Mathematics & Technical Mathematics

SUBJECT POLICY

Approach to the teaching of Mathematics and Technical Mathematics:

 

  • Mathematics offered in Grades 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.
  • Main School time table allocates 12 periods per cycle for Mathematics.
  • Technical Mathematics offered in Grades 10, 11 and 12.
  • Main School time table allocates 12 periods per cycle for Technical Mathematics.
  • The lessons, informal assessment tasks and formal assessment tasks must always be in line with ATP, Examination Guidelines and Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements.

 

Management of Assessment

 

  • Informal Assessment is administered by the teacher in the form of class work and homework.
  • A minimum of five informal assessment tasks to be administered per week per grade.
  • Formal Assessment must be moderated by the HOD before administered.
  • Number of Formal Assessment is according to the Annual Teaching Plan (ATP) as per National Policy (CAPS).

 

Informal Assessment

 

  • To focus on the “Concepts, Content and Skills” as outlined in the CAPS document.
  • To ensure adherence to Pace Setter / Annual Teaching Plan
  • To ensure that all four cognitive levels are covered in the informal assessment tasks.

 

 

Cognitive Levels

Description

1

Recall

2

Comprehension

3

Analysis, Application

4

Evaluation, Synthesis

  Formal Assessment

  • The Formal Assessment tasks should be administered strictly according to the prescribed Assessment Programme / Annual Teaching Plan aligned to the District Plan
  • Prescribed experimental worksheets to be developed by the teacher except for Grade12 Technical Mathematics that receives a Practical Assessment task from National.
  • Control Test to be set by the designated Teacher and moderated by HOD before administered.
  • Mid-year examination to be set by the designated Teacher and moderated by HOD before administered.
  • Preparatory Examinations for Mathematics and Technical Mathematics in Grade 12 is set by the District
  • Final Examination for Mathematics Grade 8, 9, 10 and 11 to be set by the designated Teacher and moderated by the HOD before administered, unless province gives a different directive.
  • Final Examination for Technical Mathematics Grade 10 and 11 to be set by the designated Teacher and moderated by the HOD before administered, unless province gives a different directive.
  • Preparatory examination for Mathematics and Technical Mathematics Grade 12 is an external exam set by the Provincial Assessment board.
  • Final examination for Mathematics and Technical Mathematics Grade 12 is an external exam set by National Assessment board.

 

  • Assessment Programme for Mathematics:

Grade

Term 1

Term 2

Term 3

Term 4

8 & 9

Assignment

 

Test

Investigation

Test

Project

 

Test

Test / Final examination

10 &11

Investigation/Project

 

Test

Assignment

 

Test

Test

 

Test

Test

 

Final examination

12

Assignment

 

Investigation/Project

 

Test

Test

Test

 

Test

 

Preparatory examination

Test

 

Test

 

Final examination

 

 

 

 

  • Assessment Programme for Technical Mathematics:

Grade

Term 1

Term 2

Term 3

Term 4

10 &11

Investigation/Project

 

Test

 

PAT

Assignment

 

Test

 

PAT

Test

 

Test

 

PAT

Test

 

Final examination

12

Assignment

 

Investigation/Project

 

Test

 

PAT

Test

 

PAT

Test

 

Test

 

Preparatory examination

 

PAT

Test

 

Test

 

Final examination

 

Developing Language Skills: Reading and Writing 

 

Teachers of Mathematics must be aware that they are also engaged in teaching language across the curriculum. This is particularly important for learners for whom the Language of Learning and Teaching is not their home language. It is important to provide learners with opportunities to develop and improve their language skills in the context of learning Mathematics. It will therefore be critical to afford learners opportunities to read scientific texts, to write reports, paragraphs and short essays as part of the assessment, especially (but not only) in the informal assessments for learning.  

 

Moderation of Assessment 

 

Moderation refers to the process that ensures that the assessment tasks are fair, valid and reliable. Moderation should be implemented at school, district, provincial and national levels. All formal assessment tasks are to be moderator before and after administering tasks to learners. All grades (gr 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12) are to be moderated.  Moderation at district level will be conducted during term 2, term 3 and term 4. 

 

Educator is expected to 

 

  • Have evidence in planning and preparations.
  • Keep files (Educator’s CASS Portfolio, Subject File and Educator’s planning file) safely and regularly updated.
  • Implement continuous assessment and ensure that the formal programme of assessment and ATP is followed and checked regularly.
  • Mark in detail all formal assessment tasks, check and control informal assessment tasks regularly. Append signature as well as date during marking, checking and controlling of learner’s written work.
  • Always do item analysis after marking controlled tests and examinations.
  • Submit the teacher’s file and learners’ work/evidence of performance for monitoring and support when required.
  • Attend all the necessary subject, circuit, district and provincial meetings or workshops and always give feedback to HOD and colleagues and implement decisions taken

 

 Subject Support Meetings

             

  • Subject support meetings are crucial to staff development and should be given appropriate emphasis.
  • Subject support meetings should be primarily aimed at in-service training and the measurement of progress against the planning done.

 

School Visits

 

Subject advisors could visit the school during each term

For the first term main focus to be on: 

  • Availability of Policy Documents
  • Reflection on performance in final examinations
  • Audit of informal Assessment tasks
  • Adherence to Pace Setter / ATP
  • Collection and distribution of learners’ textbooks
  • Educator’s and learners’ challenges

 

 

For the other Terms the focus could be on:

  • Performance of learners on Formal Assessment
  • Item analysis
  • Audit of Informal Assessment
  • Adherence to Pace Setter / ATP
  • Collection and distribution of learners’ textbooks
  • Educator’s and learners’ challenges