Children’s mathematical thinking develops in stages, and strands of study in math are continually reinforced and refined. Concepts at each grade level are presented in ways appropriate to a child’s current level of thinking. Manipulatives and hands-on exploration are crucial components of the curriculum. By providing an environment that encourages exploration and risk taking, boys are able to deepen their mathematical understanding. Boys learn mathematics by doing mathematics.

 

In first grade, the emphasis is on enabling boys to build on their prior knowledge and relate to math through meaningful explorations during regularly scheduled math periods. Boys receive math instruction in groups, in pairs, and individually. The boys actively engage with a variety of concrete manipulative devices including patterning materials, Cuisenaire rods, blocks, geoboards, and counters to help formalize:

 

• the concept of number

• analytical and spatial thinking

• organization

• spatial, logical, and numerical activities

• relationships among numbers, shapes and patterns

• measurement

• estimation

• mental computation

• skip counting

• hundreds charts

• place value

• addition and subtraction (without regrouping)

• time to the hour and half hour

• fractions

• three dimensional solids

• story problems

• money

• beginning algebra and geometry

The math curriculum is coherent and spiraling. Key mathematical concepts and ideas are developed at every grade level, but they become increasingly more complex as the boys build upon and deepen their understanding. In the Lower School (grades K-5) boys learn basic math skills and operations through formal lessons as well as through individual investigation. They are required to learn the basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts because quick recall of these makes all arithmetic computation more efficient. Basic operations with whole numbers and fractions are introduced and reinforced at each grade level.

 

Using a math text designed for fourth grade, third graders expand their ability to:

• solve addition and subtraction problems with as many as four regroupings

• read and write whole numbers through the hundred millions place and beyond

• round numbers and estimate through thousands

• solve multiplication and division problems

• memorize basic addition, subtraction and multiplication facts

• solve problems involving elapsed time

• create and interpret tables and graphs

• identify and write fractions

• utilize a variety of problem-solving strategies

• recognize and work with a variety of geometric shapes and solids
• recognize and utilize units of time and money

The math curriculum is coherent and spiraling. Key mathematical concepts and ideas are developed at every grade level, but they become increasingly more complex as the boys build upon and deepen their understanding.

In the Lower School (grades K-5) boys learn basic math skills and operations through formal lessons as well as through individual investigation. They are required to learn the basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts because quick recall of these makes all arithmetic computation more efficient, and makes concepts easier to grasp through the rapid availability of specific examples. Basic operations with whole numbers, fractions and decimals are introduced and reinforced at each grade level. Fourth Grade boys use a fifth grade math text.

 

Through a formally taught math curriculum, Fourth Graders:

• master long division and memorize the basic division facts

• collect data and create bar, line and pictographs

• identify place value through billions

• compare and order whole numbers, fractions and decimals

• round whole numbers and decimals

• estimate sums and differences
• add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers, fractions and decimals

• use mean, median and mode to compare sets of data

• name and recognize polygons, lines and angles

• extend their understanding of fractions including identifying equivalent fractions and lowest common denominator

• reduce fractions to their simplest forms

• add, subtract and multiply fractions with unlike denominators

• calculate area and perimeter of polygons and irregular shapes

In the Lower School (grades K-5) boys learn basic math skills and operations through formal lessons as well as through individual investigation. They are required to learn the basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts because quick recall of these makes all arithmetic computation more efficient, and makes concepts easier to grasp through the rapid availability of specific examples. Basic operations with whole numbers, fractions and decimals are introduced and reinforced at each grade level. Math in fifth grade is departmentalized and meets five times per week for either 40 or 60 minute blocks.

 

Boys use a sixth grade math textbook as the basis of the program in which they:

• estimate and solve equations with a variable for whole numbers, fractions and decimals

• describe, extend and make generalizations about numerical and geometric patterns,

• represent and analyze patterns and functions using words, graphs and tables

• express mathematical relationships using equations and variables

• solve and graph functions on coordinate planes

• represent data using tables and graphs

• calculate mean, median and mode

• apply order of operations

• understand exponential notation

• compute fluently with multi-digit whole numbers

• add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions and decimals

• convert fractions and decimals

• find least common multiple and greatest common factor using prime factorization

• add, subtract, multiply and divide integers

• understand and apply formulas for area and perimeter of rectangles, triangles and parallelograms

• calculate area and circumference of circles

• calculate the volume of three dimensional figures

• classify polygons and quadrilaterals according to angles and sides

• classify lines and angles

• measure angles

• determine complimentary and supplementary angles

• classify triangles

• understand congruency and symmetry

• choose appropriate operations to solve problems

• validate and explain solutions to problems.