B+ or higher in Geometry (Honors) or A in Geometry and department recommendation.
The Honors Advanced Algebra course is designed to develop “higher-order” thinking. The context students will use to explore this level of thinking is algebra. The learning methods revolve around investigation and exploration of patterns and will not focus solely on the generation of answers. In collaboration with learning partners, students will investigate, collect data, make conjectures, and search for models. The Honors Advanced Algebra course provides a strong foundation in concepts including functions, transformations, polynomials, trigonometry, vectors, logarithms, matrices, sequences and series and probability. The instruction is student-centered with open-end investigations and discovery learning. Critical thinking and problem-solving strategies are greatly emphasized.
Through this course, students will:
- Develop and apply a variety of problem-solving strategies,
- Solve problems and conduct investigations, to deepen their understanding of mathematical concepts,
- Learn and use a variety of electronic learning tools to investigate mathematical ideas and to solve problems,
- Make connections among mathematical concepts and procedures, and relate mathematical ideas to other subject areas,
- Communicate their thinking and understanding verbally, graphically, numerically and symbolically, and
- Reflect on their learning and self-assess their understanding regularly.
Honors Advanced Algebra course provides a number of opportunities for students to demonstrate their understanding by completing quizzes, projects and tests. Assessment for learning and as learning include investigations, peer evaluations, problem-solving and teacher observations. Assessments are ongoing and frequent to check student learning and understanding.