Comments on the blog

One of the nice things about this blog is that people can comment anonymously. However that wonderful facility has enabled spammers to post ...

Social networking and Facebook

The Grade 11 PAT for 2010 on social networking is something that I really need to get to grips with. I will use Facebook to help me teach ...

Recommendations of the Minister

I read the recommendations for education on http://www.saou.co.za/SAOU/56/A/202/News.html   It is almost too good to be true.   If I interpr...

Value of CAT

Recently I heard some ask 'What is the value of CAT?'  They should look at the Study Opportunities practical papers and reflect if t...

Passwords

If you communicate on the blog, keep in mind that EVERYBODY can see ALL messages. One of the people requesting a password in a message sai...

Errata Gr 11 Theory Memo

You have probably picked up these mistakes as well, but if you have not started marking, please note: 5.2.1 and 5.2.2 The answers for 5....

Grade Eleven November examinations

Paper 1 Practical Question paper: English and Afrikaans Data files: English and Afrikaans Marksheet: English and Afrikaans Solutions: Eng...

Grade Ten November examinations

Paper 1 Practical Question papers: English and Afrikaans Data files: English and Afrikaans Marksheet: English and Afrikaans Solutions: En...

Exam papers

My learners keep asking what will be on my exam paper and how do they know if they know the work.   They should look at the end of chapters ...

Internet

The internet is wonderful! Last week I could not walk my dogs properly as one is just too old to keep up. Having one dog pulling and one who...

PAT

My grade 10s and 11s are doing so much better at their PATs than the grade 12s mainly because of me, and because I learned from the grade 12...

ICT Expo

Read about this wonderful ICT Expo at Hoërskool Uitsig in The Reeds, Pretoria http://www.thutong.doe.gov.za/computerapplicationtechnology/H...

Gr 10

At the back of the Gr 10 text book is a section called FAQs. It has some really nice stuff, particularly converting text to tables and so ma...

Gr 12 Practical exam

The Gr 12s have just finished writing their practical exam.  Thank goodness we have spent the last 5 weeks going over the 3 old papers.  I j...

District 9 and Copyright

I was very disturbed to find a copy of the movie District 9 on a learner’s flash drive. Apparently it had been available at a LAN party. ...

Grade 12 Practical Revision en Hersiening - Perez

My learners have just finished revising the 2008 Gr 12 Perez Practical Examination paper. Here are the files for the examination, plus the P...

Gr 12 PAT

A PAT is the way in which the work taught in CAT is ‘applied’. It brings together all the skills taught. It is an essential part of the sub...

Gr 10 Introduction to Excel

My Grade 10s seem to have difficulty hearing / listening / following instructions. I dreaded trying to teach Excel 2007. I solved the proble...

Gr 12 Practical Revision en Hersiening - Birds

My learners have just finished revising the 2008 Gr 12 Birds Practical Examination paper. Here are the files for the examination, plus the ...

Grade 12 PAT Phase 3

I have just been looking at some Phase 3 of the Gr 12 PAT. Here are some general comments. The graphs must be woven into the story/discussio...

Word Tabs

Important teaching ideas for Tabs Type all the data, then select the data to start formatting Using the tab dialogue box remove default valu...

Excel

Excel is for clever people who do not like to waste time. I love the following features: Autofill where I can pull down and the program ‘p...

PAT - Trustworthiness of sources

How do you assess the trustworthiness of sources for the PAT? Have a look at the PPT I am using with Grade 10. I expect the learners to c...

Gr 12 Practical Revision en Hersiening Memo

The correct English memo for Recycling will be uploaded tonight. Has been done! Pam

Setting exam papers

Many grade 12 teachers are busy setting papers now. If you are going to set any examination paper please look at this presentation on how ...

Gr 12 Practical Examinations

Essential reading for managing the Grade 12 Practical examination - the September exam should be used as a trial run - Circular E19. Import...

Gr 12 Practical Revision en Hersiening - Recycling

My Grade 12 learners will be doing the DOE 2008 Practical Backup examination paper (Recycling) as revision - have a look at the Question pap...

Gr 12 PAT Phase 3

Here is a link to the PPT I am using for the Grade 12 PAT. For many of the learners they are now completing a crash course in PATting - th...

Holiday in-service training course, PAT and Evaluating sources

I have just attended a great CAT teacher in-service training session here in the Western Cape. It was for a whole week in the holidays. Wha...

Grade 12 PAT Phase 2

My school is an ex-Model C school, whatever that means. I want to discuss the marking of Phase 2 of the Gr 12 PAT. I have marked 60 learner...

Budget Tours

I was approached for a 'rubric' on Budget Tours. I did not have a rubric but something very different! Well, my aim is to teach so...

