Sigma Publications

Dragon Maths

Sigma’s best-selling Dragon Maths workbook series delivers instruction and practice in the key numeracy schools for primary school students from ages 7-13. The workbook series starts from age 7 when students have developed the independent literacy skills to use these resources effectively. Sigma’s Dragon Maths workbooks contain 140 pages of homework or classroom maths activities, filled with drawings, diagrams and photos. There are removable answer sheets, problem solving tasks and worked examples. The series is illustrated with fun dragon cartoons, and primary school students love them.

Track Maths

The key to the success of Sigma’s Track Maths workbooks is the dual pathway they provide for maths teachers and students — On Track and Fast Track. In the first two years of secondary school the mathematical ability of students extends over a wider range compared to intermediate school, and Sigma solves this issue by providing two workbooks for each year group for ages 13–16, and one book for ages 17–18. The On Track workbooks are produced with mid-band students in mind and contain some revision work from the previous year, while Fast Track workbooks can be used to fully extend more able students. Matching the teaching resource to a student’s ability level is a crucial factor in the learning process. Both workbooks use New Zealand-based problems and feature many photographs which help students relate maths to real world situations they are familiar with. All Track Maths workbooks contain 160 pages of concentrated maths work and a full set of answers that are removable. There are detailed teaching ‘instruction boxes’ on almost all pages, ‘see and do’ worked examples, end of chapter summary tests, and curriculum/chapter links pages for teacher reference.

NCEA Level 1 Maths series

For students aged 15-16, Sigma provides a series of thirteen write-on workbooks, featuring a dedicated workbook for each assessment unit in the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA). Containing 50 to 80 pages, these workbooks provide instruction boxes, skills building exercises, a range of problems to solve, at least one practice test, and a full set of answers. The booklets can be used for class work, for homework, or for exam preparation. Individual books mean students and teachers are able to purchase only the workbooks they need for the assessment units they are studying. Exercises, problems and even the language used are based on the most up-to-date maths assessments.

Action English

Action English is a comprehensive series developed to reinforce the essential written language skills in the current New Zealand English Curriculum. Comprising a series of write-on workbooks that practice English from primary to intermediate and through to junior secondary school level, the series works in sequence and can be used for remedial or extension as necessary to address different levels of understanding in the classroom. Able students can forge ahead in the series, while lower-level Action English workbooks can be used for remedial or catch-up purposes. For the students, owning their own workbook lends value to the resource, as compared to fly-away comprehension worksheets. All Action English workbooks include English skills instructions boxes, ‘see and do’ worked examples, a full set of removable answers, a Māori language component, and loads of illustrations with a fun superhero theme. Chapters include the following topics: word classes, written language, punctuation, dictionary skills, language skills, spelling, research skills, English grammar exercises, comprehension skills. The Action English series is available electronically for schools that have a ‘bring your own device’ policy.

NCEA Level 1 English series

For students aged 15-16, Sigma provides a series of eleven workbooks, featuring a dedicated workbook for each assessment unit in the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA). Ranging between 50-75 pages, depending on unit’s weighting, Sigma’s NCEA English workbooks provide the core study material and many of the literary resources required for each assessment unit as per the English curriculum. Workbooks include the use of excellent New Zealand-based film, short story, visual, poetry, and drama resources. Each workbook in the series includes detailed instruction boxes teaching the key skills for the assessment unit, worked examples, plenty of practice tasks for classwork or homework, task answers, model exam answers showing reasons for awarding grades, guided writing space for producing assessment work, and external assessment revision. The NCEA Level 1 English series is available electronically for schools that have a ‘bring your own device’ policy.