This course aligns with the belief that everyone can do mathematics and that persevering at mathematics will result in understanding and success. In this problem-based math curriculum, you will learn mathematics by doing mathematics. This means that you learn mathematics as a result of solving problems and discussing mathematics. Mathematical ideas are the outcomes of the problem-solving experience rather than the elements that must be taught before problem solving. In each lesson, you will take an active role, both individually and in groups, to explore and learn mathematics, often before having things explicitly explained to you.
Your teacher will play a critical role in facilitating and supporting your learning. Your teacher’s role is to:
1. Ensure you understand the context and what is being asked.
2. Ask questions to advance your thinking in productive ways.
3. Orchestrate productive discussions to support you in sharing your work and your thinking, and to help you understand your classmates’ work.
4. Synthesize the learning with you and your classmates at the end of activities and lessons.
Goal setting, reflection, and sharing your voice is an important part of this course, and there are many opportunities for you to do so. In addition to the partner, small-group, and whole-class discussions that occur each lesson, you’ll have opportunities to reflect on your learning and your experiences in the math class in each day’s cool-down. You’ll also complete a survey at the end of each unit to reflect on your goals, your growth, and the ways that your teacher and the class could best support you.