Sequoia High School
Mathematics
Mathematics Department
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Mathematics Departmenttitle
The Sequoia Math Department teaches a comprehensive series of courses aligned to state standards designed to increase students' understanding and competency in increasingly complex mathematics. Our goals are to improve the success rate of all of our students and support all students in completing a high level of mathematics. We encourage students to go beyond the minimum two year requirement and strive to get the majority of the students to complete required a-g courses. Our Algebra, Geometry, and IB Prep courses prepare students for the state CAASPP assessment as well as for taking higher level IB courses.
The teachers in the Mathematics Department work collaboratively in curricular teams to provide consistency and support. All teams meet on a regular basis to discuss pacing, strategies, data, best practices and assessments.
Sequoia's Math Pathways
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Sequoia's Math Pathwaystitle
Core Pathway:
IB Pathway:
Options for Acceleration Through Geometry:
Which IB Pathway should I choose?
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Which IB Pathway should I choose? title
Here's a link to a slideshow about our IB Courses:
Sequoia Math Teachers
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Sequoia Math Teacherstitle
Click the name to send an email message:
Algebra 1
Geometry, IB Analysis SL/HL Y1
Geometry, AVID
Canada College Courses
IB Applications Prep, IB Applications SL
Math Department Chair
Geometry, Algebra 1 Support Teacher
Relator, Tony
Geometry, Data Science
Geometry, Data Science
Algebra 1, IB Applications SL
Algebra 1
Algebra 1, IB Applications Prep, JAVA
Yezerski, Joshua
Algebra 1, IB Analysis HL, IB Analysis Prep
Algebra 1, IB Analysis HL, IB Analysis Prep
Current Mathematics Courses
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Current Mathematics Coursestitle
Our curriculum currently includes:
- Algebra I, Algebra 1 LEP
- Geometry, Geometry LEP, Geometry PL
- Accelerated Geo/AlgII
- IB Applications Prep
- IB Analysis Prep
- IB Applications Standard Level
- IB Analysis Standard Level
- IB Applications Higher Level
- IB Analysis Higher Level
- Data Science
- Canada College courses taught in a rotation
If you have any questions about our curriculum or department, please contact the department chair, Beth Peng, at epeng@seq.org.
Geometry PL
In this course geometrical concepts are discovered by and taught to ELD 1 students through guided lessons in Spanish. Common Core Mathematical Standards topics covered include transformations, inductive and deductive reasoning, angles, polygons, congruent triangles, circles, right triangles, similarity, solids, and triangle trigonometry. Pre-Algebra and Algebra topics are also introduced and reviewed to prepare students for higher level mathematics courses.
Algebra 1 / Algebra 1 LEP
Placement based on student’s 8th grade course. First-year college-preparatory mathematics sequence adhering to the Common Core Mathematics Standards. Includes the study and operation of real numbers; solving equations, graphing, factorization, linear functions, quadratic functions, exponential functions, statistics, and real world problem solving. Completion of this course meets the Sequoia District Algebra I graduation requirement. This course meets the UC “c” requirement.
Geometry / Geometry LEP
This course is required by all 4-year colleges. Geometrical concepts are discovered by and taught to students through guided lessons. Common Core Mathematical Standards topics covered include transformations, inductive and deductive reasoning, angles, polygons, congruent triangles, circles, right triangles, similarity, solids, and triangle trigonometry. The UC system requires all students to complete a full year of Geometry to be UC eligible.
Prerequisite: Completion of Algebra I or department recommendation. Open to 9th-graders who took a full year Algebra 1 course in 8th grade.
Accelerated Geometry / IB Analysis Prep
Placement determined using student achievement data or math department recommendation. Suggested Prerequisites: Algebra I with an A– or better and a strong desire to learn mathematics as well as the desire to take Higher Level IB Math. This course is designed to accelerate advanced students to enable them to take IB Math Higher Level Yr 2 and college level math in their junior and/or senior years, and who are planning to pursue a major in math or science. The material is covered at an honors level, and is accelerated so that two courses are taught in one year. The course is excellent preparation for the analysis and synthesis required in advanced math courses. Geometry topics include proofs, triangles, polygons, circles, and coordinate geometry. The IB Analysis Prep portion of the course covers linear, quadratic, exponential, and logarithmic functions, graphing, polynomial functions, rational expressions and equations, trigonometry, imaginary and complex numbers, and series. In addition, topics in probability and statistics covered. Students successfully completing this course directly enroll in IB Analysis SL or IB Applications SL the following year.
Prerequisites: Algebra 1 with an A or better, teacher recommendation highly encouraged, and a strong desire to learn mathematics.
IB Math Analysis and Approaches Preparation Course
This course is the first in a 2 year sequence. The course teaches analytic methods of mathematics with an emphasis on Calculus & Trigonometry. Other topics include Number and Algebra, Functions, Geometry and Trigonometry, and Statistics and Probability. This class covers the topics of a traditional Algebra II/Trig class. It is appropriate for students who plan to go on to study mathematics, physics, engineering, or other subjects with substantial math content. At the end of the 2nd year of this course, students may take the Standard Level IB exam, or take the Higher Level IB exam after one more year. This course meets the UC “c” requirement.
