LTS Middle School Math
The focus of the Middle School math program is to provide students with a solid course of study in computation, problem-solving, pre-algebra, and fundamental algebra. Instructors draw from a wide variety of curricular materials to accomplish this goal, including supplemental practice via student iPads.
This year's middle school math class has a new look with full-length whiteboards on the walls surrounding the classroom. The adaptation of the "360 degree" math "revolution" is getting students out of their seats and allowing them to more easily share and critique their problem solving approaches with one another. This seemingly simple change of getting out of their desks while working and doing so on a larger "canvas" has made a radical shift in the classroom, creating a more active learning environment while encouraging more collaboration amongst the students. Additionally, the teacher can easily give more direct feedback while formatively assessing both individual and collective learning of new concepts. The excitement has been palpable, with student's often singing a twist on a familiar reggae song, "Get Up, Warm Up," when they see the day's lesson begins with 360 degree math: http://www.360degreemath.com/the-what.html
Our aim is that every student graduates from Lake Tahoe School thoroughly prepared for entry into a secondary math curriculum and, at minimum, having completed the equivalent of a first year high school Algebra class. This provides for enrollment in high school math at a level that will ensure access to higher-level science classes and a thorough mathematical background prior to sitting college entrance exams such as the SAT.
This year's middle school math class has a new look with full-length whiteboards on the walls surrounding the classroom. The adaptation of the "360 degree" math "revolution" is getting students out of their seats and allowing them to more easily share and critique their problem solving approaches with one another. This seemingly simple change of getting out of their desks while working and doing so on a larger "canvas" has made a radical shift in the classroom, creating a more active learning environment while encouraging more collaboration amongst the students. Additionally, the teacher can easily give more direct feedback while formatively assessing both individual and collective learning of new concepts. The excitement has been palpable, with student's often singing a twist on a familiar reggae song, "Get Up, Warm Up," when they see the day's lesson begins with 360 degree math: http://www.360degreemath.com/the-what.html
Our aim is that every student graduates from Lake Tahoe School thoroughly prepared for entry into a secondary math curriculum and, at minimum, having completed the equivalent of a first year high school Algebra class. This provides for enrollment in high school math at a level that will ensure access to higher-level science classes and a thorough mathematical background prior to sitting college entrance exams such as the SAT.