Task Centre News

August 2004

• New Prices from October 1st
  1. Tasks will rise by 60 cents (+ GST) each from October 1st, 2004.
  2. This is the first rise since July 2000 and it has been made necessary by increases from suppliers and increases in postage.
  3. A kit of 100 tasks will rise by $66 (including GST).
  4. There will be consequent changes in other packages and in overseas prices.
  5. Task Centre professional development fees have not changed.
  6. As always, prices include delivery. However orders of less than 10 tasks will attract a small postage & handling charge.
  7. All tasks will now be supplied in a tough press-seal bag. Bags will not have to be ordered separately.
  8. If you are planning to purchase after October 1st you should budget using the following fliers.
     • Australia: Word or PDF
     • New Zealand: Word or PDF
     • Sweden: Word or PDF
     • United Kingdom: Word or PDF
     • United States: Word or PDF
     • Other countries: please use information for USA
  9. Poly Plug, which can be used to explore the whole class investigation life of many tasks, will also rise on October 1st. The new price for each set will be $14·96.

  From October 1st, our product range will also be reviewed:

  • The Working Mathematically Curriculum Pack will be refreshed to include 4 Maths With Attitude kits of your choice. The package is offered at significant discount.
  • Starting Maths300 & Tasks is also offered at discount.
  • The Chance & Data Replacement Unit remains, but Replacement Units in other strands will be discontinued in favour of the updated unit plans available in Maths With Attitude kits.
  • Points of View, Mixed Media Unit 1 remains, but Mixed Media Unit 2, Fractions in Action will be discontinued in favour of the updated unit plans available in Maths With Attitude kits. The price of Points of View will not change.
  • Watch for Discontinued Line Specials in the near future.

• Problem Solving for Infants
  Recently we have been asked several times about tasks for infants. In the past we have only been able to suggest a list of tasks which some colleagues have thought could be adapted to this level. However, in response to this renewed interest from teachers of the very young, we have updated the infant tasks link to include a description of the problem solving possibilities which develop when one views the Poly Plug resource as the hands-on material of a task. Check Tasks for Infants in the Resources link on the left.

• Maths on the Move Update
  Maths on the Move was first introduced almost two years ago as the flagship of our professional development support. In that time workshop days have been run from Doncaster, England to Hobart, Tasmania.

  Maths on the Move has become the common ground for professional development partnerships with systems, clusters and schools. As you plan your professional development support for 2005 consider the updated information in the Maths on the Move link on the left.

  1. Twelve workshop days are available in the MOTM library.
  2. Each day can be used as a one-off or combined with others to form a more purposeful on-going program.
  3. All programs involve practical, visual and kinaesthetic mathematics in a problem solving context.
  4. The range of programs provides for teachers at all levels from K - 12.
  5. Programs are resourced from the Task Centre Project, Maths300 and Calculating Changes. See Web Sites link on the left.
  6. Two new workshop days have been added to the library:
     • Algebra for Little Kids (Years K - 4)
     • Working Mathematically with Very Little (Years 3 - 10)

  Apart from these 'off the shelf' workshop days we are also experienced in tailoring programs to suit local needs. In addition we offer a Discussion Lesson option which includes acting out with your students lessons which have been successful in other classrooms.

• Professional Development Partnerships
  The new link on the left, PD Partnerships, summarises our professional development work. It will only take a minute or two to look through. Perhaps you will see something that interests you as a professional development alternative for later this year or into 2005.

• Did you miss the July News?
  If so you missed information about:
  1. two emails from supporters
  2. two new ways of integrating tasks into your curriculum - Puzzle Olympics and Self-directed Maths Journey (SMJ)
  3. iceberg information about Rectangle Nightmare, Task 84
  4. recognition of the work of Neville de Mestre and Michael Richards in the early development of Task Centres.

Keep smiling,
Doug.

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