Mathematics

The primary goal of the math curriculum is to promote the ability to formulate and solve problems and to apply concepts in a variety of situations. We believe all students will enjoy mathematics and recognize its value in the world through rich learning experiences. In keeping with our Statement of Philosophy, standards from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and the tenets of Singapore Math, teachers lead students toward higher levels of complexity in thinking, reasoning, and understanding. In all grades students progress from concrete problem-solving activities to more abstract thinking. Through the use of multiple models, manipulatives, and strategies children learn flexibility and resourcefulness in their thinking and use of mathematics.

Students work collaboratively and independently to develop a positive attitude toward math, acquire conceptual understanding, become proficient in skills and processes, and utilize metacognition to deepen their understanding. However, math is not just traditional problem-solving. Math is being creative. Math is reasoning with logic and decoding puzzles. Math is visualizing and questioning. Teachers help students develop their number sense through engaging experiences, games, and conversations. Students who are proficient in math utilize their creativity and number sense to approach any problem or challenge with flexibility, fluency, and originality.

As students progress throughout their elementary school experience, the level of sophistication and complexity in the problems they are presented with grow developmentally. In the primary grades, kindergarten through second, students are focused on building their number sense and establishing a foundation of mathematical modeling. They work toward mastering addition and subtraction, the basics of our number system, build upon their spatial thinking with shapes, and measure with nonstandard units. In the intermediate grades, third through fifth, the focus shifts to multiplication and division concepts, fractions, types of measurement, and representing and analyzing patterns, relationships and data with a variety of models. In sixth grade, students have a solid foundational understanding of our number systems and operations. They use these understandings to explore new concepts such as ratios and rates, rational numbers, statistics, and geometric relationships which will lead to their continued development in middle school.