Lower School
The Lower School math curriculum, Everyday Math, is a realistic approach to problem solving in everyday situations, as well as purely mathematical contexts. Learning in the Everyday Math curriculum ranges from simple explorations to advanced understanding of concepts and skills. Students are frequently asked to explain how they arrived at an answer and to try to find another way to get the same answer in order to gain a greater understanding of the underlying concepts, rather than focus solely on being able to compute or calculate. The program utilizes discussion, daily routines, partner and small-group activities, games, manipulatives, and home-school partnerships. There are six content strands of mathematical learning that are the focus for grades K-5. The strands are: number and numeration; operations and computation; data and chance; measurement and reference frames; geometry; and patterns, functions and algebra. This math program provides mathematical consistency within and between grade levels in the Lower School, and includes underpinnings of algebra beginning as early as Kindergarten as students begin to focus on patterns. Skill learning and acquisition is a highlight of the program and is taught daily through mental math, math boxes, routines, and games.
To access more information about the Everyday Math program, including Family Letters and Home Links, please go to this site.
Middle School
The Middle School math program, Connected Mathematics Project 2 (CMP2), is centered upon a balance between conceptual learning and skill acquisition. The goal is for students to leave the eighth grade with a strong algebraic foundation. Students are taught to become mathematical thinkers as well as mathematical doers who are able to apply the math they learn to the world around them. The focus is first on providing students with opportunities to explore mathematics and make sense of it for themselves; once this has been accomplished, agreed upon and conventional algorithms are refined and mastered as students demonstrate competency with mathematical and algebraic skills. There are two paths of mathematical study. All students focus on number theory and operations during their sixth grade year. The Algebra path then completes pre-algebra in seventh grade and Algebra I in eighth grade. This path provides a solid algebraic foundation for the majority of our students. A small number of students benefit more from the Geometry path, which completes pre-algebra and Algebra I in seventh grade and Geometry in eighth grade.
To access more information about the Connected Math program, including Family Letters and Home Links, please go to this site.
Click here to view a Middle School, and beyond, math flow chart. This document is meant as a guide to illustrate the two math paths in Middle School and how these paths may feed into a high school program.
