Grade 8 Parents
Information Evening
Mathematics Department
February 2015

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)

9 Maths periods in a 10 day cycle

each period is 45 minutes

no Maths on Friday in Week B
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
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
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

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
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%)

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.

Marks are updated on an ongoing basis

Weighting change constantly

Parents can track marks
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
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

June Exam

All common tests

All tutorials

All investigations

All assignments and/projects

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.
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.

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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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