In the 6th grade, two primary curricula are integrated: The Carnegie Learning middle school text and The Arbor Algebra Series (AAS). Hyla braids these two curricula together as an invitation to our students to develop a tenacious approach to problem solving and fluency in mathematical argumentation. The Carnegie Learning text is a highly developed curriculum that challenges students in the formulation of problems, building of algorithms and the communication of logical reasoning. Sixth graders explore fractions, statistics, number theory and geometry as students move from concrete skills in arithmetic and basic geometry to the more abstract fundamentals of algebraic thinking.
In AAS, the students work in small self-paced groups through an algebra sequence designed to meet every student at their current level of understanding and then challenge them to grow. This curriculum expects a great deal of student independence, balanced and guided by teacher involvement. The students are divided organically into small groups. Each cohort proceeds through the math curriculum more or less at its own self-governed pace. The teacher’s work in the classroom is to meet with small groups or individuals and talk with them about the material, work problem sets with them, and to generally buoy their understandings. There are very few moments when the teachers are standing up in front of the whiteboard talking to the whole class. The AAS books integrate compelling narrative, inductive reasoning, and deep, imaginative problem solving while satisfying common core standards.
