Mathematics is an essential universal language, necessary as a reasoning tool to solve problems and to make sense of the world. At Zurich International School mathematical thinkers use reasoning and apply skills to solve problems both inside and outside the classroom. 17 Middle School Program of Studies 2020/21 Instructional practices in the mathematics program are student-centered and designed to develop conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and problem-solving skills. Instructional decisions are informed through ongoing formative assessment to ensure that all students grow as effective mathematicians.
Mathematics 7 develops fluency in mathematics, enabling students to work accurately, efficiently and to have flexibility with numbers.
Both standard and extended mathematics classes follow a set of age-appropriate progressions which aim to develop essential mathematical practices (problem solving, modeling, reasoning, and communicating) as well as procedural and conceptual understandings of mathematics. Grade level courses run parallel with the same critical standard areas expected of all students. However, extended courses move at a faster pace and provide more opportunities for students to problem solve beyond the essential skills.
Conceptual understanding is developed in the areas of:
Ratios and Proportional Relationships
- Analyze proportional relationships and use them to solve real-world and mathematical problems
The Number System
- Apply and extend previous understanding of operations with fractions to add, subtract, multiply and divide rational numbers
Expressions and Equations
- Use properties of operations to generate equivalent expressions —
- Solve real-life mathematical problems using numerical and algebraic expressions and equations
Geometry
- Draw, construct and describe geometrical figures and describe the relationship between them
- Solve real-life and mathematical problems involving angle measure, area, surface area and volume
The Mathematical Practices developed in Mathematics 7 are:
- Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them
- Reason abstractly and quantitatively
- Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning
- of others
- Model with mathematics
- Use appropriate tools strategically
- Attend to precision
- Look for and make use of structure
- Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning