This was according to the school’s head of department for mathematics, Anna Montji, however with the My Maths Buddy book, she believes that they can achieve their goals.
“There are slight changes now that we are using the book, although they are not enough,” she said.
“The book helps with the language of maths and the originality of terms, it enables the [pupils] to use the words on a daily basis and to [get a greater understanding of the subject],” Montji said.
Earlier, the school received 80 books which were donated by the South African Institute of Mathematics, and choosing which students were going to get them was a challenge, admitted Montji.
“We initially gave them to the educators and later on, I decided to give them to the most active pupils in class, they didn’t have to be the brightest just [the most willing to learn],” she said.
The now-famous book, My Maths Buddy, is a mathematics dictionary that can be used by pupils from Grade 3 to 12, as well as by students in their first year of university. It is co-authored by Paul Sondergaard who was at the school for two days conducting workshops with both teachers and pupils, after which they all received certificates for their hard work.
“I work with a project under Education Africa called One Book One Learner, the purpose is to put this book in the hands of learners and teachers so that they understand the power of knowing the language of maths,” he said.
Sondergaard believes that knowing the definition of a subject brings clarity, confidence and finally bears good results for a pupil. “The traditional way of [teaching] maths is to talk to a class and explain mathematics to them. All we’re bringing to classroom and homework environments is that when you come across a word that you don’t understand, check it out first,” he said.
Both Sondergaard and the school principal, Edeth Mamosebo, agreed that parents’ participation was essential to the success of the school’s efforts.
“Fortunately we regularly meet with parents, and we will then tell them how to use the book,” said Mamosebo.
The school’s top achieving pupil, Tariro Mavungwa, credits her marks to the dictionary. “I’ve been using the book since the beginning of the year, and my marks have drastically improved compared to my Grade 11 results. I’m grateful to My Maths Buddy,” said Mavungwa.
