Mathematics

Congratulations to the following students who displayed the greatest growth in their learning in Mathematics. Maths Pathways defines growth as new work that the student has mastered over the last fortnight.

~Click on images to enlarge~

Stage 6 Goal Setting (Year 11)

In Mathematics, it is important for our learners to be engaged in all aspects of their learning. One of the regular conversations that Stage 6 Mathematics teachers have at Mater Dei with their students is around how they are organising their time to ensure that they are not only completing the set work from class, but that they are devoting some time to the other fundamental aspects that affect performance such as:

- Establishing a regular revision schedule

- Practicing good revision processes involving the use of revision cards, Learning Logs etc

- Identifying particular areas of needs in which to focus their time and energy

- Collaborating with others to form mutually beneficial learning relationships

This term the Mathematics Department will be launching the Stage 6 Goal Setting initiative with the Year 11 cohort. The process involves students taking some time to think critically about how they are progressing with their learning and then identify areas that they would like to work on that will be able to move their learning forward. 

Once they have determined priority areas, a conversation occurs between the student and the teacher to refine the goal to one, as well as to ensure that the goal is appropriate. A timeline is then set with key indicator/s for success determined (for the process of monitoring and feedback).

 Year 12 End of Course Preparations

As students progress towards the end of the Year 12 Mathematics Courses, it is important that they focus and refocus on what actions are required to allow themselves the best opportunity to perform. 

The first of these challenges are the Trial HSC Examinations. In some Mathematics classes, the teachers are coming towards the conclusion of the course. This offers a unique opportunity for the teachers and students to spend time reviewing and developing skills that will assist the student better understand content that is appropriate to the course. 

Students looking to perform well in the upcoming examinations would already be well and truly implementing their revision schedule that would be:

- informed by teacher feedback,

- targeted towards specific content areas

- defined by a degree of regularity

Students are encouraged to be in regular contact with the NESA website, which offers a plethora of resources that will assist with the development of a student's mathematical understanding. Some of the available resources are:

1. Practice HSC papers
2. Previous HSC papers
3. Educational videos
4. The ‘HSC hub’

Students studying Mathematics should be looking to complete as many revision papers as possible leading into the Trial HSC Examinations. The papers should be corrected, as the student moves through the paper,  and feedback sought (from either a fellow student or the teacher) when content areas are not clearly and fully understood. 

Mr Kurt McPherson | Mathematics KLA Leader