Mathematics Curriculum Overview

Middle School Course Offerings

Chairperson: Robert Bell
Email: rbell@northallegheny.org
Building: NASH
Phone: 724-934-7200 ext. 35370

Sixth Grade Mathematics

Full Year/Full Time

Essentials of Course 2 (6M2)

Students enrolled in this course will take The Big Ideas Math program which addresses all of the 6th grade standards as outlined by the PA Core Standards. The students will receive a solid foundation in multiplying and dividing decimals and fractions, understanding number sense with whole numbers and integers, area of two-dimensional shapes, surface area and volume of prisms, and working with expressions, equations, and inequalities which are the necessary concepts needed to be successful in pre-algebra. The program utilizes a research-based, balanced instructional approach that includes both inquiry-based learning and direct instruction lessons.

A smaller class setting is utilized to provide more individualized instruction and remediation. Additional attention is given to assist students in the acquisition of more abstract topics. The purpose of this course is to meet the needs of students requiring more assistance.

Academic Course 2(6M3)

Students enrolled in this course will take The Big Ideas Math program which addresses all of the 6th grade standards as outlined by the PA Core Standards. The students will receive a solid foundation in multiplying and dividing decimals and fractions, understanding number sense with whole numbers and integers, area of two-dimensional shapes, surface area and volume of prisms, and working with expressions, equations, and inequalities which are the necessary concepts needed to be successful in pre-algebra. This course will provide a foundation in calculus which deals with change and how the change in one quantity affects other quantities: finding the mean, median, mode, and range of data, creating and interpreting bar, line, circle, and histograms, writing, comparing, and solving problems using ratios, rates, and percents, finding probability using outcomes, tree diagrams, and the counting principles.

The program utilizes a research-based, balanced instructional approach that includes both inquiry-based learning and direct instruction lessons.

Advanced Course 2(6M4)

Students enrolled in this course will take The Big Ideas Math program which addresses all of the 6th grade standards as outlined by the PA Core Standards. The students will receive a solid foundation in multiplying and dividing decimals and fractions, understanding number sense with whole numbers and integers, area of two-dimensional shapes, surface area and volume of prisms, and working with expressions, equations, and inequalities which are the necessary concepts needed to be successful in pre-algebra. This course will provide a foundation in calculus which deals with change and how the change in one quantity affects other quantities: finding the mean, median, mode, and range of data, creating and interpreting bar, line, circle, and histograms, writing, comparing, and solving problems using ratios, rates, and percents, finding probability using outcomes, tree diagrams, and the counting principles.

The program utilizes a research-based, balanced instructional approach that includes both inquiry-based learning and direct instruction lessons.

The pacing of the course will also be faster than the academic course. Finally, assessments will be designed to measure students’ mastery of the material at the synthesis and application levels.

Seventh Grade Mathematics — Pre-Algebra

Full Year/Full Time

Essentials of Pre-Algebra(7M2)

Students enrolled in this course will be taught using the Big Ideas Math program which addresses all of the 7th grade standards outlined by the PA Core Standards. This program utilizes a researched-based, balanced instructional approach that includes both inquiry-based learning and direct instruction lessons. This program also exposes students to highly motivating and relevant problems that are woven with career-readiness and college-readiness preparation. The students will receive a solid foundation in algebraic concepts.

A smaller class setting is utilized to provide more individualized instruction and remediation. Additional attention is given to assist students in the acquisition of more abstract topics. The purpose of this course is to meet the needs of students requiring more assistance and provide the opportunity for them to return to an academic pathway. In seventh grade Pre-Algebra, students develop the concepts needed to prepare for Algebra 1. The Pre-Algebra curriculum provides a strong foundation in algebra while also preparing students for future study in areas of geometry, probability, and data analysis. The curriculum has a strong focus on algebraic concepts and reasoning, solving of equations and inequalities, and geometry.

Academic Pre-Algebra(7M3)

Students enrolled in this course will be taught using the Big Ideas Math program which addresses all of the 7th grade standards outlined by the PA Core Standards. This program utilizes a researched-based, balanced instructional approach that includes both inquiry-based learning and direct instruction lessons. This program also exposes students to highly motivating and relevant problems that are woven with career-readiness and college-readiness preparation. The students will receive a solid foundation in algebraic concepts.

