The Mathematics Department offers a sequence of courses by which students can gain an understanding of the style and content of mathematics, become adept in its fundamental skills, develop an understanding of the analytic power of mathematics through problem solving, and begin to explore the subject for the beauty of its abstractions and the variety of its applications. Confidence building and minimization of fears are conscious goals.

Math 6 - Fair vs Equal: Division, Decomposing, And Distribution

In this course, students will extend their understanding of the number system while exploring rational numbers and integers. Plus, they will make sense of algorithms for dividing fractions and decimals to explain why they work. Students will develop reasoning to solve and make sense of problems involving ratios, rates, and percents. In statistics, students will construct, interpret, and use calculation methods and models to describe distribution and variability.

Emphasis is placed on communication in verbal and written form, creative problem-solving, and reasoning skills. Willingness to take risks and productive struggle are also major themes of the course. Inquiry-learning through projects, technology, and collaboration support the curriculum.

Math 7 - Things Change: Linear Rates And Proportionality

This course will focus on number sense, proportional reasoning, and linear relationships. Students will extend their understanding of operations and properties of integers and rational numbers. They will also develop and use strategies for solving problems that involve proportional relationships. Students will build algebraic thinking as they learn to recognize various representations of linear relationships and investigate ways to solve equations.

Emphasis is placed on communication in verbal and written form, creative problem-solving, and reasoning skills. Willingness to take risks and productive struggle are also major themes of the course. Inquiry-learning through projects, technology, and collaboration support the curriculum.

Math 8 - Relationships: Making and Modeling Connections with Geometry, Algebra, and Statistics

This course will focus on relationships across three domains: geometry, algebra, statistics. In geometry, students will examine the relationships of congruence and similarity through transformations and uncover the meaning behind the symbols of the Pythagorean Theorem by investigating the relationship between the three sides of a right triangle. Students will extend their algebraic understanding to include systems of linear equations and inequalities and expand beyond linear functions to investigate exponential and quadratic models. Students will analyze relationships between variables in real data by considering different visualizations including function models while examining regression and linear trends.

Emphasis is placed on communication in verbal and written form, creative problem-solving, and thinking and reasoning skills. Willingness to take risks and productive struggle are also major themes of the course. Inquiry-learning through projects, technology, and collaboration support the curriculum.