This course will prepare sixth grade students for the comprehensive series of mathematics classes that begin in grade 7. Although mathematical computation will be taught, there will also be a strong emphasis on mathematical concepts and applications. Technical and persuasive writing will be incorporated into this course. Course material will be taught in part through activities and hands-on projects. Topics to be covered include number sense and operations, patterns, relations, and algebra, geometry, measurement, as well as a review of the topics of data analysis, statistics, and probability which are more heavily covered in grade 5. This course is in alignment with the Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Frameworks and the standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

This is the first course in the college preparatory mathematics sequence. Students will use whole numbers, decimals, fractions and integers to solve problems. They will learn more about plane and solid geometry, expressions, equations and other ideas in algebra, and practice new ways of organizing and analyzing data.

Topics will include: problem solving strategies; probability, data, and statistics; operations with fractions; algebraic expressions and equations; plane and solid geometry; ratio and proportion; integers and graphing; rational numbers; and algebra patterns, relations and functions. Computers and/or calculators will be used by students as problem-solving tools.

Prerequisites: Demonstrated outstanding academic achievement as of the end of grade 6 and recommendation of the current mathematics teacher

This course begins an accelerated honors sequence for outstanding mathematics students who have earned exceptional academic grades and demonstrated high achievement on standardized mathematics tests. Students will use calculators and/or computers as problem solving tools.

Topics will include: connecting arithmetic and algebra; introduction to algebra; integers; equations; number theory and fraction concepts; rational numbers; ratio, proportion and percent; inequalities with variables; polynomials; plane and solid geometry; and probability and statistics.

This course continues the college preparatory sequence and prepares students to take Algebra 1 or Integrated Math, Part 1, in grade 9. Students will use whole numbers, decimals, fractions, and integers to solve problems, use calculators and/or computers as problem-solving tools, explore ideas about rational and real numbers, and learn more about solving equations and inequalities. Topics will include: algebraic expressions and equations; number theory and using fractions; ratios, proportions and percents; integers; real numbers; basic geometry including the Pythagorean theorem; graphing relations and functions; pattern recognition; and probability and statistics. Applications and problem solving will be stressed.

Prerequisites: B or better in Pre-Algebra 7 and recommendation of the current mathematics teacher

This rigorous course is a continuation of the accelerated honors sequence and follows Pre-Algebra 7. Outstanding eighth grade mathematics students will experience a challenging program that includes the use of calculators and/or computers as problem solving tools.

Topics will include: numbers and variables, real numbers, solving equations and problems, solving inequalities and problems, graphs and functions, systems of open sentences, polynomials and factoring, polynomials and rational expressions, irrational numbers and radicals, basic geometry including the Pythagorean theorem, and quadratic equations. Geometry and probability and statistics will be reviewed as part of this course.