Mathematics Department
February 2014
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A Glimpse at Grade 8 Maths
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Homework
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The Curriculum
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Assessment
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The Setting System
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FET Maths and Maths Literacy
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Top Set Issues
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Common Worries
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Maths and Computers
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Nine 45 minute periods of Maths in the 10
day cycle
No Maths on a Friday Week A
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The curriculum is a full one
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The pace at which we work is fast
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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
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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
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.
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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
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Marked CASS work is put into a pupil portfolio
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Portfolios are kept in the teacher’s classroom
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Portfolio Review takes place at the beginning of
term 2
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PR marks are drawn from the Rolling Averages
at a particular time
7 sets in Grade 8
 Sets 1 – 3 make up top sets from prep schools.
Sets 6 - 7 smaller in size and for strugglers.
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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.
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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 teacherpreference or pressure from parents for their son to be
in a higher or lower set.
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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
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Top set teacher – Mr Vamvadelis.
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Olympiads : Whole school writes Round.
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UCT Maths Competition: 15 boys/grade
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Grade 8-9 : faster pace allows for acceleration of the
syllabus and other topics of interest to be discussed.
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Grade 10-12 :AP Maths course is incorporated into
class time.
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The IEB AP Maths exam is written as an 8th subject in
Grade 12
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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
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
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Come to MATHS SUPPORT
Extra Lessons – if all else fails but consult teacher
first
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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.
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Excel is used in the teaching of graphs; statistics and
transformations.
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Teachers use Maths software for demonstration
purposes.
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Free software called Geogebra is loaded onto the boys’
computers.
It is used to investigate transformations, graphs and
some geometry.