Our Mathematics Department is staffed by 7 permanent members of fully qualified staff with a variety of backgrounds and specialty expertise.
 

In the Mathematics learning area, students learn about mathematics, what it is and how it is used in making decisions and solving problems. Students' numeracy is a key focus of the department and a great deal of emphasis is placed on students’ ability to calculate in their head ( Mental Maths) and to be able to survive without a calculator. An increasing number of assessments feature non-calculator sections.

As students progress in Mathematics they learn calculator and spreadsheet skills. In appropriate courses we favour Casio Classpad 330 and 9860AU graphic calculators, and our staff are trained in the use of these.

We also are able to offer our students free access to Mathletics interactive software, which becomes a regular and highly popular feature of many classes. It has been proved that significant learning has been achieved through results gained from learning tasks set by teachers, as well as providing students with the confidence to manage numbers in their head through competition on-line.
All students have individual user names and passwords assigned to them, allowing them to access the website from home at any time. Mathletics [read more]

Homework

As a department we believe in regular, but not excessive, assigned homework, which consolidates work done in class, to assist students in the learning process. Homework is a critical strategy in teaching students to acquire organisational skills, necessary for life in the workplace or in tertiary education. Parents can expect to be contacted if students fail to submit tasks set, or come to school without necessary equipment.
We currently offer free after-school tuition for students one day per week after school, and hope to continue to provide this extra help to our students in future.

Course Programs

In order for parents, and students, to have a better overview of the programs for the year and pathway concerned we are happy to include a link to the appropriate program here.
Assessment dates and programs may change to reflect the needs and pace of the students in the class concerned, but textbooks will generally be adhered to or provide an alternative for private study.

Programs:
Year 8 General Pathway
Year 8 Pathway 3
Year 9 Pathway 1
Year 9 Pathway 2
Year 9 Pathway 3
Year 10 Pathway 1
Year 10 Pathway 2
Year 10 Pathway 3
Unit 1B
Unit 1C
Unit 2A
Unit 2B
Unit 3A
Unit 3B
Unit 3A Maths Specialist
Unit 3B Maths Specialist
Year 12 Modelling With Mathematics
Year 12 Discrete Mathematics
Year 12 Applicable Mathematics
Year 12 Calculus

Competitions
Greenwood SHS sponsors a substantial number of students to participate in the Australian Mathematics Competition, which tests their problem-solving skills and their numeracy (no calculators allowed). We also have 4 teams enrolled in this year’s MAWA Maths Camp in Albany, which offers our more capable students the opportunity to pit their wits against similar aged students from a variety of public and independent schools in a friendly spirit of competition. Previous participants have benefited greatly from this experience.

Years 8-10
We follow the Pathways model to success, where the Mathematics taught is appropriate to the ability of the student, and students are made aware of where the various pathways lead:

• Pathway 1 leads to a place in the workforce

• Pathway 2 leads to further education in TAFE or at University

• Pathway 3 leads to University entrance, possibly with Mathematics as a component of the course.

In year 8 we operate an extension class, and a class to cater for those who find Mathematics challenging, however the remainder of the year group is kept in one pathway. Finally, at the end of year 8, the students are split into their appropriate pathways based on their performance in that year. This gives new students to the school in year 8 the chance to settle in and the time to demonstrate their understandings.

Thereafter each Pathways syllabus reflects the needs of the students in terms of their future career paths (see Pathway diagram below).
Grades allocated at the end of each course of work reflect the student’s performance within the whole cohort. This means that Pathway 1 students will not be achieving an “A” grade, without having first moved from Pathway 1 up. Topics reported on are as follows:
Working Mathematically -students use mathematical thinking processes and skills in interpreting and dealing with mathematical and non-mathematical situations.

Number - students use numbers and operations and the relationships between them efficiently and flexibly.

Measurement - students use direct and indirect measurement and estimation skills to describe, compare, evaluate, plan and construct.

Chance & Data - students use their knowledge of chance and data handling processes in dealing with data and with situations in which uncertainty is involved.

Space - students describe and analyse mathematically the spatial features of objects, environments and movements.

Algebra - students use algebraic symbols, diagrams and graphs to understand, to describe and to reason.

Years 11 & 12
At Greenwood SHS we offer the full range of Curriculum Council courses from 1A (Vocational Training) to 3C/3D Mathematics Specialist, and will continue to do so, provided numbers are sufficient to make the class viable.
Grades in these courses are given purely on performance within the course and are subject to moderation.

