The Mathematics Department uses as its central text the Connected Mathematics Program. This series comes with highest recommendation of the United States Department of Education and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and is now used in over 2500 school districts across the United States. Supplemental material comes from various sources, including the School Mathematics Program, a highly successful British program, skill workbooks from Key Curriculum Press and material developed by members of the department.
Objectives of the Middle School Mathematics program are to develop in each student:
- An understanding of and competence with the core ideas in the following mathematical fields: numbers, geometry, algebra, graphing, probability, statistics, linear algebra, and basic programming;
- An appreciation for the interaction between these mathematical fields;
- An appreciation for the interaction between math, science, and technology;
- The ability to communicate mathematical concepts and processes through reading, writing, discussion, and technology;
- A concrete and abstract understanding of mathematical relationships;
- An enjoyable, challenging, and rewarding experience in math;
- A framework by which problem solving can be undertaken; and
- Creativity in problem solving.
Homogeneously grouped classes begin in grade seven and continue through the eighth grade and Upper School. Although seventh and eighth grade students are grouped according to their depth of understanding, amount of prior study, and work habits, the Mathematics Department is in no way rigid in its decisions and will alter individual placement at any time in the school year as it deems appropriate.
In addition, more able students are encouraged to pursue investigations that allow them to further develop habits of mathematical thinking, including experimentation, tabulation, relationship identification and application, hypothesis creation, and theoretical proof.
