Our Curriculum

Grades


Kindergarten

The one-hour and 15-minute classes are fast-paced with many different activities for the kindergarten child. Students develop their 2-D and 3-D spatial sense with activities at the beginning of each class, followed by developing an understanding of how numbers work together in patterns. A hands-on practical approach to numeracy and geometry, combined with some memory work, provides for the foundation for problem-solving. The problem-solving is focused on language, patterning, and reasoning to form the foundation to the logical thinking needed for later grades.

Grade 1

The Grade 1 curriculum lays the early-years foundation in mathematics with weekly 1.5-hour fast-paced classes. By the end of Grade 1, students gain a solid conceptual understanding in addition, multiplication, division, as well as integers. Through drills, they develop automaticity and fluency with their basic number facts, and they use this within the numeracy unit to build their skills with numbers. Grade one students learn how to move numbers around,work with numbers and their operations, to represent fractions, add fractions, and find equivalent fractions with and without manipulatives.

Students at this grade do a research project on famous mathematicians and their mathematical ideas such as Pascal triangle, Venn diagrams and others. Students also learn skip counting, the Cartesian coordinate system, data analysis, exponents, and more. Grade 1 students write tests throughout the year, as well as the Spirit of Math International Contest during class time, with an exam at the end of the year. The overall curriculum engages our Grade 1 students and instills in them a strong interest in mathematics.

Grade 2

The Grade 2 curriculum introduces many mathematical concepts, and the weekly 1.5-hour class is packed with new learning each week. By the end of Grade 2, students can add, multiply, divide, as well as work with integers up to 2-digit by 1-digit calculations. Through drills, students work cooperatively to reach a class goal. They continue to master regrouping numbers to multiples of tens and hundreds, are introduced to primes, composites, special numbers, and they learn to list factors. Later in the year, the grade 2 students locate rationals on a number line, add and subtract positive and negative rationals, and gain a deep understanding of how numbers relate to each other.

In some Grade 2 classes that test pilot curriculum, the studentsaddition our grade 2 students learn to convert numbers from base 10 to other bases with a focus on learning place value. Grade 2 students write tests throughout the year, as well as the Spirit of Math International Contest during class time, with an exam at the end of the year. The overall curriculum is fast-paced and engaging to our Grade 2 students.

Grade 3

The Grade 3 curriculum continues to lay the foundation for mathematical thinking in the early years during the weekly 1.5-hour classes. In this grade, students deepen their understanding of the Relocation Property and begin to solve more complex problems in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Additionally, students learn important topics such as averages and fractions. For example, students learn to simplify fractions with prime factors, compare fractions with common denominators, understand fractions as division statements, and solve problems with zeros in fractions.

In this grade, students participate in at least two math contests that challenge them to think critically and to problem-solve with resilience. Grade 3 students write tests throughout the year, as well as the Spirit of Math International Contest during class time, with an exam at the end of the year. The overall challenging curriculum inspires confidence in our Grade 3 students.

Grade 4

The Grade 4 curriculum prepares students for middle school and the weekly 1.5-hour class is busy with new learning. In this grade, students solve increasingly complex problems using the Relocation Property, they review and consolidate their learning on prime and composite numbers, and they are introduced to new topics such as probability. In Geometry, they are introduced to concepts such as point, line, ray, line segment, and more. They learn to measure angles and classify different polygons based on their properties. In this grade, they have more independent assignments, research projects, and presentations that build and strengthen their time management, social, and communication skills. Drills, problem-solving, and cooperative group work continue to be key components with a focus on developing students’ problem-solving skills. Like the Grade 3s, they participate in at least two math contests. Grade 4 students write tests throughout the year, as well as the Spirit of Math International Contest during class time, with an exam at the end of the year. The overall curriculum is rewarding for high-performing Grade 4 students.

Grade 5

The Grade 5 curriculum lays a critical foundation in mathematics. The weekly 1.5-hour classes are based on developing numeracy skills that set a strong framework impacting students’ mathematics far into high school.  In this grade, the curriculum is no longer spiral, rather developmental with one topic thoroughly explored and consolidated before moving onto the next topic. The topics include the Relocation Property, signed numbers, order of operations, factors, multiples, primes, number sets, and more within the problem-solving units.  With the intense focus on numeracy, our grade 5 students gain a very deep understanding on how to work with numbers. Additionally, drills, cooperative group work, and problem solving (such as Problem of the Day) continue to be key components in the Grade 5 curriculum.

