Mathematics Curriculum
We have a comprehensive mathematics program that follows the standards developed by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), guidelines of the I.H.M. mathematics committee, and the California Mathematics Framework. At every grade level, major emphasis is placed on problem solving and maintaining basic skills in mathematics. Some of the priority topics assigned to the individual grades by the I.H.M. mathematics committee follow. For detailed curriculum by topic see the California State Board of Education K-12 Content Standards.
Kindergarten
Patterning, place value to 30, basic addition and subtraction.
1st Grade
Place value to 100, counting, concepts of addition and subtraction, basic number facts through 18, adding and subtracting tens, measurement, telling time to 1/2 hour, problem solving strategies in word problems, estimation. Introduction to calculators for rechecking. Collection of data and graphing.
2nd Grade
Place value to 1,000, addition and subtraction, number facts through 18. Students estimate, calculate, and solve problems involving addition and subtraction of two-and three-digit numbers.
3rd Grade
Place value to 10,000, addition and subtraction, concepts of multiplication and division (1 digit multiplier and divisor). Multiplication and division facts. Students understand the place value of whole numbers. Students calculate and solve problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
4th Grade
Place value to 1,000,000. Multiplication and division (2 and 3 digit multiplier and divisor), multiplication tables 1-12. Students understand the place value of whole numbers and decimals to two decimal places and how whole numbers and decimals relate to simple fractions. Students use the concepts of negative numbers. Students understand perimeter and area.
5th Grade
Fractions, short division. Students compute with very large and very small numbers, positive integers, decimals, and fractions and understand the relationship between decimals, fractions, and percents. They understand the relative magnitudes of numbers. Concepts of perimeter and area of rectangle. Students identify, describe, and classify the properties of, and the relationships between, plane and solid geometric figures. Students display, analyze, compare, and interpret different data sets, including data sets of different sizes.
6th Grade
Decimals, percents, comparing fractions, memorization of the most frequently used percent equivalents. Mastery of the four arithmetic operations with whole numbers, positive fractions, positive decimals, and positive and negative integers. Students understand the concepts of mean, median, and mode of data sets. Students conceptually understand and work with ratios and proportions; they compute percentages. Students deepen their understanding of the measurement of plane and solid shape. Mathematical reasoning is developed when students make decisions about how to approach word problems.
7th Grade
Integers, rationals, graphing, percentage problems, geometry, equation solving. Students understand and use factoring of numerators and denominators and properties of exponents. They know the Pythagorean theorem and solve problems in which they compute the length of an unknown side. Students know how to compute the surface area and volume of basic three-dimensional objects and understand how area and volume change with a change in scale. Students make conversions between different units of measurement. They know and use different representations of fractional numbers (fractions, decimals, and percents). Students express quantitative relationships by using algebraic terminology, expressions, equations, inequalities, and graphs. Mathematical reasoning is developed when students use strategies, skills, and concepts in finding solutions for word problems.
8th Grade
Irrationals, graphing in 1 and 2 dimensional grids, geometry, equations and inequalities, evaluating expressions. 8th graders master the concepts begun in 7th grade math. Students know the Pythagorean theorem and deepen their understanding of plane and solid geometric shapes. Students determine a solution is complete and move beyond a particular problem by generalizing to other situations.
Algebra students express quantitative relationships by using algebraic terminology, expressions, equations, inequalities, and graphs; interpret and evaluate expressions involving integer powers and simple roots; graph and interpret linear and some nonlinear functions; solve simple linear equations and inequalities over the rational numbers.