Math Literacy for Critical Thinkers

Description

Math literacy isn’t just about numbers; it’s a gateway to empowerment. In this course, students will harness the power of mathematical communication to foster critical thinking. Prepare to challenge your perceptions and elevate your mathematical knowledge. Together, we’ll explore fundamental math concepts, but this course is more than equations; it’s a platform for peer-driven learning. Drawing inspiration from the grassroots civil rights movement, we’ll create a tight-knit community where students teach and empower one another. Students will discover the synergy between math, critical thinking, and advocacy while sharpening their skills and building confidence. Join us in “Math Literacy for Critical Thinkers” and embark on a journey of intellectual growth and transformation.

State Standards

7.NS.A.1
Apply and extend previous understandings of addition and subtraction to add and subtract integers and other rational numbers; represent addition and subtraction on a horizontal or vertical number line diagram.

7.NS.A.2
Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication and division and of fractions to multiply and divide integers and other rational numbers.

7.NS.A.1.b
Understand p + q as the number located a distance |q| from p, in the positive or negative direction depending on whether q is positive or negative. Show that a number and its opposite have a sum of 0 (are additive inverses). Interpret sums of rational numbers by describing real-world contexts.

7.NS.A.1.c
Understand subtraction of rational numbers as adding the additive inverse, p – q = p + (–q). Show that the distance between two rational numbers on the number line is the absolute value of their difference, and apply this principle in real-world contexts.

7.NS.A.3
Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving the four operations with integers and other rational numbers.

7.EE.A.1
Apply properties of operations to add, subtract, factor, and expand linear expressions with rational coefficients. For example, 4x + 2 = 2(2x +1) and -3(x – 5/3) = -3x + 5.

7.EE.B.3
Solve multi-step real-life and mathematical problems posed with positive and negative rational numbers in any form (whole numbers, fractions, and decimals), using tools strategically. Apply properties of operations to calculate with numbers in any form; convert between forms as appropriate; and assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies.
For example: If a woman making $25 an hour gets a 10% raise, she will make an additional 1/10 of her salary an hour, or $2.50, for a new salary of $27.50. If you want to place a towel bar 9 3/4 inches long in the center of a door that is 27 1/2 inches wide, you will need to place the bar about 9 inches from each edge; this estimate can be used as a check on the exact computation.

8.EE.A.1
Know and apply the properties of integer exponents to generate equivalent numerical expressions. For example, 3² x 3-5 = 3-3 = 1/33 = 1/27.

AI.N-RN.A.1
Explain how the definition of the meaning of rational exponents follows from extending the properties of integer exponents to those values, allowing for a notation for radicals in terms of rational exponents.
For example, we define 51/3 to be the cube root of 5 because we want (51/3)3 = 5(1/3)3 to hold, so (51/3)3 must equal 5.

AII.N-CN.A.2
Use the relation i2 = –1 and the Commutative, Associative, and Distributive properties to add, subtract, and multiply complex numbers.

Supports Available to Students

Tier 1 (Supports provided to ALL students)

• Pear Deck Learning
• DESMOs
• Think about equations like a system
• Find the intersection point between the left and right side of the equation
• Find solutions before learning the steps to solving equations
• Chatgpt
• Generate questions or are create examples
• Illustrative Math

Skills-learned

• Math literacy
• Peer-to-peer learning and teaching