Math
Greg Haley
Department Head
Extension: 301
Room: B327
E-mail: greg.haley@gnbvt.edu
Janet Stanton
Academic Secretary
Extension: 202
Room: B210
E-mail: janet.stanton@gnbvt.edu
Curriculum
The math curriculum at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School develops mathematical and thinking skills. These skills are essential in developing analytical, abstract, and concrete thinking proficiency. Students are offered basic and advanced math courses for vocational and post-secondary school preparation.
The freshman and sophomore math curriculum includes Algebra and Geometry courses that are designed to implement the Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework and enhance student performance on the MCAS test.
The math curriculum for juniors and seniors has been developed to provide students with two routes to success. For those who have passed the MCAS math test as sophomores, advanced math courses are provided to prepare students for post-secondary education. For those needing to retake the MCAS test, Integrated Math courses have been developed to help students review the math standards necessary for success on the exam.
Mathematics Standards Number Sense and Operations Strand:
- Students will understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems.
- Students will understand meanings of operations and how they relate to one another.
- Students will compute fluently and make reasonable estimates.
Patterns, Relations and Algebra Strand:
- Students will understand patterns, relations, and functions.
- Students will represent and analyze mathematical situations and structures using algebraic symbols.
- Students will use mathematical models to represent and understand quantitative relationships.
- Students will analyze changes in various contexts.
Geometry Strand:
Students will analyze characteristics and properties of two- and three-dimensional geometric shapes and develop mathematical arguments about geometric relationships.
- Students will specify locations and describe spatial relationships using coordinate geometry and other representational systems
- Students will apply transformations and use symmetry to analyze mathematics situations.
- Students will use visualization, spatial reasoning, and geometric modeling to solve problems.
Measurement Strand:
Students will maintain portfolios that contain a year-to-year record of their best writing, reading, and other achievements. These portfolios are student-directed and include an essay stating the students educational and career goals. All work in portfolios will be typed.
- Students will understand measurable attributes of objects and the units, systems, and processes of measurement.
- Students will apply appropriate techniques, tools, and formulas to determine measurements.
Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability Strand:
- Students will formulate questions that can be addressed with data and collect, organize, and display relevant data to answer them.
- Students will select and use appropriate statistical methods to analyze data.
- Students will develop and evaluate inferences and predictions that are based on data.
- Students will understand and apply basic concepts of probability.
Math Courses
Algebra I CP:
Algebra is a traditional course designed to prepare students who demonstrate strong math skills on the skills assessment test for technical employment and post-secondary education. This course develops the student’s ability to think in a logical and systematic way in addition to assisting the student in technical training. All Algebra I classes are college prep.
Honors Algebra I:
This course is offered to students who demonstrate advanced mathematical skills on the mathematics skills assessment test. It is designed to cover algebraic topics more in depth and at a more rapid pace.
Foundations of Geometry:
This course is designed for students who are planning to continue onto a four year college and who have passed Foundations of Algebra I. It progresses at a slower pace and emphasizes the same topics as Geometry CP. It will fill the requirements of a two year college.
Geometry CP:
This course is designed to develop a deductive and analytical approach to geometric concepts. Geometry will help prepare students for both college and the work force by providing them with many different applications in various areas. Students must pass Algebra I to take this course. A deep foundation of geometric principles is presented, which allows students to pursue more advanced courses in mathematics.
Honors Geometry:
Honors Geometry is recommended for those students who successfully completed Honors Algebra I during their freshman year or have the permission of the department head. This course will cover topics of Geometry in a faster paced and in-depth manner.
Geometry is a prerequisite for Algebra II. This course is a requirement for all students whether they are planning to enter the work force or continue on to a two or four year college.
Foundations of Algebra II:
This course is recommended for students who have passed Foundations of Algebra I and Foundations of Geometry. This course will fulfill the graduation requirement of Algebra II. It will fulfill the requirements of a 2 year college, but not the requirements of a four year college.
Algebra II CP:
All students are required to take Algebra II. The successful completion of Algebra I is a prerequisite for Algebra II. This course is a requirement for all students whether they are planning to enter the work force or continue on to a two or four year college.
One of the graduation requirements at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School is that all students take four years of math. The following courses are senior electives.
High School Finance I:
High School Finance is designed for students who are planning to start their own business or work in their technical areas. This course concentrates on practical math topics such as checking and savings account, loan applications and percentage rates, and insurance and mortgage information, and credit cards.
Trigonometry:
This course is offered to those students who have passed all college prep math courses and successfully passed Algebra II with a grade of 84 or better. It is recommended for those who are interested in attending college plan to enter fields such as: architecture, electronics, electrical, engineering, data processing, medical, and drafting. Topics include: trigonometric functions, solving right angles, radian measure, trigonometric identities, and graphing trigonometric functions.
Statistics:
This course will introduce the students to the major concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data. This course is recommended for students who plan to major in college in the areas of psychology, sociology, health science and business.
Pre-Calculus:
This course is offered to students who have taken all college prep math courses and demonstrated that they have superior mathematical skills and are preparing for college. Permission of the departments head is mandatory.
Calculus:
This course is offered to students who have successfully completed Pre-Calculus and received permission of the department head. A strong mathematical background is required. Topics for discussion include functions, the derivative, techniques of differentiation; curve sketching, exponential and logarithmic functions, the integral and techniques of integration.