2024 – 2025
Math Department
Greg Haley – Ext. 301
Statement of Purpose
The mathematics courses at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School have been designed to allow all students to develop their math skills to their full potential. These courses will enable them to be successful whether they enter a trade or continue to a two or four-year college. The department uses a variety of instructional methods to meet the needs of all learners and to develop an understanding and appreciation of mathematics. The Mathematics curriculum is aligned with the Massachusetts Curriculum Framework for Mathematics – 2017.
Specifically, the curriculum aims to improve students’:
● The high school math curriculum aims to
● enhance students’ critical thinking skills through problem-solving and logical reasoning.
● It aims to provide opportunities for students to explore and apply mathematical concepts in practical scenarios to make learning more engaging and relevant
● The curriculum aims to promote collaboration and communication skills through group work and discussions in math-related activities.
● It seeks to foster a deep understanding of mathematical principles to prepare students for higher education and real-world applications.
Freshman Math
Algebra I – College Prep/Advanced College Prep – 3 Credits
Algebra I is a requirement for all students. Algebra will help prepare students for both college and the workforce by providing them with many different applications in various areas. This course develops the student’s ability to think logically and systematically in addition to assisting the student in technical training. Algebra I courses include the study of properties and operations of the real number system; evaluating rational algebraic expressions; solving and graphing first-degree equations
and inequalities; translating word problems into equations; operations with and factoring of polynomials; and solving simple quadratic equations.
Algebra I – Honors – 3 Credits
Algebra I is a requirement for all students. This course is designed for students who demonstrate a strong aptitude for mathematics and wish to engage in a rigorous study of algebraic concepts. Aligned with the Massachusetts 2017 Mathematics Frameworks, this course emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving, and the application of algebraic principles in various contexts. Algebra will help prepare students for both college and the workforce by providing them with many different applications in various areas. This course develops the student’s ability to think logically and systematically in addition to assisting the student in technical training. Algebra I courses include the study of properties and operations of the real number system; evaluating rational algebraic expressions; solving and graphing first-degree equations and inequalities; translating word
problems into equations; operations with and factoring of polynomials; and solving simple quadratic equations. Students who complete this course and who receive the teacher’s recommendation will continue in the Honors Mathematics Program with placement in Sophomore Honors Geometry.
Math Strategies I – 1 Credit
Math Strategies I is a one-credit course that meets two days per cycle for the full school year. This course is taken concurrently with Algebra I providing explorations into additional algebraic concepts and a spiraled review of major mathematical content.
Sophomore Math
Geometry – College Prep/ Advanced College Prep – 3 Credits
Geometry is a requirement for all students. This course is designed to develop a deductive and analytic approach to geometric concepts. Geometry will help prepare students for both college and the workforce 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 mathematics courses. Geometry courses, emphasizing an abstract, formal approach to the study of geometry, typically includes topics such as properties of plane and solid figures; deductive methods of reasoning and use of logic; geometry as an axiomatic system including the study of postulates, theorems, and formal proofs; concepts of congruence, similarity, parallelism, perpendicularity, and proportion; and rules of angle measurement in triangles.
Geometry – Honors – 3 Credits
Geometry is a requirement for all students. This course is offered to students who have completed Honors Algebra I. Students at this level of mathematics must exhibit strong and consistent mathematical understanding and study skills. The content of this course is aligned with the Massachusetts 2017 Mathematics Frameworks and covers a wide range of topics — including points, lines, planes, properties and uses of congruent triangles, similar polygons, right triangles, circles, areas of plane figures, areas and volumes of solids, coordinate geometry, and transformations. Students who successfully complete this course and who receive the teacher’s recommendation will continue in the Honors Mathematics Program with placement in Junior Honors Algebra II.
Math Strategies II – 1 Credit
Math Strategies II is a continuation of Math Strategies I for all sophomores. Math Strategies II is a one-credit course that meets two days per cycle for the full school year. This course is taken concurrently with Geometry providing explorations into additional geometric concepts and spiral review of major algebraic content.
Math Concepts – 1 Credit
Math Concepts is a trimester course taken in conjunction with Geometry CP as preparation for high-stakes testing and serves as a bridge to Algebra II CP. This course provides a review of major mathematical concepts and topics that may include: calculating basic arithmetic operations with integers, decimals, and fractions, applying computations to measurement and geometry, examining real numbers, exponents, graphing, probability, and data analysis. Accuracy in computation, interpreting word problems, along responding to open-ended and technology-enhanced questions are emphasized throughout the course.
