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Most of the resources on this site are offered free and it is hoped that learners of Mathematics around the world will enjoy and benefit from this website. Transum is designed for teachers (Primary or Secondary) and upper Secondary/High school students.
Transum is conceived, designed and maintained by me, John Tranter, and has been growing steadily since 1997. I have a background of over thirty years of teaching Mathematics in the UK and abroad and most recently I have worked for fifteen years as an Assistant Principal at one of the largest British International schools in South-East Asia. Roles have also included Head of Mathematics at three different schools and Senior Teacher Consultant (Mathematics) for Birmingham Local Education Authority.
I spend most of the week doing something to improve the website. You can see the very latest resource to have been added or changed on the Breaking News page.
Please contact me by email if you have any suggestions, observations or questions. It really makes my day to hear from people using the resources. Thanks.
That's a joke! ha ha! The real answer is just one. That's me (John) doing all of the research, designing, coding, tweeting and making the tea.
My story of creating digital Maths resources avtually goes back to the 1980s. If there is anyone reading this who has been in the profession (in the UK) for a long time they might remember the SMP textbooks. I wrote sets of programs, available on floppy disks, to support these texts. You may have even used 'Recap Revision', 'Green Gleenings', 'Yellow Yarns' and others whos names I forget!
I have now retired from full time work but this project keeps me very busy - in an enjoyable way. The wonderful thing is, with my laptop, I can update the site from wherever I am in the world which suits my love of travelling. In fact a number of interactive activities have been written at 30,000 feet, from a seat in the exit row (need room for the laptop) of a wide-bodied plane.
From the outset, I wanted to make the resources and interactive activities on Transum to be free to access for all. Though I have a UK background I wanted the website to be used by learners around the world, including those with little financial support. I do however have costs keeping the system up and running. It is for that reason there are some adverts on the site but more importantly I ask that those who can aford to do so please support Transum by paying for a subscription. Thanks very much in anticipation.
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It seems there is nothing new in Mathematics (at school level at least) and many of the ideas for activities are adaptations of ideas that have been around for years. I would like to thank all the people who have knowingly (or not) contributed inspiration for something that has been developed on the site. To all the colleagues I have worked with, to the authors of the books I have read, to those who share on Twitter or Reddit and to the huge number of people who have left comments on this site I express my gratitude and say THANK YOU.
Lesley Sewell, Ysgol Aberconwy, Wales
Thursday, November 19, 2009
"A Maths colleague introduced me to your web site and I love to use it. The questions are so varied I can use them with all of my classes, I even let year 13 have a go at some of them. I like being able to access Starters for the whole month so I can use favourites with classes I see at different times of the week. Thanks."
Vivian Tan, New Zealand
Friday, March 6, 2020
"I stumbled upon your resource while looking for sequences activities. I had a bit more time today to look at your site. it's amazing. I'm teaching 2 maths classes in NZ part time. Your site makes maths so fun and interesting. our curricula is quite different to UK but I will certainly recommend colleagues to visit your site and use your resources. Thank you so much for making the resources free to use. Really really appreciate the great work you have done. It's so inspiring!
May the good Lord bless you, your work and your loved ones"
Helen Taylor, Harefield Junior School
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
"I have now retired from teaching. I would like to thank you for your website which I used every morning to choose a starter activity with my Year 6 class. Even though your site is mainly aimed at older children, I always found a lot I could with KS2 children.
I wish you all the best."
Fay Tucker, Somerset
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
"Thank you very much for the Transum site: it has massively enhanced my daily practice."
Ann Roberts,
Thursday, April 2, 2020
"This coronavirus pandemic really makes us appreciate the Transum website and the work that you have done creating it for all of us. Thank you;"
Nicola Hardingham,
Friday, April 24, 2020
"I would like to add that I am very grateful to you and all your ideas. Your website is fantastic and I used it for resources on a daily basis. All my pupils thoroughly enjoyed the fun and trivia your activities brought to the classroom."
John Ingham, Norwich School
Saturday, May 2, 2020
"The Transum website continues to be my favourite place for exciting Maths resources."
Clive, Suffolk
Saturday, August 8, 2020
"I would just like to say thank you for your brilliant website. It has made my final years of teaching so much more enjoyable and I know how much the students have benefitted for using the varied and exciting activities."
Heidi, Nanjing
Friday, August 21, 2020
"Recommendation by another maths teacher who swears by Transum and says it is an essential tool for every maths teacher!!"
Tania, Australia
Tuesday, September 1, 2020
"I've only just joined Transum, initially because I wanted the answers to the Starter of the Day, but have since found that there is so much more!. I played one of your games against my students on our IWB and was amazed at how engaged they all were, whilst learning and developing strategies. I'm rapt with all that your website offers."
Szilvia, Montreal
Friday, September 4, 2020
"The homepage has amazing resources, riddles, logic questions, and games (looking for the winning strategy in the games Flabbergasted and Great Expectation) that I use when I teach my students. I do not teach regular classes, I teach kids who have talent in math so this kind of questions and games are really valuable to me."
