Grade 8 Parents

1
Grade 8 Parents Information Evening Mathematics
Department February 2015
2
Topics Covered

• 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)

3
Grade 8 Maths

• 9 Maths periods in a 10 day cycle
• each period is 45 minutes
• no Maths on Friday in Week B

4
Homework

• 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

5
Homework continued

• 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

6
The Mathematics Curriculum

• 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

7
Work Schedules and CASS Schedules

• 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

8
Assessment

• 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)

9
Portfolios and Portfolio Review

• Marked CASS work is kept in each boys Portfolio.
• Portfolios are kept in the teachers classroom.
• Portfolio Review takes place early in Term 2.
• Portfolio Review marks are drawn from the Rolling
  Averages at a particular time.

10
Rolling Averages on My Bishops Life

• Marks are updated on an ongoing basis
• Weighting change constantly
• Parents can track marks

11
Rolling averages continued

• 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

12
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

13
June Report Mark

• June Exam
• All common tests
• All tutorials
• All investigations
• All assignments and/projects

14
November 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.

15
The Setting System

• 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.

16
Set Changes

• 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.

17
Grade 8 Sets

• 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

18
Mathematics Mathematical Literacy

• 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

19
Common Concerns

• Some boys struggle with Mathematics
• Homework can be frustrating
• it may be too difficult
• some boys dont 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

20
Solutions and Strategies

• 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

21
Maths and Computers

• 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

22
Maths and Computers continued

• 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

23
Bishops Intranet and email

• 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