2006 Newsletter No. 2

From the President

Welcome to a new year of Mathematics teaching. We hope you and yours had a lovely and safe holiday and you’re ready to rise to this year’s challenges.

This term our afternoon workshop schedule is lively and full. Primary teachers from all sectors have the opportunity to access high quality PD on the Number Strand. These workshops would also be useful for those secondary teachers who have a significant number of lower achieving students in their schools. We encourage you to consider these workshops as part of your PD opportunities.

Meanwhile, secondary teachers, and interested primary teachers, will have the opportunity to participate in a workshop on making judgements using the Progress Maps, facilitated by Mark Newhouse and looking at AISWA approaches. This workshop, and others like it, are invaluable opportunities to see how others determine the level of outcomes achieved by their students. Often, great ideas and resources are exchanged at such sessions. It is most important that teachers of Mathematics across the state and in all sectors become consistent in recognising achievement of different levels.

In the MAWA submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Changes to the Post-Compulsory Curriculum in Western Australia, we requested a five year delay in the implementation of the Courses of Study in Mathematics. Last year the Minister announced that the Courses of Study in Mathematics will be delayed by one year. While this falls short of our request, it does provide us all with more time to examine the courses and look at how to implement them. Mark O’Brien and Michelle Östberg are writing materials for WestOne Services, which is part of the Department of Education and Training, and has responsibility for developing curriculum resources to support distance education from K-12 and VET. Currently Mark and Michelle are developing curriculum resources for the Mathematics of Number and Change and the Mathematics of Chance and Data courses. They will be presenting an afternoon workshop on his approach to creating a programme and resources for the Number and Change course. For those who need more information on how to plan for the changes, their workshop on 22 March will be invaluable.

MAWA is still looking for writers to prepare resources for the Courses of Study. If you believe you have something to offer your help would be appreciated. Please contact the MAWA office if you would like to contribute. If you have any ideas for our publishing section, please feel free to let us know. We are always looking for new books to publish, ideas to work with and resources to share. If you are doing some great things in you classroom and practice, why not share them at an afternoon workshop or conference session? We will provide you with help to prepare for it – especially if it’s your first time.

All the best for the year.

Cheers

Movie Night

A chance to catch up with some MAWA friends and watch a movie with a maths theme.

Cinema Paradiso

Wine, nibbles and movie only $14.00 per person.
Contact MAWA office ASAP to reserve your place - (08)9345 0388

Proof

New film Proof starring Anthony Hopkins as the mathematician, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jake Gyllenhaal.

The daughter (Gwyneth Paltrow) of a brilliant but mentally disturbed mathematician (Anthony Hopkins), recently deceased, tries to come to grips with her possible inheritance: his insanity. Complicating matters are one of her father’s ex-students (Jake Gyllenhaal) who wants to search through his papers and her estranged sister who shows up to help settle his affairs.

This is the latest film from John Madden, director of Shakespeare in Love.

Official Opening MAWA Library

The library was officially opened on 11 December 2005 by Dr Norm Hoffman. Norm spoke about the history of the Association recognising the leadership of Prof Larry Blakers in the early years of MAWA. Invited guests included: Mrs Terri Blakers, Dave Buck, Sheila Byfi eld, Jim Claffey, John Greenaway, David Haimes, Leila Hoffman, Beryl Hume, Jill Hughes, and Whee-Bin Ong.

It was good to see some of our members helping to mark the occasion. MAWA is very grateful to Dr Norm Hoffman and Sheila Byfi eld for their dedication and hard work in rebuilding the MAWA library that has resided in boxes for many years. MAWA would also like to acknowledge the merry band of volunteers who helped Norm and Sheila in reaching this point. It’s ready for MAWA members to use - please make use of this great resource.

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2006 Newsletter No. 2 (1000kb)