MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

Mr. Denis Smith '67 - chairperson

The Mathematics Department 's goals are:

• To suitably prepare each student for college level mathematics.
• To furnish each student with the mathematical skills and critical thinking skills necessary for studies in other disciplines. To foster the study habits and values required for proper personal development of the individual as a student. To provide each student with a mathematics curriculum that is challenging but within which the student will achieve success.
  

THE MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT'S OBJECTIVES INCLUDE:

• Problem solving
• Applying mathematics to everyday life situations
• Alertness to the reasonableness of results
• Estimation and approximation
• Appropriate computational skills
• Geometric skills
• Measurement
• Algebraic skills
• Reading, interpretation and constructing tables, charts, and graphs
• Using mathematics to predict
• Statistical interpretation
• Fundamental properties of probability
• Appropriate and adept usage of calculators to facilitate problem-solving

THE MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT PEDAGOGY:

The Mathematics Department’s pedagogy is incremental and integrated. Each course will include subject matter encompassing elements of Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Discrete Mathematics and Calculus. We introduce new material gradually and review previously presented material extensively.

MATHEMATICS PROGRAM OF STUDIES:

Students successfully complete four years of mathematics. We offer three programs of study: Honors, Accelerated, College Prep and two A.P. Calculus courses.

MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT POLICY REGARDING STUDENT PLACEMENT:

All placements for incoming freshman in each of the programs are determined by their previous mathematics grades, aptitude and achievement. Initial placement of freshman may include the results from the Algebra I placement test offered in the spring. Student placement within a program is evaluated after each marking period.

MATHEMATICS CENTER:

An integral element of our program of studies at Xaverian is our Mathematics Center. Students are provided with one or two unstructured period a day. This time is intended to give students an opportunity to receive one-on-one instruction in mathematics with a member of the mathematics faculty, as well as peer tutoring and group learning activities. We as a department expect students to treat homework assignments as daily assessments of their progress. Due to the constant review built into homework assignments we expect students to require some individual assistance. This is the purpose of the Mathematics Center.

MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENTS HOMEWORK POLICY:

Homework assignments are the key to this pedagogy. We expect the quality of an assignment to be a correct reflection of the student's best effort and ability. Each assignment is designed to provide the student with a continuous assessment of their mastery of the subject matter. As such, the student can determine on a daily basis those concepts with which he requires additional attention. When such difficulty arises we expect the student to seek assistance in the Center. Teachers are expected to assess the thoroughness of each student's homework on a daily basis. The quality of a student's daily work is the responsibility of the student. Students are provided with the answers to fifty-percent of their assigned work. Thus, the student should be able to evaluate his own advancement. Teachers are expected to include in their evaluation of homework some method of checking the accuracy of the students' results.