Horace W. Porter School

Mathematics Curriculum

Philosophy:
An understanding of mathematics is necessary for all individuals so that they may lead productive and rewarding lives.  Therefore, a mathematics program must build a base of skill, both concrete and abstract, which will enable students to better understand their world and apply that understanding to solve problems in their daily lives.  The mathematics program should also seek to communicate the excitement and challenge of mathematics.

We will endeavor to provide our students with positive educational experiences to cultivate a desire for continued learning.  We believe that a good mathematics program actively involves students in the learning process, using a variety of teaching methods and approaches, and develops in students an appreciation of the usefulness of mathematics.
 

Purpose:
The purpose of our program is to prepare the students to function mathematically in a technological and information based society.  We also believe that each student is unique and, therefore, that each must be encouraged to develop an understanding of mathematics commensurate with his/her ability.

Program Goals K-8:
Educational goals for students must reflect the importance of mathematical literacy.  The intent of these goals is that students will become mathematically literate by developing their ability to explore, to conjecture, and to reason logically.

The general goals for all students in our mathematics program are:

Program Description:

The mathematics program at Horace W. Porter School is activity based with many problem solving opportunities, i.e. instruction and skill development often begin with problems that need to be solved so that students can appreciate the usefulness of mathematics and have a purpose for their learning.

Kindergarten - The purpose of the kindergarten program is to tap the rich experiences and enthusiasm that children bring to their initial school learning environment.  At the present time, the Everyday Mathematics program supports the curriculum objectives and directs many of the activities experienced by all kindergarten students.  This manipulative based program encourages the active involvement of students as they begin to make sense of the world around them.

Grade One through Six - Our primary and elementary programs use a variety of resources for mathematics instruction.  At the present time we use as our main support, Everyday Mathematics, an outgrowth of the University of Chicago SchoolMathematics Project, which was designed to improve school mathematics in grades K - 12.  Everyday Mathematics' curriculum is based on spiral levels of understanding from simple explorations to advance understanding of concepts and skills.  Frequently, students are asked to explain how they got the answers, and to try to find another way to get the same answer.  The program uses discussion, daily routines, year-long projects, partner and small group activities, games, manipulatives, and home-school partnerships.  Our approach to mathematics has allowed for more hands-on student involvement, use of manipulatives, and increased meaningful problem solving and enrichment opportunities.  Students are grouped heterogeneously, and those with remedial needs may receive assistance in their classrooms.

Grades Seven and Eight - The seventh and eighth grade math curriculum uses a variety of resources, but the main support comes from the Middle Grades Math Thematicsseries.  This is an outgrowth of the STEM Project (Success Through Exploring Mathematics) published by McDougal Littell.  The Math Thematics program is designed to implement the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics, with a main goal of developing math power in all students.  Students are helped to develop their abilities to:

Manipulatives, mini-units, student projects, and various math contest opportunities augment the use of the textbook.  Use of calculators and computers are included for both seventh and eighth grade.  For the most part, students are grouped heterogeneously.  We do, however, have an ability-grouped seventh grade Pre-Algebra class as well as an ability-grouped Algebra class in eighth grade.  Students in these classes are identified based on teacher recommendation and various assessments.

Grade Seven: Pre-Algebra Class - For more information on the criteria for selection, click on the parent letter.
Grade Eight: Algebra Class - For more information on the criteria for selection, click on the parent letter.
 

(HWP- Revised Fall 2004)
 
 
 

Last updated: May 28, 2002