Mathematics 2024

Kei hopu tōu ringa ki te aka tāepa, engari kia mau ki te aka matua.

Cling to the main vine, not the loose one.

This Whakataukī emphasises the importance of strong foundation in the learning area of mathematics, and the need for hard work and problem solving to gain solid knowledge. The new NCEA mathematics standards aim at developing mathematical and statistical literacy for interpreting and evaluating mathematical and statistical data and apply various mathematical methods and concepts to contexts related to the life of akonga.

This year, year 11 focus is on the Numeracy corequisite and the new NCEA standards. There are 4 standards, out of which two are internally assessed and the other two are externally assessed. The students were given the opportunity to choose the standards they wish to appear for, in the very beginning of the term. Majority of our students have opted for two internals and one external.  Around 15 of our students are keen on doing all the four standards.

Keeping the above-mentioned objectives in mind, the year 11 students are divided into two classes, one focusing on Numeracy and the other one on the new standards. Numeracy students are working on getting their numeracy credits by working in collaboration with the social science department. They will collect data as a part of geography internal and analyse this data using statistical methods. Year 10 students are being coached for the numeracy co requisite during class time and whanau time. Resources include numeracy workbooks, numeracy focused education perfect tasks and Numeracy question banks. Our student leaders are working on using whanau time effectively, by supporting the juniors with numeracy skills.

The other class is working on their first internal, explore data using statistical Enquiry process. This is an internal for 5 credits. Basically, students learn skills like data collection, displaying data using technology, interpreting data, analysing data to make conclusions, make predictions, or verify claims. This is an online assessment; it is important that students come to class with a fully charged device and practice the skills daily. This will enable them to face the assessment with confidence. Our assessment context will be West Coast Tourism. The students who have opted for all four internals are working on algebra and geometry skills along with the statistics internal. The plan is to make them confident in solving GCSE questions which are like the mathematical reasoning assessments and external exam.

Let us keep our tamariki in our prayers so that they are guided by the Holy Spirit to face these new challenges.