Contact Information

Office of Mathematics Education
Phone: (313) 873-0225
Fax: (313) 873-8588

Executive Director
Irene Nordé, Ph.D

Secretary
Michele Th-Uot

 

Curriculum by Grade Level

Resources

Mathematics in DPS

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Mathematics is the science of patterns and relationships. It is the language and logic of our technological world. We live in a mathematical world. Whenever we decide on a purchase, choose a cell phone plan, making or giving change, calculating the numbers of days until a holiday or birthday or use a spreadsheet, we rely on mathematical understanding.

The World Wide Web, CD-ROMs and other media disseminate vast quantities of quantitative information. The level of mathematical thinking and problem solving needed in the workplace has increased dramatically. In such a world, those who understand and can do mathematics will have opportunities that others do not.

Detroit Public Schools are committed to keeping all options open to our students. The mission of the Office of Mathematics Education is to empower students mathematically through their ability to explore, make conjectures, reason logically and use a variety of mathematical methods effectively to solve problems. Our goals go beyond just learning the basics. Learning the basics is important; however students who memorize facts or procedures without understanding often are not sure when or how to use what they know. In contrast, conceptual understanding enables our students to deal with novel problems and settings as well as solving problems that they have not encountered.

Goals

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  • Students will acquire mathematical skills, including the ability to perform routine computation and symbolic manipulation.
  • Students will develop an understanding of mathematical concepts and will be able to apply it to new situations.
  • Students will become mathematical problem solvers.
  • Students will learn to value mathematics and the quantitative nature of our world.

Curriculum

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Detroit Public Schools offers a rigorous, high quality and relevant curriculum aligned to Michigan standards. Our students begin their preparation in kindergarten getting ready for college and careers in mathematics. The College and Career Readiness Mathematics standards have been adopted from the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.

Our schools have many opportunities for students to work at their own levels as well as advance to accelerated courses throughout the grades. We take great pride in offering individualized intervention in order to close gaps in students' prior knowledge. Technology is an essential tool for learning and modeling mathematics i.e., calculators, netbooks, SmartBoard™, and other handheld devices. The secondary mathematics course offerings include the following:

  • Pre-Algebra (Grades 6 and 7 only)
  • Algebra 1 (Grades 8 and 9)
  • Geometry
  • Algebra 2
  • Probability and Statistics
  • Advanced Placement Statistics
  • Pre-calculus
  • Calculus
  • Advanced Placement Calculus
  • Discrete Mathematics

High school graduation requirements include the completion of four years of secondary mathematics beginning with Algebra 1.

Curriculum by Grade Level

Student Programs

Chess League

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Students Playing Chess
Students Playing Chess
Students Playing Chess
Students Playing Chess
Students Playing Chess

DPS leagues have consistently brought home trophies from several tournament classifications. Chess is a game of imagination and strategy, one that provides rules, order and opportunities for intellectual growth. Chess teaches a skill that can be applied to other aspects of life. For example, it teaches one to plan carefully in advance, to visualize various situations before making a move, and the importance of patience. How many of us have acted without thinking and then wished we could take back our actions? Well, the game of chess will quickly teach a child to analyze before acting. Studies support the assertion that chess improves a person's organizational and analytical skills. Chess involves an infinite number of calculations, anything from counting the number of attackers and defenders in the event of a simple exchange to calculating lengthy continuations.

Academic Games

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Academic Games™ is a series of games designed to test a student's knowledge in several different subject areas. Students compete in games that cover math, English, social studies, & logic. The primary purpose of Academic Games is to make learning fun for students. All too often it seems, students turn off to math, English, or social studies because the students are bored or not challenged by the material. Academic Games helps to alleviate that problem by challenging students to pursue their own education in these subjects in order to succeed in the competition.

Project SEED

Project SEED instruction combines a non-lecture, questioning method with techniques designed to encourage constant verbal and nonverbal feedback, promote student participation, and improve focus. The Project SEED method makes the class the arbiters of knowledge giving them a sense of ownership of the material.

Parent Corner

Student Center