Courses available in years 11&12
Mathematics Pathway 1 – VET Mathematics/Career Enterprise
Year 11: 1AMAT & 1ACAE Year 12: 1BMAT & 1BCAE
Suitable for students choosing the VET option, wishing to further develop their mathematical skills and in conjunction will be completing Career and Enterprise. Students would access points towards TAFEWA entry, depending on the level of achievement in Year 12.

Mathematics Pathway 1 or 2
Year 11: 1BMAT/1CMAT Year 12: 1DMAT/1EMAT
Suitable for students wishing to further develop their Mathematics skills but who are not seeking university entry. Students would gain points towards TAFEWA entry, depending on the level of achievement in Year 12.

Mathematics Pathway 2
Year 11: 1DMAT/1EMAT Year 12: 2AMAT/2BMAT
Suitable for students wishing to further develop their mathematical skills but who are not necessarily seeking university entry. Students would access points towards TAFEWA entry, depending on the level of achievement in Year 12. Students may gain entry to university after completion of 2A/2B in Year 12, however would be disadvantaged against those who have completed Stage 3 courses.
Year 11: 2AMAT/2BMAT Year 12: 2CMAT/2DMAT
This option leads to general tertiary entry. It is mathematically stronger than Mathematics Stage 1 courses, incorporating algebraic processes, but does not provide an adequate preparation for tertiary courses in which knowledge of elementary Calculus and Statistical Inference would be useful. Students are required to purchase the new Classpad Graphic Calculator, as its use is assumed in tests, investigations and examinations. Those students completing Stage 2 courses in Year 12 will be disadvantaged against those who have completed Stage 3 courses.
Year 11: 2CMAT/2DMAT Year 12: 3AMAT/3BMAT
This option leads to general tertiary entry. It is mathematically stronger than the Mathematics Stage 2A/2B course, and is the middle option in terms of mathematic complexity. Students are required to purchase the new Classpad Graphic Calculator, as its use is assumed in tests, investigations and examinations.

Mathematics Pathway 3
Year 11: 3AMAT/3BMAT Year 12: 3CMAT/3DMAT
Suitable for students who require a strong mathematical preparation for tertiary studies in courses such as Mathematics, Computing, Engineering and the Physical Sciences, but do not wish to take a double mathematics course. This course incorporates Calculus, Algebra, Chance and Data and Network theories. Students are required to purchase the new Classpad Graphic Calculator, as its use is assumed in tests, investigations and examinations.
Year 11: 3AMAT/3BMAT Year 12: 3CMAT/3DMAT
and 3AMAS/3BMAS and 3CMAS/3DMAS
This double Mathematics option is suitable for students who require the strongest Mathematical preparation for tertiary studies. It is the most appropriate preparation for courses where a sound knowledge of Calculus, Statistics and Algebra is required. The course incorporates mathematical reasoning involving proof and conjecture in the fields of Number and Geometry.

Recommended Preparation
Pathway 1 Mathematics
These units are suitable for students who have consistently demonstrated achievement at a low C/D grade in Year 10.
Students choosing a Vocational and Educational Training option will study Unit 1A in conjunction with Career and Enterprise.
Remaining Pathway students should choose Units 1B/1C if they choose to study mathematics. In terms of the recent Mathematics subjects, students who would have studied Maths in Practice should attempt Units 1B and 1C. The course incorporates projects, investigations and tests on Maths relevant to real life.

Pathway 2 Mathematics
These units are suitable for students who have consistently demonstrated achievement at B grade in Year 10.
In terms of the recent Mathematics subjects, students who would have studied Foundations of Mathematics should attempt Units 2A and 2B if they have performed at a middle B level in previous years and Units 2C and 2D if they have achieved high B grades.
"Teacher advice is highly recommended".

Pathway 3 Mathematics
These units are suitable for students who have consistently demonstrated achievement at A grade in Year 10.
In terms of the recent Mathematics subjects, students who would have studied Introductory Calculus should attempt Units 3A and 3B. Strong algebra skills are required for this pathway.
"Teacher advice is highly recommended".

Mathematics 4
"Teacher advice is highly recommended".
Students may also choose a ‘double Maths’ course, which aligns itself in terms of the recent Mathematics subjects with Introductory Calculus and Geometry & Trigonometry. Strong algebra skills are required for this pathway.
"Teacher advice is highly recommended"