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Mathematics Introduction

Aims of Mathematics in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme

The aims of all MYP subjects state what a teacher may expect to teach and what a student may expect to experience and learn. These aims suggest how the student may be changed by the learning experience.

The aims of MYP mathematics are to encourage and enable students to:
  • Enjoy mathematics, develop curiosity and begin to appreciate its elegance and power
  • Develop an understanding of the principles and nature of mathematics
  • Communicate clearly and confidently in a variety of contexts
  • Develop logical, critical and creative thinking
  • Develop confidence, perseverance, and independence in mathematical thinking and problem-solving
  • Develop powers of generalization and abstraction
  • Apply and transfer skills to a wide range of real life situations, other areas of knowledge and future developments
  • Appreciate how developments in technology and mathematics have influenced each other
  • Appreciate the moral, social and ethical implications arising from the work of mathematicians and the applications of mathematics
  • Appreciate the international dimension in mathematics through an awareness of the universality of mathematics and its multicultural and historical perspectives
  • Appreciate the contribution of mathematics to other areas of knowledge
  • Develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to pursue further studies in mathematics
  • Develop the ability to reflect critically upon their own work and the work of others

Level and Course Changes for Mathematics

Students may change level in a mathematics course (e.g. Pre-Algebra to Math 7) no later than the end of the first quarter by teacher recommendation, consent from the parent/guardian, and approval by the principal or designee.

To move up a grade level in a mathematics course, students must demonstrate mastery of the current curriculum by passing first and second semester exams with a score of at least 80%. Both exams must be completed a week prior to the end of the first quarter (e.g. a student enrolled in Pre-Algebra who wishes to take Algebra I must demonstrate mastery of Pre-Algebra curriculum by passing the first and second semester final exams with a score of at least an 80%).

Courses

Math 6

The sixth grade Mathematics curriculum is centered on Ohio’s Learning Standards, referred to as the Ohio’s Learning Standards. The Ohio Learning Standards are designed to ensure that all students understand concepts in mathematics and engage in the application of concepts presented in context. Students must demonstrate perseverance with problem solving and be ready to accept and persevere through challenges of complex assignments. The sixth grade curriculum encompasses the following areas of study: ratios and proportional relationship, the number system, expressions and equation, geometry, statistics and probability.
 
Incorporated into all areas of study are The Standards for Mathematical Practices. These Practices include:

  • Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them
  • Reason abstractly and quantitatively
  • Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others
  • Model with mathematics
  • Use appropriate tools strategically
  • Attend to precision
  • Look for and make use of structure
  • Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning

Pre-Algebra

This is the primary mathematics course for seventh grade students. Students enrolled in this course are expected to demonstrate proficiency in a combination of seventh and eighth grade Ohio Learning Standards in Mathematics in one year. Students will learn the following standards and concepts through solving real-world and mathematical problems:

  • Ratios and proportional relationships  

  • Application of previous understanding of operations with fractions and integers 

  • Equivalence of expressions including radicals and integer exponents and solving of multi-step equations 

  • Creating models and making comparisons of relationships linear and nonlinear and solving and analyzing pairs of linear equations

  • Geometric concepts with the focus on applications involving surface area and volume and describing the relationship between figures 

  • Statistics and probability

     

Math 7

This course is designed for unique situations that cause a student to be unable to take Pre-Algebra, the primary course for seventh graders. The  goals of this course are consistent with the seventh grade Ohio State Standards in Mathematics. Topics include an in-depth study of: ratio and proportional relationships, application of previous understanding of operations with fractions and integers, equivalence of expressions, solving multi-step equations, geometric concepts with the focus on applications involving surface area and volume, describing the relationship between figures, statistics and probability. Real-world applications will be used to develop a deep understanding of each topic.

Algebra I

This is the primary mathematics course for eighth grade students. Students in this course will learn standards associated with the Ohio High School Algebra I curriculum. They will build on the skills learned in Pre-Algebra and apply them to the five areas of critical focus: reasoning with equations, linear and exponential relationships, descriptive statistics, expressions and equations, and quadratic functions and modeling. Each unit will encourage modeling and real-world application. Students will learn how to use a graphing calculator.

Unit topics include a study of:

•    Equivalent Expressions and forms of equations
•    Polynomial expressions and equations
•    Statistical analysis using two data sets
•    Creating, comparing and solving functions to model linear, exponential and quadratic relationships
•    Solving systems of equations and inequalities

Math 8

This course is designed for unique situations that cause a student to be unable to take Algebra, the primary course for eighth graders. The primary goals of the course are consistent with the 8th grade Ohio State Standards in Mathematics. Topics include an in-depth study of: expressions involving radicals and integer exponents, creating models and making comparisons of linear and nonlinear functional relationships, solving and analyzing pairs of linear equations, statistical analysis using line of best fit, application of Pythagorean Theorem, congruence and similarity within transformations and solving problems involving volume of cylinders, cones and spheres. Real-world applications will be used to develop a deep understanding of each topic. Students completing this course with an A or B may be recommended for the Honors level courses at the High School.

9 Honors Math

9 Honors Math is intended for students who completed Algebra I in Middle School with an A or B. Unit Topics: Congruence, Proof, and Constructions; Similarity, Proof and Trigonometry; Extending to Three Dimensions; Connecting Algebra and Geometry through Coordinates; Circles with and without Coordinates; Applications of Probability; and Foundations of Intermediate Algebra. A graphing calculator is required. A TI-89 Titanium graphing calculator is recommended for students who plan on taking AP Calculus AB or BC as seniors. Otherwise, a TI-84 Plus is acceptable.

Math Workshop Classes: Intervention and Support

Philosophy: The demanding world of the 21st century requires everyone to have basic literacy, computation and communication skills in order to gain knowledge, to become lifelong learners and to collaborate effectively with others. In our intervention workshop classes, students receive support in developing foundational literacy and mathematics skills in order to achieve success in school and beyond the classroom. The ultimate goal of these classes is to produce global citizens who are self-confident  and self-motivated members of society who understand that communication skills are vital to their own success and the success of others. We offer a Math Workshop Class, Reading Workshop Class and a Math & Reading Combination Class.

Criteria for Placement in Math Workshop Class
We offer an intervention program because math is vital for success across subject and content areas. Students are enrolled in a workshop class when they are identified as significantly below grade level in math. We consider the following criteria when recommending placement in a workshop class.
  • Student did not pass the math section of the state assessment
  • Student who has consistently scored below the 35th percentile on MAP on math assessment (district benchmark)
  • Recommendation by student’s Math teachers
Math Goals
Math instruction focuses on strategies that will help students acquire basic fact fluency skills, mental math strategies and support connections for Pre-Algebra or Algebra courses.

Foundational Math Strategies & Skills
  • Number sense
  • Number and pattern relationships
  • Operation sense and computation
  • Fractions, decimals and percents
  • Proportional reasoning (Math 7 connection)
  • Algebra (Math 8 connection)
Math and Reading Workshop
We offer this intervention course if a student needs both reading and math support as described above (and in the reading section of this Academic Planning Guide).