Mathematics
The middle school mathematics program follows the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSS), which ASL adopted in the 2012–13 school year.
The CCSS include content standards that are developmentally appropriate for each grade level, and build on one another from year to year across the strands of number system, ratio and proportional relationships, expressions and equations, geometry, statistics and probability, and functions. The standards also include a set of eight Standards for Mathematical Practice, which outline processes and proficiencies that students develop as they become increasingly proficient mathematicians. These practices include: making sense of problems and persevering in solving them; reasoning both abstractly and quantitatively; constructing viable arguments and critiquing the reasoning of others; modeling with mathematics; using appropriate tools strategically; attending to precision; looking for and making use of structure; and looking for and expressing regularity in repeated reasoning.
The sequence of units in each grade level, built using CCSS as the framework, are designed to create a “storyline” of mathematics, which builds on itself throughout the course of one year as well as across the four middle school years. The middle school content standards provide an opportunity for students to go deeper with the content that was introduced in the Lower School, so that they have a solid conceptual foundation in mathematics before they reach the more abstract content found in high school mathematics and beyond. The CCSS provide the vertical curricular coherence, mathematical rigor, and instructional focus necessary to build a strong foundation, develop student perseverance, and encourage students’ love for the logic and creativity of mathematics. They push students to engage in mathematical practices that equip them with the skills they need for complex problem solving, and that encourage them to pursue mathematics with curiosity and determination for years to come.
In middle school math classes, students solve rich problems, discuss mathematical ideas, debate solutions and methods for solving problems, and represent their thinking in a variety of ways. Middle school math classes prioritize conceptual understanding of mathematics over the rote memorization of algorithms, and their procedural fluency is built on this strong conceptual foundation. In line with best practices, much of the learning is based on asking students to engage in authentic problem solving that requires them to synthesize their knowledge and understanding of math concepts, and their ability to implement math practices. We work to help students develop a growth mindset around mathematics, and to celebrate mistakes as opportunities for learning and growth. We encourage students to recognize that there is often more than one “right way” to solve a problem.
