grade 8 parents information evening mathematics department february 2015
Post on 21-Dec-2015
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Grade 8 Mathematics & other subjects (slide 3)
Homework (slides 4 & 5)
The Curriculum (slide 6)
Work Schedules & CASS Schedules (slide 7)
Assessment (slides 8 - 14)
The Setting System, Set Changes and Grade 8 Sets (slides 15 – 17)
Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy (slide 18)
Common Concerns, solutions & strategies (slides 19 – 20)
Mathematics and Computers (slides 21 – 22)
Bishops intranet and email (slide 23)
Topics Covered
9 Maths periods in a 10 day cycle
each period is 45 minutes
no Maths on Friday in Week B
Grade 8 Maths
Work is covered at a fast pace
the curriculum is both full and challenging
homework is essential
for consolidation purposes
for empowering the boys to become self-sufficient
Homework
may require the completion of work done in class
may require work to be done independently from the
textbook
may require preparation for CASS tasks such as common
tests
may take the form of tutorials, assignments or projects
Homework
When no formal homework is assigned boys are encouraged to
make use of the time to practice and consolidate the work.
There are lots of relevant resources on the Bishops intranet
which are easy to access, including:
past tutorials with detailed solutions
common tests with memoranda
past exam papers with memoranda
additional worksheets
Homework continued
Five key areas Numbers Algebra Geometry Measurement Probability & Statistics (Data Handling)
Goals to provide stimulation at appropriate levels
to challenge boys to understand & appreciate their strengths
to encourage boys to recognize and overcome their
weaknesses
to empower boys with skills essential for academic success
The Mathematics Curriculum
Boys are expected to plan ahead and meet deadlines
deadlines can be negotiated in advance, but not after the
event
A detailed breakdown of all work to be covered each term
appears on the Bishops Intranet
can be accessed by the boys from home
Dates for CASS tasks are publicized on the first day of each term
tests cannot be written after the assigned date
boys may, if circumstances permit, arrange to write early
Work Schedules and CASS Schedules
Cognitive levels (across all grades)
Knowledge
Routine Procedure
Complex Procedures
Problem Solving
School Based Assessment (SBA) or Continuous
Assessment (CASS)
Common Tests (2.5% for each of 8 CTs)
Tutorials (with a validation mark from the CT) (1% for 6 Tuts)
Investigations (1% for 2 Investigations)
Projects or Assignments (2% for 1 assignment)
June (10%) and November Exams (60%)
Assessment
Marked CASS work is kept in each boy’s Portfolio.
Portfolios are kept in the teacher’s classroom.
Portfolio Review takes place early in Term 2.
Portfolio Review marks are drawn from the Rolling Averages at a particular time.
Portfolios and Portfolio Review
Marks are updated on an ongoing basis
Weighting change constantly
Parents can track marks
Rolling Averages on My Bishops Life
Common Tests (40 – 50 Marks)
15 marks very similar to questions in
tutorial
30 – 35 marks based on classwork
Tutorials (20 Marks)
2 marks for punctuality
3 marks for effort and completeness
15 marks extracted from the CT
Rolling averages continued
Investigations (50 Marks)
usually on unseen work
relevant to classwork
done in class time only
Assignments (50 Marks, but may vary) Worked on both in class and at home
Marks awarded for
independence, punctuality & completion
validation test on work covered in the assignment
Rolling averages continued
June Exam
All common tests
All tutorials
All investigations
All assignments and/projects
June Report Mark
November Exam (2 Papers)
June Exam (1 Paper)
Common Tests
Tutorials
All investigations
All assignments and/projects
2 lowest test marks are dropped if a boy has written all the
tests
If 1 test is missed, only his lowest test score is dropped.
If a boy is absent for two tests, no scores are dropped.
November Report Mark
There are 7 Maths sets in each Grade.
In the senior grades
Sets 1 & 2 are AP Sets and do Core Maths and Advanced Program Maths
Set 7 ultimately becomes the Mathematical Literacy class
Boys who start in lower sets can work their way up into higher sets
Boys in higher sets will be dropped to lower sets if they under-perform
Grade 8 setting will take place on 27th February will be based on:
The Setting Test written on 5th February
The Common Test on Numbers written today (17 February)
A Pattern Investigation scheduled for 26th February.
The Setting System
Individual set changes are made if a boy is misplaced in his set.
Set changes are made across all sets
at the end of the first term
after the June exams
after the November exams
Very few changes, if any, are made after June in Grade 11.
Requests from parents or boys for a particular teacher or set are not
considered.
Changes are generally based on academic performance.
Trust us to know what is best for each boy.
Changes are not made after each test.
Weaker sets are smaller so that boys can be given more support.
Set Changes
Sets 1 – 2 have the same teacher from Grades 8 – 12.
Sets 3 – 7 have the same teacher for Grades 8 – 9.
2015 Grade 8 Maths teachers
Set 1 Mrs Bradley
Set 2 Mr Jacobs
Set 3 Mr Knight
Set 4 Mrs Gammon
Set 5 Mrs McPetrie
Set 6 Mrs Campbell
Set 7 Mr Vamvadelis
Grade 8 Sets
In Grades 10 - 12 all boys take Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy
Mathematics is essential for boys wanting to study
Medicine
Engineering
Commerce
Sciences
Mathematics is not required by boys wanting to study
Fine Art
Law
Music, Art, Advertising and a multitude of other careers
Mathematics & Mathematical Literacy
Some boys struggle with Mathematics
Homework can be frustrating
it may be too difficult
some boys don’t know where to start
it may take too long
poor organizational skills result in neglected homework
Common Tests and Exams
may feel inaccessible
results may be poor and lead to low self-esteem
Common Concerns
Try to stay positive and encouraging no matter what!
Challenge your son to take responsibility for his own
progress.
A good work ethic in class is essential.
Homework must be properly attempted on a daily basis.
Encourage your son to
attend Maths Support as often as possible
arrange a catch up session during an Open Period if he has fallen
behind
form a study and/or homework group with friends
take full advantage of all the resources on the Bishops Intranet
Resort to extra Lessons – ONLY if all else fails
Solutions and Strategies
Maths is mostly done with pen and paper.
understanding is enhanced by computer based teaching and learning
Excel is a very powerful mathematical program
Grade 9s spend a few weeks mastering the basic and learning how to
use formulae
perform basic calculations
draw graphs
Grade 11s and 12s use Excel to understand
Regression analysis
Recursive sequences
Maths and Computers
Geogebra is a powerful and versatile program which we use to explore
the properties of graphs (Grades 9 – 12)
the properties of quadrilaterals (Grade 9)
circle geometry theorems (Grades 11 & 12)
Grade 9s have access to computer worksheets to enhance their learning
factors worksheets using Excel
a factor test
transformations using Excel
Quadrilateral investigations
a quadrilateral properties theory test
Maths and Computers continued
The intranet is a very important resource and boys should access it frequently
to
prepare for common tests by
working through CTs from previous years
checking their solutions to tutorials before handing in their work
consolidating their understanding by working through past tutorials
prepare for exams by working through past papers and checking their
answers
look for additional worksheets and notes on sections they are struggling with
Communication between teachers and boys is often via email and boys need
to
check their emails regularly
respond appropriately and timeously
Bishops Intranet and email
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