Emphasis will be given to topics that are considered to be the foundation for an academic Algebra 1 course. In seventh grade Pre-Algebra, students develop the concepts needed to prepare for Algebra 1. The Pre-Algebra curriculum provides a strong foundation in algebra while also preparing students for future study in areas of geometry, probability, and data analysis. The curriculum has a strong focus on algebraic concepts and reasoning, solving of equations and inequalities, and geometry.

Advanced Pre-Algebra(7M4)

Students enrolled in this course will be taught using the Big Ideas Math program which addresses all of the 7th grade standards outlined by the PA Core Standards. This program utilizes a researched-based, balanced instructional approach that includes both inquiry-based learning and direct instruction lessons. This program also exposes students to highly motivating and relevant problems that are woven with career-readiness and college-readiness preparation. The students will receive a solid foundation in algebraic concepts.

This course is designed to lead into the advanced Algebra 1 course and later into the honors and advanced placement sequence in mathematics at the high school level. Consequently, the course content will be substantial and more rigorous than the academic course. The pacing of the course will also be considerably faster than the academic course. There will also be additional content taught (radicals, integer exponents, solving linear equations and inequalities, and advanced work with proportional relationships and probabilities). Finally, assessments will be designed to measure students’ mastery of the material at the synthesis and application levels.

Eighth Grade Mathematics

Full Year/Full Time

Essentials of Algebra 1(8M2)

Students enrolled in this course will be utilize the Foundations of Algebra 1 program which addresses all of the content outlined in the PA Core Standards. This program utilizes a research-based instructional approach that includes both inquiry-based learning and direct instruction lessons. This program exposes students to a solid foundation in Algebra 1.

A smaller class setting is utilized to provide more individualized instruction and remediation. Additional attention is given to assist students in the acquisition of more abstract topics. The purpose of this course is to meet the needs of students requiring more assistance. The content of Algebra 1 is organized around families of functions, with special emphasis on linear functions. As students learn about each family of functions, they will learn to represent them in multiple ways. They will also learn to model real-life situations using functions in order to solve problems arising from those situations.

Academic Algebra 1(8M3)

Academic Algebra 1 is the first formally structured course of the Academic sequence. The content is organized around the families of functions, with special emphasis on linear and quadratic functions, along with representing functions in multiple ways through inquiry-based learning in real world situations. In addition to its Algebra content, the course offers lessons on probability and data analysis as well as numerous examples and exercises involving mathematical connections to Geometry. Algebra 1 provides instruction and practice on standardized test questions in a variety of formats including multiple-choice, short response, and extended response.

Advanced Algebra 1(8M4)

Advanced Algebra 1 is the first formally structured course of the Honors sequence. The content is organized around the families of functions, with special emphasis on linear and quadratic functions, along with representing functions in multiple ways through inquiry-based learning in real world situations. In addition to its Algebra content, the course offers lessons on probability and data analysis as well as numerous examples and exercises involving mathematical connections to Geometry. Algebra 1 provides instruction and practice on standardized test questions in a variety of formats including multiple-choice, short response, and extended response.

This course is designed to lead into the Honors Geometry course and later into the honors and advanced placement sequence in mathematics at the high school level. Consequently, the course content will be substantial and more rigorous than the academic course. The pacing of the course will also be considerably faster than the academic course. Finally, assessments will be designed to measure students’ mastery of the material at the synthesis and application levels.

Honors Geometry

This is a rigorous course for students who had Advanced Algebra 1 in grades 6, 7, or 8. This is the second year of an Honors Mathematics sequence. In this course, students will develop reasoning and problem-solving skills in the areas of congruence, similarity, properties of lines, properties of triangles, properties of quadrilaterals, and properties of circles. The course will also include work with transformations, perimeter, area, circumference, surface area, and volume to solve real-world problems. In addition to the Geometry content, this course includes numerous examples and exercises involving Algebra and trigonometry. Honors Geometry provides inquiry-based learning and practice on standardized test questions in a variety of formats including multiple choice, short response, and extended response. Technology support will be used for both learning Geometry and for preparing for standardized tests.