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Grade 8 Parents Information Evening

Grade 8 Parents Information Evening. Mathematics Department February 2014. Topics Covered. A Glimpse at Grade 8 Maths Homework The Curriculum Assessment The Setting System FET Maths and Maths Literacy Top Set Issues Common Worries Maths and Computers.

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Grade 8 Parents Information Evening

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  1. Grade 8 Parents Information Evening Mathematics Department February 2014

  2. Topics Covered • A Glimpse at Grade 8 Maths • Homework • The Curriculum • Assessment • The Setting System • FET Maths and Maths Literacy • Top Set Issues • Common Worries • Maths and Computers

  3. What does Grade 8 Maths look like? • Nine 45 minute periods of Maths in the 10 day cycle • No Maths on a Friday Week A

  4. Homework • The curriculum is a full one • The pace at which we work is fast • Homework is therefore essential for consolidation and practice • Amount of homework depends on the teacher • Some boys will complete their work in class or during break and not appear to have much homework • It must be done honestly and sincerely

  5. The Curriculum • The Maths Curriculum is broken up into 5 areas: • Numbers, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement and Probability & Statistics (Data Handling) • A detailed breakdown appears on the College Intranet • This is true for all subjects and for all grades

  6. Assessment in Grade 8 and 9 Assessment is varied: Mainly individual work but can be in groups It can be marked with a memo or a rubric • SBA (School Based Assessment) or CASS (Continuous Assessment) includes • Exams • Common Tests • Tutorials with Validation Test • Investigations • Projects • Class tests or diagnostic tests do not count for CASS but are important.

  7. Rolling Averages on My Bishops Life • Tutorial mark = VT + 5 for punctuality & 5 for completeness • Weightings - Tut: CT = 20:80 • Absentees - are given a “1” to show absent (may write later but mark does not count) • At the end of the year, the best of 8 out of 10 marks are taken • Weightings - Exam :CASS = 60:40

  8. Portfolios • Marked CASS work is put into a pupil portfolio • Portfolios are kept in the teacher’s classroom • Portfolio Review takes place at the beginning of term 2 • PR marks are drawn from the Rolling Averages at a particular time

  9. The Setting System • 7 sets in Grade 8 • Sets 1 – 3 make up top sets from prep schools. Sets 6 - 7 smaller in size and for strugglers. • Set teachers appear under Information on the Intranet. • Initial Setting will take place on 12th February after 3 assessments. • Assessments: 1 Tut, 1 Common Test and a test based on Grade 7 work. • Boys are ranked for initial setting. • Sets changes after initial setting occur again after the Industry Reports or after examinations.

  10. Set Changes after Grade 9 • Set 1 boys have the same teacher from Grade 8 to 12. Mr Vamvadelis is the set 1 teacher for this grade. • All other sets have the same teacher for Grade 8 and 9 and a new teacher from Grade 10 to 12 • Set changes take place according to performance and aptitude. • Set changes are not based on a pupil’s teacher-preference or pressure from parents for their son to be in a higher or lower set.

  11. Maths after Grade 9 • Mathematics in the FET phase(Gr 10 -12) is compulsory • 2 options: Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy • Mathematics is necessary for those wanting to study a course requiring mathematics at university • Current Grade 10’s to 12’s are following the CAPS curriculum which includes Geometry and Probability. There is no longer an optional Paper 3 • Maths Literacy starts from June Grade 10

  12. Top set Issues • Top set teacher – Mr Vamvadelis. • Olympiads : Whole school writes Round. • UCT Maths Competition: 15 boys/grade • Grade 8-9 : faster pace allows for acceleration of the • syllabus and other topics of interest to be discussed. • Grade 10-12 :AP Maths course is incorporated into • class time. • The IEB AP Maths exam is written as an 8th subject in • Grade 12 • We are trying to teach some AP Maths to set 2 in Grade 10 – 12 but will have to wait and see if they write the final exam

  13. Common Worries Strugglers • Some boys will struggle with Maths • At times homework will be difficult and tests will be challenging Options for strugglers • Ask in class • Do homework regularly and sincerely • Consult class teacher during open period • Ask a friend • Buy another text book with solutions • Come to MATHS SUPPORT • Extra Lessons – if all else fails but consult teacher first

  14. Maths and Computers • Most Maths is still done with pen and paper • Certain sections lend themselves to computer based work and in Grade 8 and 9 boys are using their laptops more and more. • Excel is used in the teaching of graphs; statistics and transformations. • Teachers use Maths software for demonstration purposes. • Free software called Geogebra is loaded onto the boys’ computers. It is used to investigate transformations, graphs and some geometry.

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