Junior Math
Algebra II – College Prep /Advanced College Prep – 3 Credits
Algebra II is a requirement for all students. Algebra II course topics typically include field properties and theorems; set theory; operations with rational and irrational expressions; factoring of rational expressions; in-depth study of linear equations and inequalities; quadratic equations; solving systems of linear and quadratic equations; graphing of constant, linear, and quadratic equations; properties of higher degree equations; and operations with rational and irrational exponents.
Algebra II – Honors – 3 Credits
Algebra II is a requirement for all students. This course is offered to students who have completed Honors Geometry and have a teacher recommendation. Students at this level of mathematics must exhibit strong and consistent mathematical understanding and study skills. The content of this course is aligned with the Massachusetts 2017 Mathematics Frameworks. After an initial review of the fundamentals of functions and equations from Algebra I, Honors Algebra II students will continue to explore patterns, relations, and functions that involve the in-depth use of graphs and tables to interpret higher-ordered equations, inequalities, and matrices. Students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the relevance of mathematical operations in problem-solving, communication, and reasoning skills.
Senior Math
One of the graduation requirements at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School is that all students take four years of math. Starting with YOG 2027 – all students must take and pass 4 years of Math. An additional Math course can be taken as a general elective. The following courses are senior Math electives.
Advanced Placement Statistics- 3 Credits
This course is recommended for students planning to attend a four-year college. Advanced Placement Statistics will introduce students to the major concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data. This is an Advanced Placement course which follows a set syllabus approved by The College Board. An AP exam is required to be taken at the end of the year. Students enrolled in AP Statistics should expect to complete lessons and assignments during both academic and shop cycles. Following the College Board’s suggested curriculum designed to parallel college-level statistics courses, AP Statistics courses introduce students to the major concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data. Students are exposed to four broad conceptual themes: exploring data, sampling, and experimentation, anticipating patterns, and statistical inference. Permission of the department head is mandatory.
Probability & Statistics – College Prep/Advanced College Prep – 3 Credits
This college prep course is offered to students who have passed Algebra II. This course will introduce students to the major concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data. This course is recommended for students who plan to attend a 2 or 4-year college – particularly those interested in the areas of psychology, sociology, health science, and business-related majors such as Accounting, Finance, Marketing, etc. Probability and Statistics courses introduce the study of likely events and the analysis, interpretation, and presentation of quantitative data. Course topics generally include basic probability and statistics: discrete probability theory, odds and probabilities, probability trees, populations and samples, frequency tables, measures of central tendency, and presentation of data (including graphs). Course topics may also include normal distribution and measures of variability.
Pre-Calculus – Advanced College Prep – 3 Credits
This course is offered to students who have completed three years of Advanced College Prep Math courses and/or have demonstrated superior mathematical skills. This course is recommended for students who are interested in pursuing a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) based major in college. Topics typically include the study of complex numbers; polynomial, logarithmic, exponential, rational, right trigonometric, and circular functions, and their relations, inverses, and graphs; trigonometric identities and equations; solutions of right and oblique triangles; vectors; the polar coordinate system; conic sections; Boolean algebra and symbolic logic; mathematical induction; matrix algebra; sequences and series; and limits and continuity. Teacher recommendation and permission of the department head are mandatory.
Honors Differential Calculus – 3 Credits
This honors course is offered to students who have completed Pre-Calculus or three years of Honors math courses. A strong mathematical background is required. Topics for discussion include functions, limits, infinity and continuity, derivatives, techniques of differentiation, curve sketching, and applications of differentiation. This course is recommended for students who are interested in pursuing a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) based major in college. Teacher recommendation and permission of the department head are mandatory.
Algebra III – College Prep – 3 Credits
Algebra III reviews and extends algebraic concepts for students who have already taken Algebra II. Course topics include (but are not limited to) operations with rational and irrational expressions, factoring of rational expressions, linear equations and inequalities, quadratic equations, solving systems of linear and quadratic equations, properties of higher degree equations, and operations with rational and irrational exponents. The course may introduce topics in discrete math, elementary probability and statistics; matrices and determinants; and sequences and series.