B+ or higher in Geometry (Honors) or A in Geometry.
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.
“Succeeding in Honors Advanced Algebra requires a lot of dedication and hard work, so be true to yourself and take this class only if you are passionate about math. With that said, the challenging nature of this class makes it so rewarding. Make sure to complete all the homework and actively reach out for help outside of class. A positive attitude toward learning and problem-solving will take you very far!”
- Kristy Luk (Class of 2025)
"Honors Advanced Algebra was one of my favorite classes! This course is designed to challenge and develop not only your mathematical knowledge but also your problem-solving skills. I especially loved the projects that we had as the summatives in Honors Advanced Algebra, although they required me to stay up late for some days! I found that Honors Advanced Algebra helped me to approach math in a different creative lens. With that said, to succeed in Honors Advanced Algebra, you have to have a lot of self-motivation. My biggest tip to do well in Honors Advanced Algebra is to not hesitate to go to office hours and to solve a wide array of difficult problems to prepare for the summatives. Good luck!"
- Ariane Lee, Class of 2025
“Honors Advanced Algebra is one of my favorite classes this year. The course will definitely challenge you, but it will teach you to think at a deeper level, and you'll also learn a lot about problem-solving. Overall, I really enjoy the way the courses and units are designed, as we sometimes have written exams or projects for summative. However, Honors Advanced Algebra can also be quite difficult at times, so I would only recommend taking this course if you truly love math and want to push yourself. Overall, I've really enjoyed Honors Advanced Algebra and I think it's a great course to take.”
- Vivian Kahm (Class of 2025)
“Honors Advanced Algebra requires a lot of critical thinking but that is its charm and to succeed in this class I recommend you do all the homework that is given to practice your critical thinking skills.”
- Ethan Jin (Class of 2025)