OVERARCHING ENDURING UNDERSTANDING FOR Mathematics:
Mathematics is a system for organizing the world quantitatively. We use mathematics to analyze, problem solve, and communicate about ourselves and our world.
The tools of mathematics allow us to:
For seventh grade math, students focus on concepts around similarity, ratio and proportion, three-dimensional geometry, rational numbers, patterns and relationships (with an introduction to linear relationships), and probability. With all units that are taught, the focus is on having students not only be able to acquire the skills needed to do the math, but also understand the concepts behind the topic. This will help students remember the math that they are learning and help them learn math in later years. In addition to this, students will see the real world applications of the math they are learning.
In seventh grade math, all students are given the opportunity to accelerate by working on extensions for the classwork and homework. The main focus of the accelerated material is to have students develop their abstract thinking through writing and using equations and expressions for all of the seventh grade math content. Successful completion of the extensions and the regular work prepares students to do the accelerated algebra material in eighth grade.
We use the Connected Mathematics books as our main curriculum resource. With these books and other materials we focus on students being able to problem solve and communicate mathematically both orally and in written form.
OVERARCHING ENDURING UNDERSTANDING for Mathematics:
Mathematics is a system for organizing the world quantitatively. We use mathematics to describe and predict change in order to make informed decisions in our world.
The tools of mathematics allow us to:
For eighth grade math, students focus on conceptual algebra. This means that a lot of work is done exploring the context (real life applications), graph, and table of specific relationships and then working with the equations. The focus is on linear relationships, but students also explore quadratic, exponential, and inverse relationships. In addition to this, students do abstract work with solving equations and simplifying expressions. There is a statistics unit where students design, conduct, and create a presentation to plan an event. Students also do two geometry units: one on angles, and another that introduces the Pythagorean Theorem. Successful completion of this curriculum prepares students to take IMP 1, Algebra I, or Algebra I Honors in ninth grade.
Accelerated math in the eighth grade does the same units as the regular math. As with seventh grade, the accelerated math in eighth grade focuses on the more abstract concepts within those units. Examples of this are solving simultaneous equations symbolically and working with multiple forms of quadratic equations. Successful completion of this curriculum prepares students to take either IMP 2 or Geometry Honors at the high school.
We welcome your feedback to the Mathematics Curriculum Guide. Please send comments to Mathematics@arps.org.