Jean, Clifton
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
"Love the puzzles! Better graphics and layout than most sites."
Gamel Byles,
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
"I want to thank you for the inspirational work that you are doing and wish you continued success for the future."
Leesa, Texas
Sunday, September 27, 2020
"I have been using your site for about a month now as a subscriber. I recently started my own small business (just me :-)) tutoring and teaching primarily high school math to mostly homeschool students in Houston, Texas. The kids have really enjoyed your site, and it has made my job significantly easier because I am seeing them acquire skills more quickly because of the rapid, reinforced practice. I also am grateful for the ability to easily accommodate different student abilities. We used the order of operations page with the various levels during my online class the other day to great success. Thank you!"
Elizabeth Bushfield, Kuwait
Friday, October 2, 2020
"I would like to take this opportunity to say what a truly excellent resource Transum is. I have a top set year 9 class that really enjoy the starters and other activities and finds them really thought provoking. My students would often turn up early to tackle the starter of the day as there were stamps for the first 5 finishers. We also had a lot of fun with the fun maths. All in all your resources provoked discussion and the students had a lot of fun."
Linda Sloan, Moderator
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
"I have been using Transum for many years now, since 2007, and have always been delighted with the scope it offers. I have also noted how the site has grown and developed into an indispensable tool for the classroom. Thank you for all your hard work and good luck for the future."
Claudette, Australia
Friday, October 9, 2020
"I am a high school Mathematics teacher and love using Transum with all of my classes - there really is something for everyone on your site. I am a member of a fantastic faculty of 9 Maths teachers who all agree and regularly use the site ... Students receiving "unique" worksheets is only one of the benefits, encouraging everyone to think for themselves. The students love it as much as I do."
Chris Boardman, King Edward's School
Friday, October 16, 2020
"A note to say how enormously useful your resources have proven during lockdown and now back at school too. The 'levels' are really handy as is the instant feedback if they are right or wrong. In class, the kids compete with themselves and with others - they want to get things right and the automatically work collaboratively to solve problems. I am certain that the kids are learning better, collaborating more, and enjoying themselves."
Mike Park, Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S.A.
Sunday, October 25, 2020
"I am a retired American math teacher. I have a single student of special needs and found Transum to be exceptionally impressive. The clarity of contents and expanse of options makes Transum accessible and useful. Even though I could well make do with the free version, I requested a subscription as an homage to the author. Bravo and QED!"
Paul, Wellington
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
"I just wanted to send a little note to say thank you for all you have done with the Transum website. It is a regular part of my lessons and has been for years, especially with the current lockdowns.
It just occurred to me that I use all of these free bits and pieces that change my life as a teacher and never think about what's going on behind the scenes.
I really do appreciate it, so thank you. "
Chris Lorenz,
Saturday, February 20, 2021
"I absolutely LOVE the site. Great problem solving site - maybe the best I have ever seen. Keep up the great work!!"
Gill Blissett,
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
"Thank you so much for providing such a valuable resource to my pupils and myself over the years – been worth every penny!
Good luck in the future and keep developing the activities that support such a vast range of pupils. "
Marian Fogarty, New Zealand
Friday, March 5, 2021
"I have now retired from teaching and will no longer need access to Transum. I have used it extensively over the years and appreciated the variety and convenience of the activities."
Mark Wilson, England
Monday, March 8, 2021
"Fantastic site, I'm zoom tutoring and this site every day ... thanks for making it easy for us ..."
Priti Jain, Priti Mumbai ( India)
Friday, May 28, 2021
"I have been introduced to this site by my student and since using them for all my 12 students. It's wonderful. I just love this site. Thanks, John. Teaching Maths has been more fun than before and the available free resources are just the added advantage can't thank you enough."
Karen Wallace, Colne Community College.
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
"Can I say that discovering your website has made my teaching brighter and more imaginative. The students love it and I am so grateful to you for creating it."
Liz, Meadowglen Primary
Tuesday, August 3, 2021
"I just wanted to say that I have been using Transum Maths with my extension maths class (Year 5 and 6) and I believe it is one of the best out there. Thank you so much."
Bahman Kazemi, Iran
Tuesday, January 25, 2022
"I have used your website in my classes since 15 years ago and it made my classes more enjoyable for myself and all my students. Now I don't know how I can appreciate you. I hope you continue to help math teachers all over the world.
Just one question. Why is the name of your website Transum? Is it a code or does this name have a meaning? I could not find it in dictionary.
[Reply: Transum is a made-up word consisting of the first four letters of my last name and the word ‘sum’ which means the result of adding things together or putting things together, another way of saying understanding.]"
Secret Headteacher, Twitter
Tuesday, January 25, 2022
Pamela Mills,
Tuesday, March 15, 2022
"I would like to tell you how much I have used your site and it is my go-to in the mornings to start my day. Thank you for the years of help and I will continue to sing your praises when I move back to Australia in the summer (winter there!)."
