High School Mathematics
What is secondary mathematics?
Secondary mathematics is commonly called high school math and is usually taught in the following order:
- Algebra 1
- Geometry
- Algebra 2
- Precalculus (or Trigonometry).
Some students enter high school having completed Algebra 1 in 8th grade and therefore are able to complete calculus as a high school senior. Other students struggle with the abstract concepts and end their high school career barely completing geometry.
What should your high school level mathematics course of study look like? That all depends on your goals. In order to complete a larger goal, we must step back and examine the smaller goals that it requires. We all know how to eat an elephant. One bite at a time. Completing higher level mathematics is much like the elephant. But first, we need to determine if we need to eat the elephant.
Some questions to ask your student before determining his high school course of study are:
- What do you love about life?
- What do you love most about creation?
- Where is God calling you in life?
- How can you obey God in the life that He has given you?
- If you weren't stuck in school all day what would you most like to spend your time doing?
- How do you plan to support yourself as an adult?
- What do you like about that career choice?
- What do you need to complete in order to achieve your dream job?
- Do you need a college diploma?
- How can we create smaller goals to help you work towards this higher goal?
Obviously, your middle schooler probably doesn't have an answer for all of these questions, and if they do, there's a good chance they will change. However, examining your child's answer to these questions, praying, and observing her strengths will help you help her develop a high school plan.
One of the most important steps to helping our children in high school is allowing them to be a part of the planning. If you put together the most beautiful plan for secondary education and present it to your child as you would a proposal in a board meeting, then be prepared for a difficult journey. At some point, your child's education needs to be his responsibility. I am not advocating that you leave your child to his own vices, but we all know that we care about what we are invested in. If you include your child in the plans then he will be more likely to work hard at achieving the goals that you set together.
Now that you have your child's goals for high school started and you have an idea of where she is trying to go with her education, you can help her put together a math program.
Is she determined to go to college? Then plan on four years of mathematics and strive to complete precalculus before graduation.
Does he want to attend a tech school and be self employed? Then maybe it would be best for him to complete traditional secondary mathematics through Algebra 2 and spend senior year on a business mathematics course.
Only you and your student can determine what would be best to study in high school mathematics. Just remember to consider requirements for any universities, colleges, or programs that your student may want to attend. Each person is a unique individual made in the image of God. Therefore, each educational journey will also be unique. Include your child in the planning process, pray, and persevere. You can do this.