Mathematics

In order to encourage all girls to reach their full potential in Mathematics, the educators at PHSG make use of different teaching approaches, including oral drills, group work, practical application, enrichment exercises and investigations. The girls are also encouraged to find solutions to problems themselves or to work in pairs.

We try to inculcate the following skills in learners:
Problem solving, logical thinking/reasoning and application of Mathematics to real life situations. Success in Mathematics depends on ability, determination and hard work: practice makes perfect.

• One of the major objectives in the teaching of Maths is to train learners to develop logic, critically analyse data and to present information in an orderly fashion.
• Maths is a requirement for some of the higher education institutions: All Science, Engineering, Medical Sciences and some of the Accounting Sciences require Maths as a subject.
• Learners taking Maths must be prepared to do a great deal of extra work on their own. Self-study from study guides is essential as knowledge needs to be applied and many examples need to be practiced before tests or examinations are written.
• All learners will be required to take either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy.
• Mathematical Literacy provides learners with an awareness and understanding of the role that Mathematics plays in the modern world. The subject is driven by life-related applications of Mathematics and enables learners to think numerically and spatially in order to interpret and critically analyse everyday situations and to solve problems.
• Mathematics on the other hand is aimed at learners who intend to pursue a career in Mathematics-related courses at higher education institutions. In Mathematics all the essentials of the different learning outcomes are taken further, working in more symbolic ways and becoming more formalised. A learner who wishes to take Mathematics as a subject for Grades 10 & 12 should be passing MLMMS comfortably in Grade 9, be able to work independently and to put in a great deal of extra work on their own.
• Throughout the year the learners are encouraged to take part in two Olympiads. A large number of our girls made it through to the second round of the Olympiads
• During the first week of September we also participated in the National Mathematics week to promote the subject. We had a display of posters, models and poems in the foyer and in the library. Daily quiz questions were put on the Math's notice board which the juniors and seniors enthusiastically attempted.
• The following poem written by a Grade 8 learner was awarded one of the prizes:

MATHS


Maths is a subject I don't always understand
Sometimes I ask the teacher who lends me a hand
Division, subtracting, multiplying too
And don't forget adding 1+1 is two
Algebra is hard x plus? x squared?
Sometimes I wish I was a nerd 'cos then I would find maths so easy you see
I'd be able to pass everything even Geometry.
But I will try and try until I get it all right
Otherwise I'll fail the year and get a huge fright!
So please dear teacher help me to do my best
And I'll study very hard for every test!!!

At the end of 2007 PHSG was awarded a grant from Optima and Torga Trust. We were able to appoint two extra mathematics teachers which have lead to smaller classes in Grades 9, 10 and 11.

We are also looking forward to investing in technology such as Projectors, Electronic boards, Visualizers, Laptops and Mathematical programs with the money from the grant. This should lead to a new and exciting way of presenting certain sections of the Mathematics syllabus.