Integrated Math at Stuart

Integrated Math is a re-imagined way of teaching mathematics that integrates traditional Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Precalculus, and Statistics topics throughout an organic sequence of courses allowing students to bridge connections between topics in the moment not only through a mathematical lens, but also in the scope of real world applications.  Each year the concepts that students learn build off of one another to help improve retention and provide students the opportunity to dive deeper into the critical math concepts that are foundational to their learning.

Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, Stuart will begin the implementation of Integrated Math with a dual implementation starting with the Class of 2030 (current 6th grade) in their 7th grade year with our Math 1 and Math 1&2 courses and the Class of 2028 (current 8th grade) in their 9th grade year with our Math 3 and Math 3&4 courses. The Class of 2030 (current 6th grade) and all classes to follow will be completing the full sequence of our new Integrated Math Curriculum.

In reviewing the math curriculum at Stuart, it became clear that our goals with adopting the Integrated Math model were to increase the fluidity for students to accelerate and decelerate as needed, focus on skills to allow students to make decisions when solving problems by placing embedded connections throughout each lesson, create a pathway for all students to have the option to achieve a level of Calculus by their senior year, and break the silos of traditional Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and Precalculus sequence.  Each of these goals presented as an obstacle in the traditional math sequence and Integrated Math is capable of solving.

Integrated Math at Stuart will have two pathways: regular and accelerated.  The regular path, which is the equivalent of college preparatory level work at the high school level,  will be a sequence of five courses, Math 1 through 5, beginning in 7th grade, each of which includes a spiral curriculum connecting Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2, Trigonometry, and Precalculus concepts. The accelerated path will be a sequence of four courses, Math 1&2, Math 2&3, Math 3&4, Math 4&5, beginning in 7th grade, working to connect the same courses mentioned in the regular pathway, but doing so at an accelerated pace. 
 

Each year, students will have the flexibility to accelerate or decelerate based on a combined rubric scale including, teacher recommendations, mastered skills, exam scores, and skill improvement levels throughout the year.  

If you have questions regarding your daughter’s placement based on their mastery of the math concepts taught, the student’s parent/guardian should contact Ms. Anna Kachmarski, STEM Curriculum Coordinator.  She can be reached via email at akachmarski@stuartschool.org or by phone at 609-921-2330 extension 4143.

No, students in the Class of 2030 (current 6th grade) and all classes to follow will be completing our new Integrated Math Curriculum.

Students in the Class of 2027 (current 9th grade) and above will continue the traditional math sequence until they graduate from Stuart. The Class of 2029 will take the traditional Algebra 1 Part 2 or Honors Algebra 1 Part 2 in their 8th grade year and will begin the Integrated Math sequence in their 9th grade year at Stuart.

The 5th grade students will continue to follow the curriculum currently set in place with slight modifications to account for better alignment to the Integrated Math model.  

No, Integrated Math teaches the same concepts taught in the traditional math courses.  However, it changes how those concepts are taught by carefully teaching concepts in a more organic way to allow students to make connections. In the current Algebra-Geometry-Algebra 2 model, students are often presented with limited problems that involve concepts that will not only be further discussed later, and require a more complex way to solve the problem while an easier method is saved for later down the line. The research behind the integrated approach is that, in the real world and future careers, problems do not come in a box labeled “algebra” or “geometry.” By using an integrated approach, students will be making the decisions as to what skills to call upon to solve a particular problem, regardless of the content area. Students will use a combination of skills from Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2, Trigonometry, and Precalculus to solve a problem.  

This Integrated Math approach also allows students to build skills needed in other STEM courses that can be integrated at the appropriate time.  Our new sequence for both the regular and accelerated pathways will be aligned with our science curriculum at Stuart to better prepare students for the content they will be faced with in current and future STEM courses.

Students who are transferring to Stuart will be asked to take a placement test to assess what skills the student has mastered.  Based on those mastery skills, the student will be placed in the appropriate Integrated Math course.  Students transferring to Stuart in their 7th and 8th grade year having completed pre-Algebra will be set up for success in Integrated Math.  If needed, a student who needs additional support will be asked to take our summer Math 1&2 course to help them better transition into the Integrated Math sequence. 

Throughout the next year, Stuart’s math faculty will begin to increase their use of technology to allow students to begin to see the connections that are possible and that they will continue to make as we move to Integrated Math.  Desmos will be a primary tool that the mathematics department will use.  It is a learning platform that allows students to engage with math in a visual and inquiry based approach.  Stuart will be shifting to the use of Open Up Mathematics, a website and textbook series for Integrated Math, for the 2024-2025 school year with the transition to Integrated Math, but teachers will slowly start to use resources next year to allow students exposure to this new resource and the way content is presented. 

Our Middle and Upper School math faculty have ongoing professional development in order to prepare for the implementation of Integrated Math in 2024-2025 including a week of curriculum writing this past summer.  This includes a focus on mathematical modeling and technology integration to aid in providing students with multiple means of representation for the math concepts being taught.
 

Colleges desire for  students to complete four years of math.  Each student will have a one sheet description sent to colleges alongside their transcript and Stuart’s school profile outlining the descriptions of the Integrated Math courses at Stuart.

Our Integrated Math sequence has also been thoughtfully designed to align with standardized tests typically taken by students in the 7th through 11th grade including the ERBs, MAP, PSATS, SATs, and ACTs.  

Our Calculus sequence will be renamed with the roll out of our Integrated Math curriculum. What is now AP Calculus AB becomes Calculus 1, AP Calculus BC becomes Calculus 1&2, and Multivariable Calculus becomes Calculus 3 to articulate a more natural progression for the Calculus levels students are exposed to in college.  Each of our Calculus levels will cover the Advanced Placement curriculum within the course.

Students beginning Math 1 in their 7th grade year who follow our regular pathway will reach Calculus 1 by their senior year.  Students beginning Math 1&2 in their 7th grade year who follow our accelerated pathway will reach Calculus 1 or Calculus 1&2 by their junior year and have the flexibility to take Calculus 3 in their senior year or our Statistical Analysis course, which covers the AP Statistics curriculum.  

Throughout the next few months, we will be launching a two-part webinar series to walk you through what Integrated Math is, our scope and sequence, a deep dive into our new math pathways, and an opportunity for you to join me to see Integrated Math in action with a demonstration lesson.  Each session will offer the opportunity for you to ask questions.  The dates and topics are listed below.
October 10th, 2023 at 6PM - Session #1: What is Integrated Math?
October 16th, 2023 at 6PM - Session #2: Deep Dive into New Math Pathways
Additional times will be made available for parents/guardians and students to ask questions throughout the 2023-2024 school year.

Our decision to transition to an integrated math model is a well-informed one, firmly rooted in research and supported by the practices of other leading schools in our field, such as Kent Place School and Morristown Beard School. This shift is based on comprehensive studies that have demonstrated the effectiveness of integrated math programs in promoting deeper conceptual understanding and real-world application of mathematical concepts. By aligning our curriculum with these findings and the approaches taken by reputable institutions, we aim to provide our students with a more holistic and engaging math education that prepares them for success in the ever-evolving world of mathematics and beyond.