Algebra 1
This first-year course provides a solid foundation in Algebraic skills and concepts, and lays the groundwork for more advanced math classes in the curriculum. The course emphasizes fundamental properties of real numbers, solving linear equations and inequalities, and multiplying and factoring polynomials. Topics also include systems of equations, absolute values and quadratic functions. Teaching emphasizes concepts that allow students to approach problems in a variety of ways.
Textbook:
- Algebra 1: A Common Core Curriculum, 2019 by Big Ideas Math; online text, no need to purchase
- In addition to the online textbook, students are also required to have a TI84+CE graphing calculator
Geometry
Geometry is a one-year college prep course that is designed to develop students’ understanding of geometric concepts by emphasizing and integrating logical reasoning and spatial visualization skills. It is a course wherein deductive reasoning is the basis of understanding. All instruction is designed to actively engage the students and the course promotes understanding, as opposed to rote memorization. Consequently, class dialogue is an integral part of the teaching and learning process. The geometry course will focus on the following topics: points, lines, planes, and angles, deductive reasoning, parallel lines and planes, congruent triangles, quadrilaterals, similar polygons, right triangles, circles, areas of plane figures, areas and volumes of solids, and coordinates. The goals of the geometry course are to teach students the value of mathematics, to reason mathematically, to think analytically, to be problem solvers, to work independently and also in groups, to practice communication skills, and to prepare for subsequent math courses.
Prerequisites: Algebra I
Textbook:
- Geometry: A Common Core Curriculum, 2019, by Big Ideas Math; online text, no need to purchase
- In addition to the online textbook, students are also required to have a TI84+CE graphing calculator
Intermediate Algebra
Designed for students who have struggled with mathematics, Intermediate Algebra covers the same material as Algebra II but moves at a slower pace. The class enables students to use mathematics as a tool in active learning situations and provides opportunities for exploration, investigation, and reasoning. Some of the topics covered are linear equations and inequalities, graphing, functions, quadratic equations, logarithmic equations, exponential equations, geometry, number patterns, and data analysis. The goals and objectives of the course are to develop a love of math (or at least increase enjoyment!) develop a higher level of confidence and competence in problem solving, solidify understanding of basic algebraic concepts, develop an understanding of more sophisticated algebraic concepts, extend and increase knowledge of geometry, and develop an understanding of basic statistics. Students are encouraged to work collaboratively, demonstrate understanding of mathematical concepts through written and verbal communications, and learn appropriate use of calculator and other technology in mathematical problem solving.
Prerequisites: Algebra I
Textbook:
- Algebra 2: A Common Core Curriculum, 2019 by Big Ideas Math; online text, no need to purchase
- In addition to the textbook, students are also required to have a TI84+CE graphing calculator
Algebra II
This course continues the development of algebraic skills and prepares students for pre-Calculus. The course will focus on extending students’ knowledge of Algebra I topics and developing their understanding of new topics including but not limited to linear equations & inequalities, graphing, rational expressions, functions, quadratic equations, logarithmic equations, and exponential equations. The goals and objectives of Algebra II are to develop a higher level of confidence and competence in mathematical problem solving, to extend understanding of sophisticated algebraic concepts, to learn to work collaboratively, to demonstrate understanding of mathematical concepts through written & verbal communications, to learn effective use of advanced algebraic techniques to solve problems and appropriate use of the calculator and other technology in mathematical problem solving. Students will also explore an introduction to trigonometry.
Prerequisites: Algebra I
Textbook:
- Algebra 2: A Common Core Curriculum, 2019 by Big Ideas Math; online text, no need to purchase
- In addition to the online textbook, students are also required to have a TI84+CE graphing calculator
Math IV: Math Analysis – Pre-Calculus
Math IV is a year-long course that bridges Algebra II and Calculus. Many of the topics are familiar, but the presentation tends to be more conceptual and less procedural than is the case with Algebra II. After completing this course, students will be prepared to take AP Calculus or AP Statistics.
