concepts on the 8×8 board, such as co-ordinates, positional language, square numbers, chess piece values but there were many opportunites to develop investigative skills. Reasoning, hypothesising, visualising shapes, symmetry, algebra, exploring solutions, trial and error and seeing patterns. These all took place in our workshop.

The Games Stand

After our workshop we were busy socialising on our game stand. I loved the curious eyes and the power of our games enticing people over. It’s fascinating to watch the games unfold and unravel across the board.

For one day only

Although I was only there for a day a great deal happened. So much so that I needed three days to recover. Yes, three days.

Whilst on our games stand I met Dr Nira Chamberlain who showed me a fab Knight’s tour game, a two player game for LogiqBoard that he played back in the day at Saturday maths club. I also got to see his inspiring farewell speech ‘Maths is Undisputably the Greatest Subject in the World’ as he said goodbye to his tenancy as the Maths Association President 2023-2024.

The workshop, games stand and a farewell speech weren’t the only great events. Rewind to the night before. John and I had a quick drink and run-through of our presentation. I then decided to have one last look at the sign-up sheet. I will never do this again.

Don’t look at the sign-up sheet the night before!

You see right at the bottom was a name scribbled on at the last minute. It was the one person I wanted to see at the conference and there he was on our sign-up sheet! I froze. My nerves and insomnia kicked in. Excitement and adrenaline took over.

As you know I loved every second of our workshop but sadly my star guest wasn’t there.

Puzzled in the Puzzle Room

Later in the afternoon I decided to visit the Puzzle Room for some ‘me time’ with the beautiful construction toys, origami creations and 3D shapes puzzles. It was great to talk to Jason Gottfried from Maths Explorers who was also one of our games participants. Check out Jason’s feedback in yellow above! Jason and Rita have created an after school problem solving club. As a Curious Mathematician Club teacher (yes I also run year six maths clubs!) it’s wonderful to see another maths club creating a buzz and passion in our next generation!

The next event…

As I sat there playing, through the corner of my eye I thought I saw my missing participant. I decided to enter the dining hall and say hi.

Hello, are you Andrew Jeffrey?

Are you the police?

No but I am the attendance officer and I wanted to know where you were this morning.

We laughed so much and then the guilt kicked in. I felt so guilty because I made Andrew feel guilty! He invited me to join him and the lovely Jenny where I could tell him all about LogiqBoard and our games workshop.

More laughter, delicious food and some great maths chats. Jenni Back sat to my left, a maths researcher and teacher full of insights and Andrew to my right. Suddenly Andrew disappeared, he is after all the Maths magician and he returned with some Cuisinaire rods to show me a great game for LogiqBoard. (Yes, I think I’ll just collect games next year!)

Andrew Jeffrey is a maths magician follow him on X at https://x.com/AJMagicMessage

During lockdown I had watched him online share some fab puzzles and his exciting teaching approach caught my eye. Do check out his You Tube videos and work for Maths Week England.

After dinner we suddenly found ourselves at the bar, drinks in hand and playing the new Cusinaire Blocker game! Whilst I was sipping my expensive wine someone whispered the words ‘Do you know who they are? Maths royalty!!’

I replied yes. I knew 100% that I was in conference heaven. And as Andrew and I played the game we chatted with the new Maths Association President and NCETM director Charlie Stripp. And if that wasn’t enough I discovered the fabulous Charlie Stripp used to play chess! Andrew also plays!

I didn’t finish my wine. My lift was here and I had to disappear. The Joint Maths Conference was over like a dream. Maths royalty, gifted games and the warmth of so many lovely people.

Networking and opportunities

I’ve since joined the Maths Association. Our lovely games participant Dr Alison Parish had asked if I’d like to write about strategy games for the Primary Mathematics magazine. The editor then popped over to our games stand and at dinner he happened to be part of the Andrew Jeffrey table!

The Flip side to the Double sided counter saga!

So in the end my day at the Joint Maths Conference had the perfect ending. And although I lost Andrew to the double sided counters talk. The flip side was I gained so much more this way. A day full of magical moments. Things work out just as they’re meant to…

Fun & games at the Joint Maths Conference 2024

Come on Board!

1. If you’re interested in the games and puzzles check out the fab course in May with John Foley and Brigitta Peszleg: https://chessplus.net/games/mathematical-activities-on-a-chessboard/
2. Follow me on social media for LogiqBoard inspiration, training and teaching ideas: https://www.instagram.com/logiqboard_. https://www.facebook.com/LOGIQBOARD/ https://twitter.com/logiqBoard

See you at the conference next year!

Hari x