Dear Grade 6 Families,
As you may be aware, the Middle School has spent the past two years enriching and strengthening its math program. We now have two math specialists who work in our new Math Center to both support and challenge our students. National math contests (such as the AMC and Math League) and elective courses in problem solving and are also a part of our offerings. Finally, we are heading into our third year of the Math 7 Accelerated course.
Most of our rising seventh grade students enroll in a more classical two year algebra program, which prepares students for ninth grade geometry and eventually twelfth grade calculus. Math 7 Accelerated moves at twice the normal pace to cover the full scope of algebra in a single year, so that students may take geometry in eighth grade and ultimately multivariable calculus as seniors. Eager math students who may not yet be ready to accelerate in seventh grade may instead wait until ninth grade when Friends offers another opportunity for acceleration.
As your children get ready for seventh grade, you may ask, “For which students is this accelerated course appropriate?” Students who learn quickly, find math fun, and would benefit from a faster pace will find the course appealing. They should derive enjoyment from the process of problem solving simply for the sake of it. The math department and the Head of the Middle School will identify candidates during the spring based on a number of criteria. Students will be invited based on their appetite for math as well as their scores on in-class assessments, standardized tests, and challenge problems. Students who can expect to succeed in Math 7A can absorb new concepts with speed and ease, and are capable of independently managing a fast-paced, more demanding academic class in the context of their overall course load.
If you feel that your child might be interested in participating in this program, you may wish to let your child’s homeroom or math teacher know before the end of April, but it is certainly not a requirement. Your child may also enjoy math, but not wish to take the class at a faster pace. That is perfectly fine. The department and Head of Middle School will complete course placements by mid June and you will be notified at the end of the school year when you receive your child’s final report.
We will continue examining the math program at Friends Seminary. In line with the School’s emerging
strategic plan, we will be looking at our curriculum and our frameworks for teaching math with the goal of providing the best math experience possible for students with a wide variety of learning styles. We will also be looking for ways to provide additional opportunities for students seeking to engage further with math, including clubs, competitions, and Math Center programs. A Friends math education should not just provide math proficiency, but we hope it will also inspire, empower, and excite students to use math in the world around them.
Sincerely,
