MathMentor

Maths can be so much fun when you get it!

Grateful to have had an impact!

16 Albion Road
Rondebosch
18 January 2022
Cell: 082 4111728

A brand-new year lies ahead for all of us. My wish for you is to celebrate your way into 2022, making it a memorable year to look back on and feel proud of, by living each day with hope and courage in your heart. And always remember you are not alone. You have your family and friends, and you have me to help with your child’s Maths!

Lessons are starting this week. If you have not booked your slot for the new year, please let me know. The fee structure is the same as last year: R4 500 per school term. This includes an hour lesson each week, as well as extra slots for exams and tests. I am also always prepared to help via WhatsApp after hours. Please remind your son/daughter to book an extra lesson as soon as a test is announced, so that we can figure out a slot that works for both of us. I offer physical classes (glass partition in place, plus masks and sanitising), as well as Zoom lessons and homework help on WhatsApp. Please let me know what medium suits your child best; a combination can also work. We have to do what it takes, and I am very eager to assist in building up confidence and boosting Maths capability.

All my best wishes for 2022. May you find the strength, courage and means to guide and provide for all that will be needed and expected from you as a parent!

Looking forward

Marinda (Steenkamp)

Let's tackle 2021!

Letters to parents

I learn so much from my students who each has a unique brain, which challenges old teaching techniques to evolve and climax into that EUREKA! experience.

Dear Parent (ONLY AVAILABLE IN CAPE TOWN SOUTHERN SUBURBS)

A new decade has dawned, and we are going to make it a good one!

Maths classes start this week as usual. Please let me know if your son’s/daughter’s timeslot needs to be adjusted.

Some feedback from my matrics of 2019: I had 5 students. Three of them got their A’s, with the other two B’s.

The matric Maths papers were widely described as being difficult and increasingly becoming “different” to past papers that are used to prepare for finals. The Mercury (25 November 2019) reported that parents had raised concerns about both matric Maths papers and that learners found that the papers had very few similarities to past papers.

Umalusi, South Africa’s Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training, is calling for detailed research to be conducted to explain why Grade 12 pupils continue to struggle in Mathematics (7 January 2020). Dr Jacques du Plessis’ response was: “In terms of Mathematics, the amount of work that has to be done to get the syllabus covered within a year is enormous within the school programme. On paper, it looks fine but in the context of the classroom, it is rather difficult. There is no time for consolidating your curriculum at the end of the day and make sure that the kids are properly prepared. You are racing against time in the classroom.”— Dr Jacques du Plessis, Mathematics lecturer - Wits University

Umalusi chairperson, John Volmink, said the fundamental problem with the poor performance "is the way maths is taught at school”. “Problem-solving skills must be developed and the confidence to deal with non-routine problems must be nurtured. It is something we as a country have to pay serious attention to," he said.

Thank you for the time, effort and money you spend to give your child the very best education you can (sometimes hardly) afford. I am here to help your precious son/daughter with their Maths. It is indeed my greatest pleasure and honour, and I will walk many extra miles towards optimizing the Maths thinking skills of each unique brain in my care.

Fees for 2020 will be R4 500 per term. “On special” for my matrics in the first term are three free lessons that can be booked in open slots. We must start consolidating for June exams NOW!

Looking forward!

Marinda (Steenkamp)

Can you explain the mistake Mathematically? (Thanks, Deon van Niekerk!)