High School Program Of Studies
Mathematics Department
Course Offerings in Mathematics
Graduation Requirements/Recommendations
Eight (8) credits in mathematics are required for graduation. These can be earned only after the completion of Math 8 and after the student has completed the eighth grade. We recommend that every student complete either the study of Algebra I and Geometry or IMP 1 and IMP 2 (Interactive Mathematics Program) during their four years in order to prepare for the mathematics MCAS test. Students must now pass MCAS mathematics and language arts in order to be eligible to earn a diploma in the state of Massachusetts. Students who plan to further their education and will be taking the “new” SAT starting with the class of 2006, should also plan to complete at least through Algebra 2 or IMP 3 and earn grades of C- or better.
Departmental Requirements
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Students who do not meet the grade prerequisites for the next course should register for a summer school course at ARHS. Students who earn a grade of D during the regular year are eligible to earn two general credits during summer school. Students who fail the course during the regular year and earn a final grade of at least 50% in the course are eligible to earn four math credits during summer school and must earn a C- in order to be eligible for the next course. Students not meeting these standards are expected to repeat the course during the next academic year. All grade prerequisites must be satisfied prior to beginning the next course in the sequence.
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Test-out for placement beyond the next course in a sequence is possible. Successful performance on a comprehensive test of the course curriculum is required. It should be noted that the test-out option is used only for placement purposes; it does not provide graduation credit for the course.
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ALPs credit will not be given for courses that are taught in the high school.
Departmental Expectations
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The mathematics department has high expectations for achievement for every student in all of its courses. The courses, therefore, may be expected to be rigorous and thorough.
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Teachers will expect students to be competent in the arithmetic skills needed for each course, Algebra 1 and above. Students who have any weaknesses in computational skills must take responsibility for improving these skills and should consider enrolling in summer school to do so. Teachers are willing to assist students in planning a program for self-improvement.
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Daily homework is an integral part of the learning process. Every student is expected to complete homework on time, and in an organized manner. The time needed to complete these assignments will vary from student to student and with the nature of the assignment. Typically, a minimum of 45 minutes per assignment will be required.
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Assessment may include homework, notebook checks, class work, quizzes, tests, portfolios, projects or essays. In addition, students should be prepared to express their understanding of mathematical concepts and to describe in writing how they arrived at solutions.
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Every student in Algebra 1 and above is expected to come to class daily with a scientific calculator. The Math Department offers a calculator loan program for students on free or reduced price lunch plans. Students should see their teachers for more information. Calculators may be available in the school store this year.
Honors Level Courses
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Students in Honors courses are distinguished for their energy, persistence, and interest in mathematics. Honors courses are demanding and require students to be serious about study habits and to use time effectively. Honors classes are designed for students who enjoy mathematics and are motivated to develop their mathematical thinking.
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Students should expect the work in an Honors course to have a high level of abstraction and sophistication. The work will not be just harder problems; rather, it will be work at a different cognitive level. The teacher will help students to learn at this level and will consider it a major task of the course to provide students with extensive opportunities to improve their abilities in this area. Students, however, should understand that not everyone is ready to learn at a high level of abstraction.
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Students who enter Honors level classes should have superior computational skills and are expected to have retained the vast majority of the material studied in previous mathematics courses. Teachers will not spend significant class time reviewing material taught in earlier math courses. Short-term help can be expected from the teacher, if asked for, but the student should not expect the teacher to provide long-term tutorial support for material from a previous course.
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Students who are interested in more challenging course work by moving from college prep to the honors level, but who do not meet the grade prerequisite, must schedule a conference with their parent/guardian and the department head of mathematics. Department head approval is required before making that change. Students who move from college prep to honors may need to spend additional time and effort in order to bridge the gap of skills and content acquisition either during the school year or during the summer. The department head or a designated math teacher will help students by carefully outlining expectations, providing materials and offering guidance.
Accelerating in Mathematics
Calculus is a fascinating subject and a rigorous course of study. Although it is not necessary that students take calculus in high school, we recognize that many students wish to have that opportunity. Therefore, we provide these guidelines for those who wish to accelerate their math program to enable them to take calculus. This option is demanding and should only be attempted by those students who have a real fascination with mathematics and a deep commitment to work hard.
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A student may enroll in two mathematics classes during the same year. This is especially difficult because of the amount of homework involved, but the arrangement can work for the highly motivated mathematics student. The ideal way to exercise this option is to take Geometry and Algebra II in the same year. This option is only possible on a space available basis.
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A student may also test-out of one course in order to take the next course in the sequence. Credit is not awarded for the test-out; it is for placement only. Methods of preparation for this vary, but may include independent study based on a course outline and text provided by the school, an enrichment summer program, study by correspondence, or independent tutoring. The school does not have the facilities for providing tutoring for this option, but the Department Head may be able to suggest tutors or schools.
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Students who choose the IMP (Interactive Mathematics Program) sequence and wish to take calculus in 12th grade may be able to double-up on math by either taking IMP 2 and 3 during one year, or possibly by taking IMP 4 and Calculus during the same year. This option should be discussed with the teacher and department head well in advance.
Prerequisites for Mathematics Courses
In an effort to ensure that students have the necessary background and readiness skills to be successful, most courses in mathematics have both course and grade prerequisites. It is important for students to be aware of these requirements so that they select the appropriate courses to match their interests and prior mathematical preparation. Because mathematics is so sequential in nature, most courses require that students earn a final grade of C- or better to continue on to the next course in the sequence. If a student does not earn the prerequisite grade for a course, he/she must either repeat the course or attend summer school and earn a grade of C- or better before continuing in the sequence.
Interactive Mathematics Program (IMP)
The Math Department introduced year one of the Interactive Mathematics Program (IMP) as a new option for students in 2005-2006. IMP is a four-year sequence of courses. Each course is organized in four to six-week units around a central problem or theme. Motivated by this central focus, students solve a variety of smaller routine and non-routine problems that develop the underlying skills and concepts needed to solve the central problem. Students work in teams as well as individually to strategize, solve problems and present ideas both in writing and orally. Graphing calculators are used regularly.
IMP provides excellent preparation for the MCAS, SAT Reasoning Test and SAT subject tests. Students should plan to remain in IMP for at least three years. In their senior year, students may choose Calculus in addition to IMP 4. For more information on IMP, log on to their website: www.mathimp.org. Course descriptions may be found below.
IMP Honors is a program offered within all IMP classes for students wishing to go beyond the regular requirements of IMP. Participating students are expected to complete assignments at a higher level of abstraction, depth, generality and independence. IMP Honors appears on the student’s transcript as such, with a different course number.
Courses in Mathematics
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