Page 8 - The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12: Mathematics, 2007

THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 11 AND 12 | Mathematics
Knowledge of the expectations in the various courses also helps parents to interpret teachers’ comments on student progress and to work with them to improve student learning.
Effective ways for parents to support their children’s learning include attending parent- teacher interviews, participating in parent workshops, becoming involved in school council activities (including becoming a school council member), and encouraging their children to complete their assignments at home.
The mathematics curriculum promotes lifelong learning. In addition to supporting regu- lar school activities, parents can encourage their children to apply their problem-solving skills to other disciplines and to real-world situations.
Teachers
Teachers and students have complementary responsibilities. Teachers are responsible for developing appropriate instructional strategies to help students achieve the curriculum expectations for their courses, as well as for developing appropriate methods for assess- ing and evaluating student learning. Teachers also support students in developing the reading, writing, and oral communication skills needed for success in their mathematics courses. Teachers bring enthusiasm and varied teaching and assessment approaches to the classroom, addressing different student needs and ensuring sound learning opportu- nities for every student.
Recognizing that students need a solid conceptual foundation in mathematics in order to further develop and apply their knowledge effectively, teachers endeavour to create a classroom environment that engages students’ interest and helps them arrive at the understanding of mathematics that is critical to further learning.
Using a variety of instructional, assessment, and evaluation strategies, teachers provide numerous opportunities for students to develop skills of inquiry, problem solving, and communication as they investigate and learn fundamental concepts. The activities offered should enable students not only to make connections among these concepts throughout the course but also to relate and apply them to relevant societal, environmental, and economic contexts. Opportunities to relate knowledge and skills to these wider contexts – to the goals and concerns of the world in which they live – will motivate students to learn and to become lifelong learners.
Principals
The principal works in partnership with teachers and parents to ensure that each student has access to the best possible educational experience. To support student learning, prin- cipals ensure that the Ontario curriculum is being properly implemented in all classrooms through the use of a variety of instructional approaches. They also ensure that appropriate
resources are made available for teachers and students. To enhance teaching and learning in all subjects, including mathematics, principals promote learning teams and work with teachers to facilitate participation in professional-development activities.
Principals are also responsible for ensuring that every student who has an Individual Education Plan (IEP) is receiving the modifications and/or accommodations described in his or her plan – in other words, for ensuring that the IEP is properly developed, implemented, and monitored.
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