MATH As part of our transition planning for Middle School, we make every effort to place students in the “right fit” math classes each year. Placement is determined by a number of important developmental criteria instead of by grade level alone. We work hard to place students in a course that will challenge and inspire them as well as promote their success. Placement is based on the following criteria, each considered equally: • Academic readiness • Standardized testing scores • Past mastery within the content area • Grade achievement • Executive functioning skills as observed by teachers throughout the year • Consistency of homework completion • Ability to work independently • Ability to self-monitor • A demonstrated interest and motivation throughout the year A profile is created for each student using the criteria above to determine the most appropriate placement. The same criteria is used in subsequent years throughout Middle School to confirm the appropriate placement for your child. Math courses meet five times in the eight-day cycle.
Middle School Math and Honors Middle School Math Students in Middle School Math build foundational skills, including a math vocabulary, that will prepare them to understand and solve complex problems in a scaled curriculum. As students work with fractions, whole numbers, decimals, and percents they begin to connect their learning to everyday life and develop a level of understanding that ultimately will lead to mastery of these skills. Building on those skills, students are introduced to algebra as they solve algebraic equations and work with, among other things, exponents, square roots, order of operations, ratios, and proportions. Additionally, the geometry explores different geometrical shapes, angles, triangles, and circles, including the geometric properties and formulas associated with them.
Pre-Algebra and Honors Pre-Algebra Pre-Algebra is designed as a bridge between foundational math and algebra. Students work to strengthen their problem solving skills by building competencies in the following areas: principles of
algebra, rational numbers, graphs and functions, exponents and roots, ratios, proportions and similarity, percent, geometry, perimeter, area and volume, data and statistics, multi-step equations and inequalities, graphing equations/ lines, polynomials, and solving one and two step equations. Students become familiar with the content necessary to support success in the follow-up course: Algebra. Making connections between the math they learn in the classroom with math that is used in everyday life is an essential way of learning Pre-Algebra. Students in PreAlgebra also develop their self-monitoring skills in collaboration with their peers and the teacher. They are prompted to not only take their time to think and solve problems, but to reflect on their steps and understand the process in order to truly grasp the material and be able to transfer it to higher levels of problem solving.
Algebra 1 and Honors Algebra Algebra I establishes the vocabulary and symbolism of algebra. It includes the study of evaluating expressions, properties of real numbers, rational and irrational numbers, square roots, function
SEWICKLEY ACADEMY 6
