our sixth grade program
Math
Our mathematics program is built on the interaction of a mastery of basic skills and a strong conceptual understanding of applications through problem solving. We integrate mathematics into other subject areas and incorporate the Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics as set forth by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). Each lesson is a problem-solving experience and deals with important mathematical concepts that will help students develop and extend their mathematical thinking. Students are encouraged to collaborate with classmates and teachers and to describe their thought process in writing.
In Sixth Grade mathematics, students further their understanding of basic mathematics while honing their arithmetic skills. The course emphasizes critical thinking skills, the use of manipulative in concept development and problem solving skills. It further attempts to stress the development of quantitative thinking and the understanding of quantitative relationships. The main objective is to provide math instruction that is functional and prepares students with practical math application. Throughout mathematics in Sixth Grade, students build a foundation of understandings in number, operation, and quantitative reasoning; patterns, relationships, and algebraic thinking; geometry and spatial reasoning; measurement; and statistics.
The Sixth Grade Math Program’s focal points include using ratios to describe proportional relationships involving number, geometry, measurement, as well as adding and subtracting fractions and decimals. Students compare and order fractions and decimals, developing ideas related to congruence and symmetry. They also use concepts, algorithms and properties of rational numbers to explore mathematical relationships and to describe increasingly complex situations. Students use algebraic thinking to describe how a change in one quantity in a relationship results in a change in the other, and they connect verbal, numeric, graphic and symbolic representations of relationships. They use patterns to describe relationships (through the use of table building), compare and order decimals and fractions to the 1000th place, generate equivalent fractions and use equivalent fractions in problem-solving situations using a variety of methods. They also use geometric properties and relationships, as well as spatial reasoning, to model and analyze situations and to solve problems. In addition, students collect, organize and display data and use information from graphs to answer questions, make summary statements and make informal predictions based on their experiences. Problem solving, language and communication, connections within and outside mathematics, and formal and informal reasoning are a part of all content areas in mathematics. Throughout the school year, students use these processes, together with technology and other mathematical tools such as manipulative materials, to develop conceptual understanding and solve problems.
Sixth Grade Math skills include:
- Computing
- Estimating
- Comparing
- Ordering
- Rounding
- Studying patterns in data and representing data with graphs
- Representing real-world problems with algebraic expressions
- Problem-solving
- Reasoning
- Communicating mathematically