Nix the Tricks

The book ‘Nix the Tricks’ looks at tricks and short cuts used in maths, explains why they are so damaging, and then provides an alternative method that teaches for understanding. If you cringe when a student says ‘cross multiply’ whenever they see a problem involving fractions, then this is the book for you. 

The resources are focussed on critical thinking, justification and using tools of past experiences to solve new problems. There is an underlying theme that by teaching for understanding students will retain more and be better equipped for tackling later topics. The main audience for the resource is teachers of key stage three but there is much that will also be of use in each of the other key stages.  

The book has been developed by Tina Cardone, a Public High School Mathematics teacher in Massachusetts, with the active involvement of the online mathematics community. 

The book is available in its entirety and for convenience divided into chapters.