Alajbaan Numeracy Policy

Numeracy Policy Al Ajbaan School for Boys Aim: To encourage staff and students to make meaningful links between skills learnt in mathematics lessons and other areas of the curriculum. To discover and employ the most effective methods to complete Numeracy tasks in all areas of students learning and experience. For students to experience a continuity of approach from their teachers coupled with high expectations. While keeping in mind that numeracy is the effective use of mathematics to meet the general needs of life at school and at home, and for participation in community and civic life. Definition: Numeracy can be defined as: Students’ ability to cope with the mathematical demands of everyday life and to     

Handle number and measurement fluently, mentally, orally and in writing Use calculators accurately and appropriately Apply spatial concepts when necessary Make sense of information presented numerically and graphically Handle statistical information in everyday context.

Numerate students should therefore:  Tackle problems and not give up  Not go immediately to their teacher or friends for helps  Use what they know to derive an answer  Know for themselves that answers are reasonable  Be able to explain their methods and reasoning  Have a mental facility with and for numbers  Use calculators sensibly Responsibilities: The mathematics department is ultimately responsible for providing opportunities for learning numeracy skills. However, it is essential that the whole school is familiar with the numeracy skills and provide opportunities within their subject schemes of work to supplement these numeracy skills. Support, if required, will be provided to these departments by the mathematics department.

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Ways of improving pupils’ numeracy in the Mathematics classroom.  About 5 minute starter activities to develop and secure pupils’ calculation strategies and rapid recall skills.  Using display work to jog the memory, both published material and pupils’ own work.  Questioning pupils effectively, including as many of them as possible, giving them time to think before answering, targeting individuals to take account of their attainment and needs.  Ask pupils to demonstrate and explain their methods and reasoning and exploring reasons for any wrong answers.  Encourage discussions of mental strategies within ‘ordinary’ classwork.  Puzzles and games which require development of strategies and logical thinking.  Rehearsal and development time built in for the ‘basics’.  Setting short-term targets, such as timed or number of correct answers.  Opportunities to include contributions from all pupils such as ‘I have…’ games.  Using plenary to draw the whole class together to sort out misconceptions, identify progress and make links to other subject. Cross Curricular links: The aim is to engage and support all students and provide the best learning environment for every student to reach their full potential. Although, mathematics is taught as separate subject, every efforts is made to links mathematics with other areas of the curriculum; for example:  English: teaching mathematical vocabulary and technical terms, asking students to read and interpret word problems, and to demonstrate reasoning skills.  Art: Measuring, use of patterns, Symmetry, enlargement/reduction designs  ICT: Collecting and analysing data, plotting graphs, use of internet for accessing subject related sites  History &Geography: Measurements, Scales, ratios, directions, positions, angles, coordinates, recording historic events, time lines, interpreting graphs  P.E: Measurements, counting, time, distance, speed, movements, directions, positions Monitoring and Review:  Head of Mathematics Department will monitor the progress that is occurring within the mathematics department.  Heads of Departments across the curriculum areas will monitor the progress been made within their departments.  Principal will monitor the progress made by the whole school  The SIP Consultants [Mr. Ibrahim, Mr. Ismail, Mr. Simon, Mr. Saleh and Mr. Tyler] for advice and support. There will be a yearly review of the policy to track progress and amend any changes.

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Maths at Al Ajbaan School The numeracy is the effective use of mathematics to meet the general needs of life at school and at home, and for participation in community and civic life. The department seeks to develop in each student the following: 1. Positive attitude towards mathematics by: a. Seeing it in as an interesting and attractive subject b. Helping them to appreciate the creative and aesthetic aspect of the subject c. Ensuring that persistence through sustained work is rewarded d. Giving credit and praise to improve confidence

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e. Encourage students to themselves challenging targets f. Use of department website with especial reference to puzzles and challenges Sound numerical skills by: a. Ensuring that calculators are used sensibly and efficiently b. The use of starters and plenaries to promote mental skills c. Insisting that students learn relevant concepts and facts A willingness to use algebraic skills by: a. Exploring mathematical patterns and sequences b. Identifying functional relationships c. Using mathematics to model real life stuations d. Using correct and appropriate mathematical notations and language An understanding of statistical enquiry by: a. Encouraging them to formulate their hypotheses b. Collecting data from a range of sources by an appropriate sampling technique c. Communicating their findings through an appropriate charts and diagrams d. Using ICT to facilitate the efficient data analyses e. Encouraging in practical and experimental work f. Looking critically at the presentation of information An ability to use and apply mathematics by: a. Raising awareness of mathematics across the curriculum b. Relating appropriate mathematical problems to life itself c. Developing an understanding through enquiry and experience d. Expressing problems in mathematical terms as an aid to their solution e. Fostering an ability to think clearly and logically

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