The Art of Math

It?s no secret: students in the United States lag behind in mathematics. The 2003 Program for International Assessment (PISA) ranked the U.S. 24th in basic math skills out of 29 countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. So why enroll your American child in an arts school?

At the Salt Lake Arts Academy, all students pursue a thematic course of study that integrates verbal, mathematical, and symbolic language. We want our children to demonstrate flexibility?viewing their world and their work through multiple lenses. Each discipline?humanities, science, math, music, drama, dance, and visual arts?connects to every other. Kids learn to recognize proportion, symmetry, perspective, rhythm, pattern, and recursion?the essentially mathematical foundations of artistic expression.

We call our approach the Art of Math. We believe it provides mathematical perspective, combining explicit instruction using an award winning quantitative curriculum, a strong focus on problem solving, an aesthetic sensibility, and urban experiences to support academic achievement.

Excursions through Salt Lake City?s downtown help students understand the world around them. The role of mathematics in city architecture, logistics, and life becomes real as students explore and respond to their locations and environments.

The Academy has adopted Everyday Mathematics for grade 5 and 6 and College Preparatory Math for grades 6 through 8. The U.S. Department of Education selected College Preparatory Mathematics as an ?exemplary? program and Everyday Mathematics as a ?promising? program. The two programs are similar in philosophy. Both are closely aligned to National Council of Teachers of Math (NCTM) standards.

Everyday Mathematics incorporates problem solving in everyday situations. Hands-on activities teach and review concepts and skills. Students work in small groups, developing the ability to cooperate, discuss, and communicate mathematically. Games provide an alternative to tedious drill and build students? strategic skills. Math 5 and Math 6 meet Utah?s core curriculum for grades 5 and 6.

College Preparatory Mathematics is a thoughtfully written, challenging, and entertaining program. Situations set the theme for each unit. Problems, though grounded in familiar ideas, are not usually easy to solve. Students develop concepts and skills through hands-on/visual activities and learn to communicate mathematically.

Foundations for Algebra (Year 1) meets and exceeds Utah?s core curriculum for grades 6 and 7. Foundations for Algebra (Year 2) meets and exceeds Utah?s core curriculum for pre-algebra.

Problem Solving meets and exceeds the pre-algebra core. It focuses on problem-solving strategies and activities and includes history of mathematics, writing in mathematics, visual and hands-on introductions to high school topics, plus paper/pencil/mental math and estimation strategies/ skills. Students taking this course will have completed the second year of Foundations for Algebra.

Both Algebra 1 and Geometry are challenging courses that meet and exceed Utah?s core curriculum.