Gr 10 June exam papers - Theory

Gr 10 June exam papers - Theory English question paper and memo Afrikaans question paper and memo

Gr 11 June exam papers - Theory

Gr 11 June exam papers - Theory English Question paper and Memo Afrikaans Question paper and Memo

Gr 12 June exam papers - Theory

Gr 12 June Theory exam papers English question paper and Memo Afrikaans question paper and Memo

Gr 11 June exam papers

Grade 11 June Practical exam papers English Question paper and Data files Afrikaans Question paper and Data files English Solutions and M...

Gr 12 June exam papers

Grade 12 June Practical exam papers English Question and Data files Afrikaans Question and Data files Errata Open with the same password...

Gr 11 Integrated task 2 - Page S14

The Gr 11 s are busy with the Integrated task on page S14, about Utilities and Smartphones. This is my 3rd year teaching this section and wi...

Gr 10 Page 46 - Connecting devices

The section on Connecting devices on pages 46 and 47 talk about USB ports. Look at this USB hub. Really nice for those who like gadgets.

Practical examinations

What irregularities/cheating have you experienced during CAT practical examinations? I heard about learners passing around a flash disk, be...

Grade 12 PAT

The SABC weather man Simon Gear and his book Going green - 365 Ways to change the world - may give some ideas for the PAT, for those who are...

PAT - Marking the PAT

I had a long hard look at the PAT and how to assess it. Questions were asked by students about the assessment and doing the work. Have a l...

Gr 12 Exam guidelines

The Department supplied a document on guidelines for examinations which I made into a PPT .  The CPUT ACE students found it useful so here i...

Excel - How to prevent a formula from displaying in the formula bar

Such a nice feature. I somehow missed it! How to prevent a formula from displaying in the formula bar. Caution - This procedure also preven...

Exam considerations

I have been looking at old exam papers. Problems come to mind: Our learners do not have bank accounts where they can experience Internet ba...

Ability

Today I turned 60. The learners were amazed that someone of 60, could use the computer. Age is no limit. Age does not influence your think...

Gr 12 PAT - Phase 1

Thank goodness for long weekends. I have finished marking Phase 1 of the Gr 12 PAT and have had time for reflection. What is clear is that...

Order form for exam papers

Please complete this order form for exams and fax to Sandra. It is so nice to get good exam papers!

Pictures from my holiday in Sudan

My Grade 11 learners are busy doing the section on Housekeeping and keeping files and folder neat, page 41. I gave the learners all the pic...

Exam papers - Length

Have a look at the document about the length of exam papers.

Gr 12 PAT Phase 1

I have started marking my Phase 1. It is obvious that many learners have not done their homework and read about the subject. Some of their ...

Gr 12 PAT Phase 1

For the PAT you have to find a solution to a local resource problem and present the solution to the local municipality. You need to investi...

Gr 12 PAT Phase 1

I have to help my learners move with their PAT! They need a plan if they are going to do something. They must know what they want to achieve...

Gr 12 PAT Phase 1

I introduced the PAT last week to my class. This week I am going to help them create their Phase 1 document based the following points. I wi...

Gr 12 PAT

The PAT is based on the Research Cycle http://fno.org/oct97/researchcycle.html or the Big 6 Information Management Model http://www.big6.co...

Designated subjects

Why is CAT not recognised as one of the ‘designated’ subjects for university? Have a look at the official list of designated subjects. htt...

Gr 12 Survey or any other Survey - Evidence

As part of Information Management we must teach learners to make statements based on EVIDENCE collected and processed, not on gut feelings. ...

Gr 12 PAT

Have a look at the free monthly glossy magazine called Full Circle. Each month from about June 2008 there has been an article on Sustainab...

Experience helps

I am getting better at teaching this subject! Experience does help. The Grade 10s have been doing the Integrated Task on pages S8 of the te...

Gr 10 book

The new Grade 10 book has many new exercises which are so challenging. The new edition is great!

Exam guidelines

2009 Exam guidelines from the Department of National Education - Important reading

Competition / Vocabulary

I did say that if nothing was submitted for the competition , from a province, I would indicate as such. Nothing was submitted for the compe...

Microsoft Office 2007

Have you started using Office 2007? I have found it most frustrating. I have grown up on the ‘normal’ interface used by XyWrite in the old d...

PATs

I have gone through the documentation for the grades 10 and 11 and 12 PATs very carefully. I believe the following presentations will be...

Exam papers

Exam papers will be available in 2009. Please have a look at the details . How to apply and payment information will be available beginnin...

Gr 12 Module 1.2

The file Computer Adverts 2009 is available and the solutions to the module.

Rules of my room

In all humility I share with you the PPT that I used with my classes at the beginning of the year. Maybe you can get ideas from it and cre...

PowerPoints on CDs

The CDs from Study Opportunities have PowerPoints and lesson plans, etc. as well as data files. Western Cape schools only start next week b...

Competition / Vocabulary

It became apparent from marking the Gr 12 Written examinations in 2008 that many learners have difficulty expressing themselves when answeri...