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Nova Scotia high school mathematics results “troubling”

Nova Scotia high school mathematics results “troubling”

Nova Scotia high-schoolers are a little behind within their particular math.

Nova Scotia Examinations are a series of standardized tests that Grade 10 pupils write at the end of the school year. They supply insight into how students are performing on many subjects areas including reading, writing and mathematics.

The Halifax Regional School Board announced the provincial assessment results of last year on Thursday.

In Mathematics 10, two-thirds of pupils in the province met or surpassed the evaluation expectation.
In Math 10 at Work, just 56 percent of students in the region met or exceeded expectations. In the Halifax Regional School Board, that amount was 51 percent.

A representative for the Halifax Regional School Board, Doug Hadley, said those numbers are troubling.

“The results show us that there is work to be done.

“We must put more effort into ensuring our students are in a position to be successful when they write the assessment.”

Hadley said one means to do that is make sure they are all delivering the program economically and efficiently and to work with math teachers in the state.

“We have a strategy when it comes to supporting our math teachers at the high school level and in younger grades also,” he said. “We identify very successful math teachers and enable them to mentor other math teachers. There’s collaboration within schools where they could share best practises, and also cooperation at the board level when we give professional development for our teachers.”

He also said it is essential for students to be registered in the course that is appropriate for them. Math 10 is a standard full-year mathematics course, whereas Mathematics 10 at Work is only half annually and takes a more practical, less challenging strategy.

“Many pupils select Math 10 because they would like to leave their options open, and that is fantastic,” said Hadley. We need to get more effort into ensuring pupils entering grade 10, as well as their parents, comprehend what the expectations are and whether or not that is appropriate for them.”

She is said been doing lots of mathematics tutoring today.

“We have got to get children interested in math, and show them why it is significant,” she said.

Do I need to learn about algebra and calculus.’ But it is indeed critical, so we ought to make those links to the real world.”

She also said mathematics is a building block area, because they just are not prepared to handle more challenging program yet, and that pupils fall behind.

“It is about laying a suitable basis, appropriate from a young age,” said Horne Robinson. If students move through school without mastering the basics, they are going to run into difficulties.”

Hadley said he is assured pupils in Nova Scotia will perform, although there is room for advancement.

“We will not be fulfilled until 100 percent of our students are meeting the evaluation expectations,” he said. “But we are trending in the appropriate path.”

source: via