Unlike previous grades, Grade 5 students are expected to write their own class notes and are more accountable for their independent learning. All grade 5 students have tests and write a final examination. The overall curriculum strengthens students in their mathematics as well as their learning skills.

Grade 6

The Grade 6 curriculum builds on the learning from the grade 5 programis filled with new learning within the weekly 1.5-hour fast-paced classes. In addition to drills and cooperative group work, students focus their learning on core topics such as rationals, rates, ratios, percent, geometry proofs, and more within the problem solving units. Additionally, students are given the opportunity to solve hundreds of various types of challenging, contest-level math problems through independent assignments such as the Grade 6 Problem Set, Brain Bogglers I and II, as well as Mind Benders. The overall Grade 6 curriculum is challenging and engaging to our Grade 6 students.

Grade 7

The Grade 7 curriculum has a focus on problem solving through 12 topics such aspatterns in counting shapes, Pascal’s Triangle, number bases, combinations, and measurement, among others. Students also work on some of the most challenging types of questions found among contest-level math problems in their independent assignments known as Challengers. In this grade, we foster students’ individual accountability as well as their teamwork accountability. In class, students are empowered to ask questions, present solutions, and take the risks that are necessary for higher learning. Through the intense problem solving, they learn to ask the right questions, pay attention to details, show perseverance, and to concentrate on detailed workmore. All grade 7 students write an examination at the end of the year. The overall curriculum is engaging to our Grade 7 students and the weekly 1.5-hour classes are fast-paced.

Grade 8

The Grade 8 curriculum covers radicals, exponents, linear relations, solving and graphing equations and inequalities, and more. These topics are covered in depth with many of the ideas usually not seen again until later in high school for most students. The extension to deeper thinking within each topic allows students to explore ideas in mathematics not often discussed in a regular classroom. In addition to the core topics, independent assignments (known as Jet Sets) have challenging, contest-level math problems. Cooperative group work, like all other grades, is a key component in the curriculum for this grade. All grade 8 students write a final examination at the end of the school year. The overall Grade 8 curriculum is designed for high performing students and the weekly 1.5-hour classes are fast-paced.

Grade 9

The Grade 9 class is the beginning of the rigorous 3-year senior curriculum in Spirit of Math. The weekly 2-hour classes are designed for high performing students and prepares them for post-secondary success. Students review and consolidate their learning on geometry, algebra, and solving systems of equations from previous grades.

Then, students focus their learning on factoring polynomials, absolute values, graphing techniques, and more. There are also independent assignments such as Cerebral Contortions and Big 100 which prepare students for challenging, contest-level math problems. The overall curriculum lays a strong and solid foundation for post-secondary success. Cooperative group work and problem-solving continue to be key components in the Grade 9 curriculum.

Grade 10

The Grade 10 curriculum continues to prepare students in their senior grades for post- secondary success. In this grade, students gain a deep understanding and appreciation on core topics such as trigonometry, logarithms, polar coordinates, conics, and more. Through drills, students gain automaticity and fluency in concepts such as finding radian/degree equivalents. The overall curriculum effectively prepares students for post- secondary education with a deep understanding in mathematics and learning skills such as proper formatting for complex solutions and proofs, test writing, time management, class presentations and more. Cooperative group work and problem solving continue to be key components in the Grade 10 curriculum. Overall, the weekly 2-hour class is packed with rigorous learning.

Grade 11

Grade 11 is the final and graduating year of Spirit of Math. The difficulty level is equivalent to a first or second-year university math course. In Grade 11, students learn topics in calculus involving limits, derivatives, implicit and partial differentiation, integrals, and more. Students also work on independent assignments covering functions, logarithms, algebraic equations, geometry, sequences, and more. The overall curriculum equips students with a deep understanding in mathematics as well as strong independent thinking and time management skills. Cooperative group work and problem-solving continue to be key components in the Grade 11 curriculum. Overall, the weekly 2-hour class is filled with new, rewarding learning for high-performing students.