Mathematics

The goals for students in math are set by the standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The math program enables students to understand mathematical concepts, to apply computational skills, and to think and work independently. The program is individualized to accommodate a wide range of abilities and rates of development. Materials are available which encourage understanding of concepts and creative thinking. Hands-on learning experiences allow students to work individually or in small groups, and at a pace suitable to their own abilities, with a maximum of student independence. Areas of study include number concepts, problem solving and recognizing patterns. Students work in groups of varying sizes and grow to be independent workers and learners as they attain skills and confidence.

Students progress across the primary program in addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, computation, factoring, fractions, equalities and inequalities, skip counting, geometric recognition, measurement, and telling time. Finally they learn to solve complex equations involving more than one operation. They build upon the concepts outlined above, increasing the level of difficulty and refining problem-solving skills.

All upper level mathematics requires that students be able to think in an abstract way about symbols and the amounts they represent. In this way, students can reason through the algorithms necessary to perform operations. Students must be able to explain “why” they do what they do. The aim of the math program is to prepare mathematically literate individuals who can recognize, understand, and apply the concepts and processes of mathematics.