Algebra Math Lab

Curriculum Committee Members

Barbara Range, East High School

Erin Cobb, Central High School
Robyn Gray, West High School
Tessa Myers, West High School
Gregory L. Taylor, Ed.D., Mathematics Curriculum Coach

Nevels Nevels, Ph.D., Mathematics Curriculum Coordinator

Reviewed by Curriculum Advisory Committee on March 1, 2018

Presented to HSD Board of Education on May 15, 2018

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 Curriculum Overview
The HSD Algebra Math Lab curriculum is intended to support the updated Algebra 1 which was
built to be in alignment with updated DESE standards. These mathematics standards, learning
progressions and best practices informed by research have drastically changed over the last
few years. This rewrite is to comply with MSIP V and to help ensure that all HSD students are
receiving a high quality mathematics education.

This course builds on the work from previous math courses. The Algebra Math Lab course is to
formalize and extend the mathematics that students learned in the middle grades to facilitate
their success in a dually enrolled Algebra 1 course. Because this course is built mostly upon the
middle grades standards, this is a cognitive development tool to support a more ambitious
version of Algebra I than has generally been offered. The critical areas, called units, deepen and
extend understanding of linear and exponential relationships by contrasting them with each
other and by applying linear models to data that exhibit a linear trend, where students engage in
methods for analyzing, solving, and using linear and basic quadratic functions.

The purpose of Algebra Math Lab is to extend the base of middle school maths and provides
students with a bridge to not only Algebra 1 success, but also higher mathematics and
pre-college testing. It is a necessary class to higher mathematics and pre-college testing. This
subject provides the necessary mathematical tools for complex reasoning and solving problems
in the sciences, technology, engineering, and many skilled trades and professions.

The curriculum contains unit assessments that are rigorous and outline clear expectations. As
the curriculum is implemented and taught, the assessments will be revised. The assessments
are required; the learning activities are suggested. Teachers are encouraged to select the
learning activities which meet the needs of their students. Some of the learning activities are
very sequential and, when all of them are used, a student should be able to successfully
complete the unit assessment. Other activities provide a menu of suggestions, and the teacher
should select from those offered or design his/her own.

The plan for professional development includes multiple opportunities for training to help ensure
that the MS & HS Mathematics curricula are implemented effectively and with fidelity. Initial
training will be provided during district professional development opportunities to cover content
and pedagogy. Beyond initial training, ongoing professional development to familiarize teachers
with specific curriculum activities and expectations. In addition to professional development
days, ongoing training will be provided during Professional Learning Community (PLCs)
meetings to assist with upcoming skills and nuances in learning objectives. The Mathematics
District Curriculum Coach and District Coordinator will provide teachers training to familiarize
them with curriculum activities and expectations. Finally, ongoing training during PLC meetings
will assist teachers with upcoming skills and with nuances in the learning objectives.

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COURSE TITLE: Algebra Math Lab

GRADE LEVEL: 9 – 12

CONTENT AREA: Mathematics

Course Description:
The Algebra Math Lab course is designed to formalize and extend the mathematics that
students learned in the middle grades to facilitate their success in a dually enrolled Algebra 1
course. Because this course is built mostly upon the middle grades standards, this is a
cognitive development tool to support more ambitious version of Algebra I than has
generally been offered. The critical areas, called units, deepen and extend understanding of
linear and exponential relationships by contrasting them with each other and by applying
linear models to data that exhibit a linear trend, where students engage in methods for
analyzing, solving, and using linear and basic quadratic functions. The Mathematical Practice
Standards apply throughout each course and, together with the content standards, prescribe
that students experience mathematics as a coherent, useful, and logical subject that makes
use of their ability to make sense of problem situations.

Course​ ​Rationale​:
Algebra Math Lab extends the base of middle school maths and provides students with a
bridge to not only Algebra 1 success, but also higher mathematics and pre college testing.
This subject provides the necessary mathematical tools for complex reasoning and solving
problems in the sciences, technology, engineering, and many skilled trades and professions.

Course Scope and Sequence

Unit 1: Unit 2: Unit 3:
Introduction to Algebra Equations, Inequalities, and Functions and Graphs
(Approx. 15 class periods) Absolute Values (Approx. 15 class periods)
(Approx. 12 class periods)

Unit 4: Unit 5​: Unit 6​:

Exponents and Factoring Systems of Equations and Statistical Analysis
(Approx. 15 class periods) Inequalities (Approx. 10 class periods)
(Approx. 14 class periods)

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 Essential Terminology/Vocabulary
Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide, Fraction, Decimal, Integer, Journal, PEMDAS, Orders of
Operations, Term, Like Terms, Properties, Equality, Equivalence, Numerator, Denominator,
Common, Reduce, Compare, Rational Number, Additive Inverse, Opposite Number, Negative,
Positive, Combine, Distributive Property, Inverse Operations, Reverse Order of Operations,
Term, Properties of Equality, Slope, y-intercept, Linear, Steep, Horizontal, Positive, Negative,
Unit Rate, Vertical, Initial Value, Inequality, Regions of Solutions, Solutions, Function
Notation, Domain, Range, Relation, Function, Quadratic Function, Exponential Function,
Linear Function, Absolute Value, Increasing and Decreasing, Translation, Slope-Intercept
Form, Restriction, Vertex, Reflection, Symmetry, Polynomial, Factors, Roots, Distribution,
Zeros, Trinomial, GCF, Greatest Common Factor, Exponential Rules, Base, Exponent,
Expression, Term, Increase, Decrease, Systems of Equations, Consistent, Inconsistent,
Dependent, Independent, Graphing, Coordinate Planes, Solving for a Variable, Substitution,
Elimination, Multiplication, Scale Factor, Like Terms, Methods, Analyze, Summarize,
Incorporate, Systems of Inequalities, Graphing, Regions, Overlapping, Likelihood, Median,
Mean, Measures of Central Tendency, Mode, Probability, Range, Randomness, Variance.

Unit Objectives:
Unit 1: ​Introduction to Algebra
● Use journaling as a tool to help integrate the standards of mathematical practices
into strategies for problem solving.
● Reason about and solve one-variable equations and inequalities
● Apply and extend previous understandings of numbers to add and subtract rational
numbers.
● Understand solving equations as a process, and solve equations and inequalities in
one variable.

Unit 2: ​Equations, Inequalities, and Absolute Values

● Solve problems using numerical and algebraic expressions and equations.
● Understand the connections between proportional relationships, lines and linear
equations​.
● Create equations that describe linear, quadratic, and exponential relationships.

Unit 3: ​Functions and Graphs

● Understand the concept of a function and use function notation
● Interpret Linear, quadratic and exponential functions in terms of the context.
● Analyze linear, quadratic and exponential functions using different representations

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Unit 4: ​Exponents and Factoring
● Perform operations on polynomials
● Extend and use properties of rational exponents
● Use units to solve problem

Unit 5​: Systems of Equations and Inequalities

● Graphing Systems of Linear Equations

● Solving Systems of Linear Equations Algebraically
● Applying Systems of Linear Equations
● Solve Systems of Inequalities
Unit 6​: Statistical Analysis
● Summarize, Represent and Interpret Data.

Proposed Course Materials and Resources:

Glencoe Algebra 1
McGraw-Hill Education
Copyright © 2014