Over the years the technology behind displaying the image of the unit circle has changed, but the defining features remain constant. The key question for the author as a teacher is this: are the relationships embodied in the image simple, memorable and rich enough to be grasped by any KS3 student at his school? It needs to be simple enough to…

There have been calls for at least 30 years in American education for a return to basics in mathematics instruction. The problem lies in defining what is basic. Mathematics is more than arithmetic. It is a fabric of ideas, relationships, principles and procedures. But all too often the emphasis in classroom instruction is on static facts and…