At Kildare we strongly believe that every student has the ability to achieve success in Mathematics. In the Middle Years students engage with Maths Pathway, an individualised program that caters to a student’s level of development.
This means that students who are high achievers in Mathematics can be extended and accelerated, while others who may find Mathematics challenging will have the opportunity to practise skills to mastery. This means that every student can experience success in Mathematics.
Each of our classes have started the school year with a ‘Week of Inspirational Maths’. These lessons engage students in a variety of rich tasks that enable them to inquire, problem solve, investigate patterns and further develop a growth mindset. A growth mindset is vital in Mathematics as it enables students to work hard and to persevere when challenged. From here, new students will undertake diagnostic activities to ascertain the mathematical skills that they have already mastered and their own unique learning plan will be developed. Existing students will be able to continue their existing individualised programs.
Within the Maths Pathway program we encourage students to problem solve and seek help from many different sources when they are challenged by maths. The teacher plays a very important role in the classroom, not only to explicitly teach content, but also to build students’ independence by guiding them through a variety of steps which also include:
When working with your daughter on Mathematics at home, we ask that you encourage her to remain positive, even when challenged, as it is when students are facing challenges and developing strategies to overcome the challenge, that significant learning occurs.
Later this term we will provide you with more detailed information regarding Maths Pathway and our approach to learning Mathematics in the Middle Years. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your daughter’s teacher or myself for a chat.
Kim Thomas
Middle Years Coordinator
