Comments on: Why compulsory mathematics?

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:19:27 +0000

Glad that you see the light!

By: Reo

Reo — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:35:49 +0000

I thank you for what has been said here at first I thought mathematcal litracy is not a good subject and can change my future bt as I see now its a good subject

By: Adrian Marnewick

Adrian Marnewick — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:46:47 +0000

Hi Charlene,

You should contact the people at Maths & Science Marketing directly to find this out. Go to the link in John Bransby’s reply below …

Adrian

By: Charlene

Charlene — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:13:24 +0000

I dropped maths before the subject selection for Grade 10 Therefore, I only have the knowledge of maths till Grade 10. Will these CD’S from Grade 10-12 of Maths help me to be able to rewrite matric maths, for future studies at university level – matriculated 1998

By: lisa

lisa — Tue, 25 May 2010 17:11:25 +0000

after several debates and arguements with parents and teachers, in 1996 i did maths in practice for year 12. in year 10 i was in advanced and started year 11 in 2 unit, then dropped to maths in society. I enjoyed maths, only cause i was good at it, up till year 9. Then it got complicated, alienated and seemed irrelevant. it was a major struggle to keep up, and gave me anxiety.
I decided i preffered a top mark in a low class level, and said if i cant do MIP, i wont do maths at all.
That has been the most interesting and beneficial subject ive studied in my life. We learned interest rates, transport timetables and costs, identifying value for money..ie brands/weight, rates of pay and tax,time differences,medicare rebates, recipe adjusting, maths in early childhood such as shapes, sizes, volume(probably because they expected us to get pregnant the year after school, in the hope we would teach our kids early, and they wouldnt end up in MIP)At maths camp, while the rest studied hard all day, we reffered to ourselves as the special kids, making kites, having swimming races and bushwalking with pedometers.
I now see that myself and some classmates have good budgeting skills, and a basic mathematical understanding of the world and its functions, in a practical, everyday sense. We apply skills learned in everyday living. yet the people we thought would be the highest achievers, may have degrees and fancy jobs, but dont know to buy fuel on a tuesday when it is cheapest, in the morning, when it weighs less, so you get more litres.
Since 1996 I believed every student should do this subject compulsorarily, and can do extra maths if desired.
I am currently at uni, to be a secondary hospitality teacher, right now i need to write an essay telling my curriculum story. it will be something like this.

By: marina

marina — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:12:57 +0000

hi
My husband is a maths teacher and he has found that most children who battle with maths have no foundation. They do not know basic concepts and therefore cannot build a strong mathematical understanding when the basics are weak. To be a good maths teacher, start by using concrete apparatus. Young children are at a concrete stage of development but many teachers just use worksheets. If children have a poor understanding, the gap just gets bigger and bigger as they get older. “What the hand feels, the brain will remember.”

By: John Bransby

John Bransby — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:00:39 +0000

Thank you for your comment – pleased it has inspired you. I am sure there such courses – although I have no details about the courses. You also do not say at what level you are currently teaching. Maths & Science Marketing has published Maths & Science CDs for the teaching of these crucial subjects in Grades 10, 11 & 12. If that interests you – go to our website at: http://www.mathsandscience.com for more info and order forms.

Good luck with your teaching for 2010.

By: C. Niemack

C. Niemack — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:54:52 +0000

My sincerest apologies to the authors of the above article.
I look forward to a response.

By: Adrian Marnewick

Adrian Marnewick — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:08:39 +0000

Hi there!

I’m very happy that you found the article to be inspiring. I must however stress that I did not author it. All credit to J Fortuin and John Bransby as indicated at the bottom of the article.

I’m going to contact John and ask him to reply to your question.

Thanks for your interest!

By: C. Niemack

C. Niemack — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:44:35 +0000

Hi Adrian

Love your article very inspiring. I just would like to know what course(s) can one do to enhance your teaching in this particular area. I have just completed my PGCE grade 4-9. I last did maths and Science when I studied at tech about 12 years ago.
Are there any maths and science programmes for teachers like myself.