| 1. |
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) is providing Mental Mathematics Flip Books for each class teacher from Grade R to Grade 6 in public ordinary and special schools with Foundation and Intermediate Phase learners.
|
| 2. |
Mental mathematics relates to the ability to calculate mentally. The Revised National Curriculum Statement for the Mathematics Learning Area states that learners need to “practice” and “sharpen mental calculation skills”. Part of the WCED’s Numeracy Strategy to improve the numeracy levels of learners in the Western Cape is to promote 10 minutes per day of mental mathematics, utilised appropriately according to the ages and developmental stages of the learners. It is envisaged that these flip books will assist teachers in this regard.
|
| 3. |
Each Mental Mathematics Flip Book is in the form of a desk-calendar that can stand by itself. The flip book consists of 150 mental mathematics activities, i.e. one per day, (Grade R has 100 activities) that focus primarily on Mathematics Learning Outcomes 1 and 2. Each daily activity lists the relevant assessment standard(s) and some strategies the teacher can use to teach the activity. The activities are grouped according to certain concepts and are also arranged to facilitate progression. It is therefore suggested that they be followed in the order in which they are given.
|
| 4. |
To be fair and relevant, however, mental mathematics exercises need to reinforce and consolidate prior learning. Therefore, the teacher should have previously introduced and taught the concepts that are referred to in the daily activity.
|
| 5. |
Mental mathematics should be written into the Numeracy/Mathematics learning programme and work schedule and feature as a daily mental mathematics exercise. The relevant activity/page number from the flip book should be entered in the teacher’s lesson plan.
|
| 6. |
The pace of working through an activity will vary from class to class. When an activity seems too short, the teacher may decide to add more questions. When the challenge seems too difficult for many learners, the teacher should revisit the concepts that are required to do the activity. Until these have been understood, the activity could be simplified or the teacher could repeat earlier activities. At all times, however, the teacher needs to be aware of how individual learners are coping with the activities and offer support to those who are experiencing difficulty.
|
| 7. |
DELIVERY OF MENTAL MATHEMATICS FLIP BOOKS
|
| 7.1 |
Delivery at workshops
The WCED hopes that teachers will make full use of this easy-to-use resource to improve the learners’ mental mathematics abilities.
|
| 7.1.1 |
Afternoon workshops will be held at various venues in each EMDC from 18 to 29 July.
|
| 7.1.2 |
The EMDC will announce the date and venue for each school’s workshop by 24 June.
|
| 7.1.3 |
At the workshop, the service provider will hand out each school’s package of Mental Mathematics Flip Books.
|
| 7.1.4 |
The service provider will explain the design of and demonstrate how to use the flip books.
|
| 7.1.5 |
Each school will be invited to send two teachers, one from the Foundation Phase and one from the Intermediate Phase, to a designated workshop. The principal should appoint one of these teachers to receive the school’s package.
|
| 7.1.6 |
At the workshop, the following process must be followed:
| (a) |
Check the address on the package. Only accept delivery of the package if your school’s address is on the waybill.
|
| (b) |
Check that the number of Mental Mathematics Flip Books in the package is the same as the number printed on the delivery form.
|
| (c) |
If any of the Mental Mathematics Flip Books are damaged, e.g. wire binding bent, then do not sign the waybill and do not accept delivery of the flip books.
|
| (e) |
The waybill must be signed and dated by the teacher, with his or her name and ID number printed underneath. The telephone number of the school must be provided.
|
|
| 7.2 |
Delivery to schools
In the event of a school delivery the following process must be followed:
| (a) |
A member of the School’s Management Team (SMT) must accept delivery.
|
| (b) |
Check the address on the package. Only accept delivery of the package if your school’s address is on the waybill.
|
| (c) |
Check that the number of Mental Mathematics Flip Books delivered is the same as the number printed on the delivery form.
|
| (d) |
If any of the Mental Mathematics Flip Books are damaged, e.g. wire binding bent, then do not sign the waybill and do not accept delivery of the flip books.
|
| (e) |
The waybill must be signed and dated by a member of the SMT with his or her name and ID number printed underneath.
|
| (f) |
The telephone number of the school must be provided and the waybill stamped with the school stamp.
|
|
| 8. |
The material in the Mental Mathematics Flip Books is available electronically as a PowerPoint presentation on the above website after registering the school as a user. (There is no registration fee.) A weekly challenge exercise for learners can also be downloaded from the website.
|
| 9. |
The Mental Mathematics Flip Books are to be issued to teachers but they remain the property of the school and are to be managed responsibly by the SMT.
|
| 10. |
The WCED hopes that teahers will make full use of this easy-to-use resource to improve learners' mental mathematics abilities. |
SIGNED: B.K. SCHREUDER
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2005:06:22
|