Math Curriculum

8 years ago

Begining with the 2014-2015 school year, Murphysboro High School will begin to transition to an Integrated Math Curriculum.  The first new course that will be offered will be the Math 1 course.  This course will replace Algebra 1 as the course that most Freshman will take.  This course will cover many of the same topics which were seen in Algebra 1 (Systems of Equations, Linear and Exponential Functions, and Sequences).  It will also include some topics which were traditionally found in Geometry courses (Congruence, Constructions and Proofs).  The advantage of combining these topics into one course is that it allows lessons to be taught in a way that shows the connection between the algebra and geometry topics for an overall better understading by the student.

 

Integrated mathematics is not new mathematics but old mathematics taught and assessed in new ways.   The lesson structure in the integrated mathematics program differs from that used in a traditional program. An integrated mathematics lesson typically begins with a context-based problem, and concepts emerge as students attempt to solve the problem. In contrast, a traditional mathematics lesson typically begins with the presentation of a mathematical concept and ends with students' attempting to apply the concepts. In the integrated mathematics lesson, students immediately experience the usefulness of the mathematics.  Another potential difference between integrated and traditional mathematics is that students who are participating in an integrated program usually analyze data and make and test conjectures about mathematical models. These activities are vastly different from simply applying a model given, as in most traditional programs.

 

The 2015-2016 school year will be the first year that the Math 2 course will be offered.  Math 3 will be added during the 2016-2017 school year.

 

Students enrolled in the traditional Algebra 1 - Geometry - Algebra 2 course sequence (Class of 2017 and earlier) will continue with the couse sequence they are enrolled in.  Students in the Class of 2018 and later will follow the Integrated Math Curriculum.