Rachel Plant, Western Isles
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
"Thank you so much for making Transum and its fabulous content free - I use it every single day in my maths classes and the kids (and me) absolutely love it. It's been a life saver with classes with mixed abilities."
Alison Scott, Study Boutique, ZA
Friday, November 11, 2022
"I have retired from teaching ...
Thank you for all the interesting activities - my students really enjoyed them."
Cecy Kemp, St Andrews Prep
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
"I have been using Transum for years, starting with the Starter of the Day and gradually exploring and discovering more and more of the resources. I find the wealth of materials and the search option invaluable when planning extension and challenge activities as well as consolidating skills in a fun way. The students from Y5-8 love working towards filling their trophy cabinet. Thank you for all you do."
Claire, Lyneham High School
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
"I loved using Transum and found it so helpful to engage students in a fun way with maths. Such a great resource!"
Stuart, New Zealand
Thursday, February 2, 2023
"We've used this site for two years, and would like to support the designer and maximise value in the classroom. Best resource I've ever used."
Phyllis Walls, Midlothian, Virginia
Friday, March 24, 2023
"I want to use rigorous, high quality and challenging math tasks which require students to think through the mathematical concepts I am teaching, rather than require them to simply arrive at an answer which they cannot support, justify or explain. I have found the Transum activities meet my goal. : I live and teach in the United States."
Whitney Edmondson, Linkedin
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
"This month we ran our puzzle and problem solving team competition amongst the different grades. We decided to improve from the traditional "hard maths" questions and have inquiry and thinking stations. This wasn't about who was the best at just Maths, it was about who was the best at doing Maths using all the MYP ATL Skills.
Thanks again to the fantastic Transum.org site for the puzzles I used to create the stations. To mention a few brilliant aspects about using this site for Maths stations.
On refreshing you get a new but similar puzzle, points are often generated, instructions included for staff to read and creative interactive levels you can adjust depending on the grade...Completely FREE!"
Nicola Hardingham,
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
"I would like to add that I am very grateful to you and all your ideas. Your website is fantastic and I used it for resources on a daily basis. All my pupils thoroughly enjoyed the fun and trivia your activities brought to the class."
David Hall,
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
"I use Transum in most of my maths. lessons and haven't seen any site which is anywhere near as useful. It is absolutely brilliant! Many thanks and please keep adding to the site."
Cecy Kemp, St. Andrews
Tuesday, September 5, 2023
"I just wanted to say a massive thank you for the wealth of resources that have supported my staff and me in developing our understanding and in supporting and engaging our learners across a huge range of subjects. Your work is hugely appreciated."
Tiphany, Sha Tin Junior School
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
"Love your work! Thanks for the time and effort which must go into it. One of my top maths resources."
Jean, Clifton College
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
"All is going well at our school in Bristol/UK. As ever, your website is utterly brilliant and I use it almost daily with the pupils/for myself. I especially like the new Equatero."
Linnea McDonald, New Zealand
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
"Thank you so much for this free resource. The schools I work at don’t have money and this website gives the kids an opportunity to practice at home. Awesome,awesome, awesome Cheers
From a rural school in New Zealand."
Kate Cooper, Essex
Thursday, December 14, 2023
"Your resources save me an inordinate amount of time, and enrich the programme I deliver as a maths lead practitioner to my own school students (via numeracy sessions), and by proxy, over time hopefully other school students elsewhere too as I deliver sessions to maths trainee teachers."
Emily, New Mexico
Thursday, February 1, 2024
"Found this site while looking for a Logo simulator to use with my eighth-graders, who are struggling mightily to get their heads around parallel lines and transversals and haven't a clue how to use protractors. It occurred to me that the number of hours I spent manipulating a turtle around the green screen monitor of an Apple IIe as a kid might have something to do with why I enjoy geometry.
I have no idea whether my students will get into this the way I did, but it's bound to be better than the wretched curriculum we're currently using, and it will give the kids something new to play with during our weekly enrichment time. Thank you from the bottom of my Gen X nerd-camp veteran heart"
Mark Pyle,
Sunday, February 4, 2024
"Still loving your website, I've taught maths now for 25 years and Transum is my favourite resource by miles. My recent subscription has enhanced that too, thanks."
Karen Wallace,
Friday, July 12, 2024
"Can I say that discovering your website has made my teaching brighter and more imaginative. The students love it and I am so grateful to you for creating it."
Suzanne, Chesterfield.
Saturday, August 24, 2024
"Your site has been a fantastic resource throughout my career and my students and I have loved it."
Joanna Watson,
Monday, September 30, 2024
"This website is literally awesome... I figure there is a team of innovative mathematicians having so much fun with creating so many awesome and fun activities and exercises. Thank you so much :): You rock :):."
Callum Herley, Frankston Heights
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
"A sincere thank you for the effort you have put into the site. The games are so clean and effective with such wonderfully specific topics and skills covered.
My students stumbled on the site and their fluency has shot through the roof by combining your games with my explicit teaching and other tasks.
Many of my students have found the trophy collection element very entertaining.
In my 10 years on the job, I haven’t found many examples of such selfless passion. "