Math Department

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Mathematics

The middle school mathematics program is organized by course objectives rather than by grade level with the goal of preparing students for Algebra 1 by Grade 8. In Middle School Math 6, the emphasis is placed upon mastery and retention of basic facts and operations in whole numbers, and decimal and common fractions. In Math 7 and Algebra Prep, the emphasis shifts to the application of real number concepts and preparation for Algebra and Geometry. Each level is more intense and increasingly more difficult. For students who are having difficulty mastering math concepts and skills, the various courses are offered in supported classes that differentiate instruction to help students meet with success. All math course outcomes are organized into comprehensive units. These units are accompanied by assessments that evaluate student progress and readiness for the next level mathematics course. Students continue to be prepared for the Maryland State Assessment Test (MSA) in Grades 6, 7, and 8. Placement in mathematics courses is based upon student mastery of learning indicators and academic performance, student study, time management and organizational skills, scores on Middle School Mathematics course unit assessments, demonstration of ability and skills on specific assessments, and teacher observations.

Mathematics 6

Math 6 is a course is for all 6 th grade students who have completed the Kindergarten through Grade 5 mathematics curriculum. It extends students' understanding of number and computation to include fractions, decimals, and percents. All concepts and skills are presented in the context of problem solving requiring the use of reasoning and communication. Areas of focus include data representation and analysis using frequency table and circle graphs, customary and metric measurement, geometric relationships and transformations, algebraic patterns and relationships, and probability.

The indicators are organized into comprehensive topical units accompanied by unit assessments that benchmark student progress as well as readiness for the next level course and the Maryland State Assessment (MSA). In the following year, students successful in Middle School Mathematics Course 6 will go on to Middle School Mathematics Course 7, Math 7 Enriched, or Investigations into Mathematics.

Mathematics 7

Math 7 is for 6 th and 7 th grade students who have completed the K-5 mathematics curriculum and Middle School Mathematics Course 6. This course extends students' understanding of numbers and computation to include integers and proportional reasoning. All concepts and skills are presented in the context of problem solving requiring the use of reasoning and communication. Areas of focus include functional relationships, arithmetic and geometric sequences, geometric precision, data analysis, and representation using box and whisker plots and scatter plots.

Math 7 Enriched

This course is designed for 7 th grade students who have successfully completed the Middle School Math 6 curriculum, including making the attempts with challenge indicators, yet are not showing readiness to handle more abstract concepts taught in IM. Math 7 Enriched will allow students to review foundational skills, and application of Pre-Algebra-A concepts in preparation for Algebra I. Key strands throughout the curriculum are communication, analysis, real-life application, critical thinking, and problem solving. Areas of focus include; Capital Exploration of the Real Number System(including rational and irrational numbers) and magnitude of numbers); Foundations in Algebra: Statistics and Probability: Geometry (both 2 dimensional and 3 dimensional): Proportions: and Linear Relations.

Students in Middle School Mathematics Course 7 Enriched will go on to Algebra I the following year.

Investigations into Mathematics (IM )

IM is an enriched course for GT level students who have successfully completed the K-5 mathematics curriculum, as well as the indicators for Middle School Mathematics Course 6, and the majority of the indicators of Middle School Mathematics Course 7 by the end of either Grade 5 or Grade 6.

One of the goals of this class is to provide a theoretical view of the world to students while preparing them for Algebra I. Students learn both concrete and abstract mathematical topics while improving their communication, thinking, and reasoning skills. The units of study include: Patterns and Set Theory, Relations and Finite Operational Systems, Algebra Foundations, Real Number System, Data Analysis, Language of Algebra, Functions and Graphs, andInvestigations of Three Dimensional Geometry.

Algebra Prep

This course is for 8 th grade students who have completed Middle School Mathematics Course 7. Algebra Prep extends students' understanding of numbers and computation, to include rational and irrational numbers in the real number system. One goal is to have all students develop computational fluency of real numbers. All concepts and skills are presented in the context of problem solving that requires the use of reasoning and communication. Areas of focus include multiple representations of linear function, data analysis and representation, probability experiments and simulations, and geometric properties and relationships between two- and three-dimensional figures. In addition, Algebra Prep previews concepts that are assessed on the Algebra/Data Analysis High School Assessment (HSA). Students successful in this course will take Algebra I the following year.

Algebra 1A and 1 B

This course is for GT level students who have successfully completed Middle School Mathematics Course 7, Investigations into Mathematics (IM) or Middle School Algebra Prep. Algebra IA and IB examine the basic structure of real numbers, algebraic expressions, data analysis, probability, and the elementary properties of functions. Mathematical modeling of real-life problems and problem solving are major themes of the course. A graphing calculator is used throughout this course. Students in this course take the state High School Assessment (HSA), in addition to the Grade Level Maryland State Assessment (MSA). This course satisfies the High School Algebra I requirement. In order to receive credit and continue to Geometry students must successfully pass the County Final Exam. Students successful in this course will take Honors Geometry the following year. The grade received in Algebra will be recorded on the high school transcript and be part of the student’s GPA.

Honors Geometry

Honors Geometry is for students who have successfully completed Algebra I. Students study Geometry as a mathematical system through the deductive development of relationships in the plane and space that has been developed intuitively in previous years. Students study congruent segments and angles, circles, chords, secants, tangent segments and indirect triangle congruence proofs, solids of revolution, logic, similar triangles, transformations, the Pythagorean Theorem, geometric constructions, coordinate geometry, and surface area and volume of solids. Students in this course take the Grade Level Maryland State Assessment (MSA). This course satisfies the High School Geometry requirement. In order to receive credit and continue to Algebra II with Analysis, students must successfully pass the County final exam. The grade received in Geometry will be recorded on the high school transcript and be part of the student’s GPA.

Honors Algebra II with Analysis

Students will attend Walter Johnson High School for enrollment in this course.