Middle School Subjects – Mathematics
Mathematics provides students with essential mathematical skills and knowledge in number and algebra, measurement and geometry, and statistics and probability. It develops the numeracy capabilities that all students need in their personal, work and civic life.
In Mathematics, the following key ideas describe how students can engage when learning and using the content.
Understanding
Students build a robust knowledge of adaptable and transferable mathematical concepts. They make connections between related concepts and progressively apply the familiar, in order to develop new ideas. They develop an understanding of the relationship between the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ of mathematics.
Fluency
Students develop skills in choosing appropriate procedures; carrying out procedures flexibly, accurately, efficiently and appropriately; and readily recalling factual knowledge and concepts.
Problem Solving
Students develop the ability to make choices, interpret, formulate, model and investigate problem situations, and communicate solutions effectively. They apply their existing strategies to seek solutions, and verify that their answers are reasonable.
Reasoning
Students develop logical thought and actions, such as analysing, proving, evaluating, explaining, inferring, justifying and generalising. Students are reasoning mathematically when they explain their thinking, compare and contrast related ideas, and justify the strategies they used and the conclusions they reached.
New concepts introduced each year level include:
Year 7
- Algebra
- Solving Simple Equations
- Volume
- Multiplication and Division of Fractions
Year 8
- Index Laws
- Coordinate Geometry
- Circle Geometry
Year 9
- Trigonometry
- Pythagoras
- Expansion and Factorisation
Students consolidate their knowledge and understanding through various learning tasks and assessment types. These include:
- Tests
- Investigations
- Maths Mate
- Examinations
Extension Classes
The College offers an extension mathematics class for each year in Middle School.
Extension classes cover all concepts of the Australian Curriculum as well as stretching students beyond the requirements of the Australian Curriculum for those who have demonstrated the capacity. As a result, the time spent on routine concepts will be briefer and more time will be spent on higher level concepts to extend these high performing students.
To select students for the extension class, current mathematics grades and the PAT (Progressive Achievement Test) results are considered with teacher observation. The PAT test assesses students’ skills and understanding in mathematics across all strands. Student’s do not study for the PAT test, rather, it assesses students’ retained knowledge.
There are opportunities for students to change in and out of the extension class during the year.