Understanding mathematics almost always requires extensive experiance solving problems, communicating ideas, and connecting ideas to one another The mathmatical cycle of reasoning can first be considered explicitly by having students go back over how they solved problems before-and thereafter by calling to there attentionwhenever they approachnew problems.In addition to reflecting on personal problem-solving experiance, case studies of how advances in mathematics have been made can be used to bring ou some of the main features of how mathematics works and the kinds of patterns and relationships that have resulted from mathematical investigation.Students may occasionally discover mathematics for themselves,and although such discoveries are unlikely to be novel,a great deal should be made of them to encourage what may turn out to be a talent for mathematics. The mathematics curriculum will provide opportnities for students to have these problem-solving experiances and to also examine explicitly the relationship of mathematics to science and technology. Honors/Advanced courses are for those students students who choose a more rigorous pathway.

Read about the new Math Department Curriculum Guidelines and Grading Practices --

Math Benchmarks Rationale
Math Benchmarks - 2008