We cover traditional topics (polynomial functions, exponential functions, and trigonometric functions) while developing more generalized skills that will apply to any course: the ability to view a complex problem and see the simple structure, the ability to approach new notation and definitions and learn to apply them to new situations, and to learn to use efficient methods given a variety of options. Students will continue to grow in mathematical fluency, precision, perseverance, and reasoning.
Prerequisites: Algebra I & II
Textbook:
- PreCalculus: Graphical, Numerical, Algebraic; Eighth Edition by Demana, Waits, Foley, Kennedy; Pearson; ISBN-13: 978-0-13-136906-1
- In addition to the textbook, a TI84+CE graphing calculator is required for this course.
Honors Calculus
Open to students with a strong background in math, who have completed a course covering topics of Math IV (pre-calculus), the Honors Calculus course is a year-long class that covers essentially the same syllabus as Advanced Placement Calculus, but concepts are explored at non-collegiate level pace. The course emphasizes that students be able to explain their work in a variety of ways. Students will learn to express results orally, graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally and be able to translate easily from one method to another. Communicating results is one of the most important task students will practice. Students will write solutions to problems in complete sentences, as a complement to showing and explaining work. The main topics covered in Honors Calculus are functions, limits, differentiation, and integration. Each semester students will complete a multi-part comprehensive final, with multiple-choice, short answer, and free response sections. The second semester final will be cumulative, but second semester topics will be more heavily featured. The first semester final will include the topics of limits and derivatives. The second semester final will then include the applications of derivatives, integration, and applications of integration.
Prerequisites: Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Math IV, and department approval
Textbook:
- Calculus: Graphical, Numerical, Algebraic, 5th Edition by Finney, Demana, Waits, Kennedy, and Broussard; Prentice Hall; ISBN-13: 978-0133311617; Do not purchase, class set available
- In addition to the textbook, a TI84+CE graphing calculator is required for this course.
AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus AB is a year-long class that is equivalent to one semester of college calculus. The main topics presented in AP Calculus AB are: limits, continuity, differentiation, the fundamental theorem of calculus, and integration. The course emphasizes communication of the concepts and techniques of calculus in a variety of ways: graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally; and translation from one method to another. Students will be asked to solve calculus problems analytically, to explore calculus in real world situations, and to justify their reasoning. The course will teach the use of graphing calculators for graphing and calculus-related numerical calculations, as well as the use of computer tools such as Desmos and Geogebra. The class culminates with the AP Calculus AB exam in May; it is expected that all students enrolled in the AP Calculus class will take the AP exam. After the AP exam, students will study further topics in calculus.
Prerequisites: Algebra I, Algebra II, Math IV, and department approval
Textbook:
- Calculus: Graphical, Numerical, Algebraic; 5th Edition by Finney, Demana, Waits, and Kennedy, Prentice Hall; ISBN-13: 978-0133311617; Do not purchase, class set available
- In addition to the textbook, a TI-83 Plus or TI-84 Plus graphing calculator is required for this course
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus BC is a year-long class that is equivalent to the second semester of college calculus. The content presented in AP Calculus BC will be a review differentiation and integration, as well as additional BC-specific topics like advance integration techniques, Euler’s method, logistic models, parametric/polar/vector functions, and infinite series. The course emphasizes communication of the concepts and techniques of calculus in a variety of ways: graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally; and translation from one method to another. Students will be asked to solve calculus problems analytically, to explore calculus in real world situations, and to justify their reasoning. The course will teach the use of graphing calculators for graphing and calculus-related numerical calculations, as well as the use of computer tools such as Desmos and Geogebra. The class culminates with the AP Calculus BC exam in May; it is expected that all students enrolled in the AP Calculus class will take the AP exam. After the AP exam, students will complete a calculus research project of their choice.
Prerequisites: Algebra I, Algebra II, Math IV, and department approval
Textbook:
- Calculus: Graphical, Numerical, Algebraic; 5th Edition by Finney, Demana, Waits, and Kennedy, Prentice Hall; ISBN-13: 978-0133311617; Do not purchase, class set available
- In addition to the textbook, a TI84+CE graphing calculator is required for this course.
