Grade 8 Parents

Information EveningMathematics 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)

Topics Covered

9 Maths periods in a 10 day cycle

each period is 45 minutes

no Maths on Friday in Week B

Grade 8 Maths

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

Homework

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

Homework continued

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

The Mathematics Curriculum

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

Work Schedules and CASS Schedules

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%)

Assessment

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.

Portfolios and Portfolio Review

Marks are updated on an ongoing basis

Weighting change constantly

Parents can track marks

Rolling Averages on My Bishops Life

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

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

Rolling averages continued

June Exam

All common tests

All tutorials

All investigations

All assignments and/projects

June 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.

November Report Mark

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.

The Setting System

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.

Set Changes

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

Grade 8 Sets

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

Mathematics & Mathematical Literacy

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

Common Concerns

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

Solutions and Strategies

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

Maths and Computers

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

Maths and Computers continued

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

Bishops Intranet and email