Math Department

Ms. Amy Prior, Director 508-841-8806

An understanding of mathematics is vitally important in our society and, therefore, students are encouraged to take a rigorous course of high school mathematics. Algebra and Geometry provide the foundation for all other mathematics so we cannot overemphasize how important it is for students to work diligently to achieve a sound understanding of these subjects. We have developed a program to meet the diverse needs of the learners at Shrewsbury High School to provide all students with the opportunity to succeed in mathematics.

All of the math courses in our A-level and Honors level programs are college preparatory courses based on the standards set forth by the Massachusetts Frameworks and will ensure students an opportunity to be successful on statewide assessments. We offer the Freshman and Sophomore Seminar electives to support students who need additional review of the material in the foundation courses (Algebra &Geometry I, II, and Advanced Math I). Senior electives include advanced placement courses in Calculus (AB and BC) and Statistics. We also offer an enrichment opportunity in the Math Internship for advanced juniors and seniors to work as teacher assistants in the underclassmen classes. Other electives for seniors include Honor Statistics, Discrete Math I, Discrete Math II, Honors Calculus and Functions and Trigonometry.

The Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks is incorporated into Shrewsbury High School's Mathematics Department curriculum in several ways. Reading, writing and speaking in mathematical terms are important aspects of all courses. Students are taught to read mathematical explanations and are encouraged to communicate in mathematical terms, both orally and in writing, to justify and explain solutions. Problem solving is the central focus and is discussed in real-world context. This involves posing and defining problems, considering different strategies and finding appropriate solutions that make sense. Skills are not taught in isolation, but rather through applications and connections to other curriculum areas, as well as through the integration of mathematical topics. Technology is incorporated into all courses through the use of computers and graphing calculators. Our goal is to empower students to solve problems by thinking and reasoning and consequently to build self confidence in their mathematical abilities.