Skip To Main Content

Mathematics

Teacher assisting student in math class
Mathematics

Mathematics 

The CREC Magnet Schools Mathematics Department’s goal is to provide instruction that ensures all of our students are receiving equitable, culturally responsive, and rigorous math experiences that will prepare them for future study and employment.  The curriculum focuses on ensuring that CREC students will learn mathematics that focuses on making sense of the concepts they study through a rich experience that values active participation, perseverance, and intellectual engagement. 

The CREC high schools utilize Open Up Resources Math curriculum for Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry with some changes to ensure students have enough time to master the critical grade level content. For Precalculus we offer CCSU Concurrent Enrollment which uses the “Open Stax: Precalculus 2e Textbook.”  Additional math courses are offered at each school and can be found by reviewing each school's Program of Studies. 

For each of the courses, students of all ages will: 

  • Collaborate with peers and investigate real world problems that highlight mathematical concepts and skills. 
  • Communicate and share strategies (formulaic, conceptual, or procedural) during lessons to explain math concepts or solve problems. 
  • Practice current skills at their independent level while teachers work with students individually or in small groups.
  • Extend their own learning by grappling with challenging mathematics during small group instruction with flexible grouping and targeted instruction. 
  • Engage in various content and language routines such as Number Talks, the 5 Practices for Productive Discussions, Which One Doesn’t Belong, among others. 

It is possible to accelerate through the math course sequence.  The first opportunity to do this at some schools is in 8th grade when students can take algebra 1.  The other opportunities for acceleration are outlined in the below image.  Please note that these courses can differ slightly based on school offerings. 

Graphic showing the pathway of math courses in High School

How to Support Your Student at Home:  

  • Avoid having family members say they were “not good at math”  This message will only further reinforce that it is acceptable to not be good at math. 
  • If possible, structure uninterrupted, cell phone free time, to work on math assignments. 
  • If your child asks for help, thank them for reaching out and asking questions. Explain to them that asking questions is the only way to learn new things and it is ok not to know everything. 
  • If you are unsure about the content itself, consider using the following prompt:
    • Tell me about the problem and help me understand what you are thinking about it. What do you think we need to do?
    • Many students already know a lot about the problem they are trying to solve and talking through the problem may help them get to the solution. 
  • Use websites like Khan academy to review videos on a given skill to help you and your child understand the problem or how to solve it. 
  • Reach out to your child's teachers to learn what supports are in place in school and out of school to support growth and learning. Encourage your child to engage in these supports.

Resources for Parents at Home:

For more information, please contact the Supervisor of Mathematics, Scott Kapralos, at skapralos@crec.org.  

 

  • High School