Grade 8 Parents Information Evening

1
Grade 8 Parents Information Evening

• Mathematics Department
• February 2009

2
Topics Covered

• A Glimpse at Grade 8 Maths and the new Curriculum
• Assessment in the new Curriculum and CASS
  requirements
• The setting system
• Grade 9 and the CTAs
• FET Maths
• Maths Literacy
• Common Worries
• Top Set issues
• Maths and Computers
• Questions

3
What does Grade 8 Maths look like?

• Nine 45 minute periods of Maths in the 10 day
  cycle
• No Maths on a Thursday week B
• Homework 3 times a week

4
Homework

• The new curriculum is a full one
• The pace at which we work is fast
• Homework is therefore essential for consolidation
  and practice.
• We do try to stick to the home work timetable
• Some boys will complete their work in class or
  during break and not appear to have much homework

5
The Curriculum

• The RNCS for the GET phase has
• 5 Learning Outcomes for Mathematics
• LO 1 Numbers, Operations and
  Relationships - i.e. Arithmetic
• LO 2 Patterns, Functions and Algebra
• LO 3 Space and Shape (Geometry)
• LO 4 Measurement (Area Volume)
• LO 5 Data Handling (Probability and
  Statistics)

6
Assessment Standards

• LOs are broken down into Assessment Standards
  which describe the curriculum in detail
• Assessment Standards have been explained and
  expanded and appear on the College Intranet

7
Assessment in Grade 8 and 9

• Assessment is varied
• It can be group or individual work
• It can be marked with a memo or a rubric
• CASS ( continuous assessment) includes
• Exams
• Common Tests
• Investigations
• Tutorials or assignments
• Projects

8
Forms of Reporting to Parents

• Mark Reports
• Portfolio Review
• Exams

9
Mark Report

• Snap shot of how your son is performing mid term.
  
• Some CASS work included but mostly class tests
  which are set based
• Do not compare your sons Mark Report mark with a
  pupil in a different set
• Rather pay attention to the industry symbol
• Grade 8 MR 1 marks are all CASS work

10
Portfolios

• Marked CASS work is put into a pupil portfolio
• Portfolios are kept in the teachers classroom
• Portfolio Reviews take place at the beginning of
  term 2 and 4
• Portfolios marks will be an accumulation of the
  different forms of assessment

11
EXAM reporting Breakdown of marks on reports

• Grade 8 50 CASS and 50 Examination
• Grade 9 75 CASS and 25 Examination
• Grade 10 25 CASS and 75 Examination

12
The Setting System

• 6 or 7 sets per grade
• Boys are placed in mixed ability sets at the
  beginning of Grade 8.
• Some years we do take into account the common
  entrance exam. This year we have divided the
  grade into a top and bottom half.
• Setting in 2009 will take place after the 1st
  Mark Report in March
• Sets changes after initial setting occur again
  after the portfolio reviews or after the June or
  November examinations

13
Set Changes after Grade 9

• Set 1 boys have the same teacher from Grade 8 to
  12
• All other sets have the same teacher for Grade 8
  and 9
• At the end of Grade 9 we reset by ranking them
  according to CASS work and a November examination
  
• Boys keep their new teacher from Grade 10 to 12
• Set changes take place according to performance
  and aptitude and not a pupils teacher-preference.
  

14
End of Grade 9 marks

• Common Tasks for Assessment
• Similar to a Maths Literacy examination as
  it is set in a particular context
• CTA is completed during term 4 over
• 7 or 8 lessons under the guidance and
• assistance of the teacher
• Report mark CASS 75 CTA 25

15
Bishops Grade 9 Internal Examination

• This tests content- work required for Grade 10
  Mathematics
• Reporting on this examination is made as a
  comment in the body of the report.
• This exam is used for re setting in Grade 10.

16
Maths after Grade 9

• Mathematics in the FET phase is compulsory
• 2 options Mathematics and
  Mathematical Literacy
• Mathematics is necessary for those wanting to
  study a course requiring mathematics at
  university
• Maths Literacy will be explained at the Gr 9
  subject choice meeting

17
Top set issues and competitions

• Mrs Bradley will be the top set teacher for this
  grade.
• Boys in top set are encouraged to participate and
  Olympiads and the UCT Maths Competition.
• In Grade 8 and 9 they are accelerated in terms of
  the syllabus and other topics of interest are
  discussed.
• In Gr 10 12 the new AP Maths course is
  incorporated into class time and most of the
  class should end up writing the IEB AP Maths exam
  as an 8th subject in Gr 12

18
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
• Come to Maths Support
• Extra Lessons if all else fails but consult
  teacher first

19
Maths and Computers

• Most maths is still done with pen and paper
• Certain sections lend themselves to computer
  based work and in grade 9 students are using
  their laptops more and more
• Excel is used in the teaching of graphs
  statistics and transformations to name a few.
• Software such as Autograph and Geometers
  Sketchpad is used for demonstration purposes or
  as computer- based exercises that pupils work
  through.
• Free software called Geogebra is loaded onto the
  boys computers. This is used to investigate
  transformations graphs and some geometry.