AP Statistics
This is the high school equivalent of a one semester, introductory college statistics course. This course will prepare students for the advanced placement test in May and will follow the course and exam description from the college board. This course is broken into four categories: exploring data, sampling and experimentation, anticipating patterns, and statistical inference. Students develop strategies for collecting, organizing, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data. Next, students are expected to design, administer, and tabulate results from surveys and experiments. Probability and simulations aid the students in constructing models for chance behavior. Finally, sampling distributions provide the logical structure for confidence intervals and hypothesis tests. Students will use an AP Statistics exam approved graphing calculator, Fathom and Minitab statistical software, and Web-based java applets to investigate statistical concepts. To develop effective statistical communication skills, students are required to prepare frequent written and oral analyses of real data, as well as collaborate in groups to discuss statistical data and/or ideas. This is a college-level course and is demanding and rigorous.
Prerequisites: Math IV: Math Analysis
Textbook:
- UPDATED VERSION of The Practice of Statistics for the AP Exam, 6th Edition by Starnes and Tabor, ISBN 13: 978-1319269296; A physical textbook is MANDATORY, digital is optional. If both a physical and a digital version are desired make sure to include a year-long subscription to Sapling Plus.
- In addition to the textbook, a TI84+CE graphing calculator is required
Functions and Statistics
This course is an introductory first-year college-level statistics course. Students will learn methods of gathering data, decide a statistical model to interpret the data, and present their findings with conclusions supported by mathematical computations. The course will focus on four main themes: exploring data, sampling and experimentation, anticipating statistical models, and statistical inference. This course will also teach students how to use statistical software and graphing calculators to manage the mechanics of statistics, like graphing data in several ways and calculating proportions, means, and distributions found in data.
Prerequisites: Algebra I and II
Textbook:
- Stats in Your World by Bock & Mariano, Pearson, 1st Edition (not 2nd, nor 3rd edition); ISBN-13: 978-0131384897; Do not purchase, class set available
- In addition to the textbook, a TI84+CE graphing calculator is required.
Business Math
This course teaches students the mathematical skills they need for success in entry level business jobs, emphasizing mastery of business concepts and scenarios that require a mathematical solution. With a focus on current issues, real companies, and pragmatic business scenarios, the class covers the full spectrum of basic business math, placing every concept in context with relevant examples. The textbook has been significantly revised to modernize the text, improve discussions, and make the material more meaningful to students. The class is packed with data, examples, graphs, photographs, and case studies that demonstrate the material’s relevance as it teaches students to interpret data and information. A global perspective is emphasized through examples and exercises that highlight issues in other countries. Students will get a chance to create business plans and learn about the stock market as we build these useful life skills.
Textbook:
- Business Math, 14th Edition, by Clendenen & Salzman, Pearson; ISBN-13: 978-0134693323 or link to publisher: www.pearson.com
- In addition to the textbook, a TI84+CE graphing calculator is required
AP Computer Science A
AP Computer Science A is a year-long introductory course in object-oriented programming using the Java language. The course introduces students to: abstraction through classes and methods, data types, conditional statements, iterations through loops, data structures, and algorithmic thinking and processes like searching, sorting, and recursion. The course emphasizes computational problem-solving using coding solutions.
Prerequisites: Students should have completed Algebra II with a solid understanding of functions, geometric models and equations, and a good understanding of other number systems besides the base 10 system, like hexadecimal, octal, and binary.
Requirements:
- Building Java Programs: A Back to Basics Approach 5th Edition, by Stuart Reges and Marty Stepp; Pearson’s ISBN-13: 978-0135471944
- Students need to bring a dedicated laptop to every class (Mac or PC, no Chromebooks)
- Students are also required to backup and save all their working files to a cloud directory provided by a cloud service like Dropbox or iCloud storage as examples.