Math

The Willows math program is designed to empower students as mathematicians. First and foremost, the program's goal is to foster a strong number sense in students. Using a variety of tools, students explore concepts, make discoveries and solve problems. Each level of the math program focuses on the development of skills and their everyday applications. Students develop the ability to explain their understanding of mathematical concepts and their problem-solving strategies. The math program "spirals." Students review and reinforce previously learned concepts as they acquire new skills. Throughout the Lower School math program, students explore concepts and develop their skills in the areas of number, place value, probability and statistics, patterns and functions, measurement, geometry, logic and algebra. Students receive whole group and small group instruction, and work both in groups and independently to solve problems and apply skills. We use Everyday Mathematics, a program developed at th e University of Chicago, as the core of our math curriculum.

Middle School Mathematics

The goals of the Middle School math program are to teach fundamental skills and to explore real-world mathematics. Boys and girls attend separate math classes. This approach to teaching math serves both genders at this age. Research and experience have shown that adolescent boys and girls process mathematical concepts differently. Consequently, both boys and girls benefit from instruction that is tailored to their specific developmental needs.

Middle School math classes range in focus from Arithmetic to Algebra. In order to accommodate varying skills levels, students are grouped by performance and ability rather than by age. Formal assessment, teacher observations, and recommendations ensure proper placement.

Students use textbooks and supplemental materials to develop skill fluency and conceptual understanding. To supplement the textbooks, teachers incorporate problem-solving activities, individual and group projects, and logical puzzles to help students explore how math is applied in the real world. Nightly homework allows students to strengthen skills and reinforce new concepts, and regularly scheduled tests and quizzes assess ongoing skill development and fluency.

Textbooks:
Passport to Mathematics, McDougal Littell, publishers

Advanced Pre Algebra, McDougal Littell, publishers

Algebra, McDougal Littell, publishers