Prerequisite: Completion of Algebra 1 and Geometry
IB Math Applications & Interpretation Preparation Course
This course is the first in a 2-year sequence and has an emphasis on statistics, modeling, and use of technology. Other topics include Number and Algebra and Functions. This class covers the topics of a traditional Algebra II/Trig class. It is appropriate for students who plan to go on to study the social sciences, business, medicine, or other fields with applied statistics. At the end of the 2nd year of this course, students may take the Standard Level IB exam, or take the Higher Level IB exam after one more year. This course meets the UC “c” requirement.
Prerequisite: Completion of Algebra 1 and Geometry
IB Math Analysis and Approaches SL / HL Y1
This course teaches analytic methods of mathematics with an emphasis on Calculus. Other topics include Number and Algebra, Functions, Geometry and Trigonometry, and Statistics and Probability. The class is appropriate for students who plan to go on to study mathematics, physics, engineering, or other subjects with substantial math content. At the end of this course, students may take the Standard Level IB exam, or take the Higher Level IB exam after one more year. This course meets the UC “c” requirement.
Prerequisite: Completion of IB Analysis Prep, IB Applications Prep, or an equivalent Algebra II with Trigonometry class
IB Math Applications & Interpretation SL / HL Y1
This course has an emphasis on statistics, modeling, and use of technology. Other topics include Number and Algebra, Functions, Geometry and Trigonometry, and Calculus. The class is appropriate for students who plan to go on to study the social sciences, business, medicine, or statistics. At the end of this course, students may take the Standard Level IB exam, or take the Higher Level IB exam after one more year. This course meets the UC “c” requirement.
Prerequisite: Completion of IB Analysis Prep, IB Applications Prep, or an equivalent Algebra II with Trigonometry class
IB Math Analysis and Approaches HL Year 2
This course continues the topics from IB Mathematics Analysis & Approaches HL Y1, teaching all of them at a higher level. There is an emphasis on Calculus, but other topics include Number and Algebra, Functions, Geometry and Trigonometry, and Statistics and Probability. The class is appropriate for students who plan to go on to study mathematics, physics, engineering, or other subjects with substantial math content. At the end of this course, students may take the Higher Level IB exam. This course meets the UC “c” requirement.
Prerequisite: Completion of IB Mathematics Analysis & Approaches SL/HL Y1 with a C- or better
IB Math Applications and Interpretation HL Year 2
This course continues the topics from IB Mathematics Analysis & Approaches HL Y1, teaching all of them at a higher level. There is an emphasis on Calculus, but other topics include Number and Algebra, Functions, Geometry and Trigonometry, and Statistics and Probability. The class is appropriate for students who plan to go on to study mathematics, physics, engineering, or other subjects with substantial math content. At the end of this course, students may take the Higher Level IB exam. This course meets the UC “c” requirement.
Prerequisite: Completion of IB Mathematics Application & Interpretation SL/HL Y1 with a C- or better
Data Science
The main goal of the course is to teach students to think critically about and with data. The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for High School Statistics and Probability relevant to data science are taught along with the data demands of good citizenship in the 21st century. Students will learn about data science through project-based units. The units will give students opportunities to ask questions of data, developing their understanding of data analysis, sampling, correlation/causation, bias and uncertainty, modeling with data, making and evaluating data-based arguments, and the importance of data in society. This course meets the third year of math for the UC “c” requirement.
Prerequisite: Completion of Algebra 1 and Geometry
Multivariable Calculus
This course follows IB Higher Level Year 2/AP Calculus (BC), and covers the traditional university level multivariable calculus curriculum. The course covers parametric equations and polar, spherical, and cylindrical coordinates (calculus based), vectors and the geometry of space, vector functions, the calculus of functions of several variables, multiple integrals, vector calculus, including Green's Theorem and Stoke's Theorem, and second order differential equations and their applications. Additionally, the material from IB Higher Level Year 2 is reviewed to make sure that students are prepared for the IB exam. Students will receive transferable collge credit for this class from Canada college.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of IB HL Y2
Ordinary Differential Equations
This is a standard, top university level introductory course in ordinary differential equations. The textbook we have adopted is the book used for the same course at Stanford University. Topics include, but are not limited to: separable ordinary differential equations (ODEs), first order homogeneous and nonhomogenous linear ODEs, second order homogeneous and nonhomogeneous linear ODE's, higher order linear ODE's, systems of linear ODE's, series solutions, a wide variety of applications to ODE's, numerical methods, computing and ODE's, and nonlinear ODE's. This course also provides a review of the HL Year 2 material for students who need to take the IB Higher Level exam, and students will be asked to take a leadership role in teaching/tutoring HL Year 2 students. Other upper division university level topics will be taught as time allows, based on student interest. Students completing this course will also receive transferable college credit from Canada College.
Linear Algebra
This is a standard, top university level introductory course in linear algebra. The textbook we have adopted is also used by Stanford University and several UC campuses. Course curriculum includes, but is not limited to: matrix computations/matrix algebra, methods of solving systems of linear equations in linear algebra, determinants, vector spaces, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, orthogonality and least squares, symmetric matrices and quadratic forms, a wide variety of applications to linear algebra, and computing in linear algebra. This course also provides a review of the HL Year 2 material for students who need to take the IB Higher Level exam, and students will be asked to take a leadership role in teaching/tutoring HL Year 2 students. Other upper division university level topics will be taught as time allows, and based on student interest. Students completing this course will also receive transferable college credit from Canada College.