Reach-Ahead Math Program - St. Andrew's College

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Reach Ahead Math Program

All Middle School students at St. Andrew’s College participate in our Reach-Ahead Mathematics program. This means that they are learning the curriculum at an accelerated rate, which ensures that the experience is challenging and enriching for all.

The courses are designed to accommodate the fact that in each Middle School grade, there are students who are accelerating for the first time. To ease their transition, challenging math concepts are introduced gradually by first strengthening foundational skills. Specifically, in Grade 5 the content includes mainly Grade 5 but some Grade 6 curriculum; in Grade 6 the content is roughly evenly split between Grade 6 and Grade 7 curriculum; in Grade 7 the content includes some Grade 7 but mainly Grade 8 curriculum, and in Grade 8 the students are streamed, with those who have demonstrated that they will thrive in the reach-ahead program taking the Grade 9 Principles of Mathematics course (MPM1D) and those who have demonstrated that they will be more comfortable working at grade level taking the Grade 8 math course. The streaming system is in place to ensure that individual students are not accelerated so quickly that they find themselves overburdened when they transition to the Upper School.

Implications for Upper School

Grade 8 students who continue with the reach-ahead program and perform well on the final exam will earn a high school credit for MPM1D and be recommended for Grade 10 math in their Grade 9 year, potentially followed by Grade 11 math in their Grade 10 year. Once they reach grade 11, the extra math credit will allow them greater flexibility in scheduling their final two years, which may include Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

Succeeding in the Reach-Ahead Program

Success in any challenging mathematics program requires a proactive approach by the student. When a new concept is introduced, getting to the point when they say “I get it” is always a moment to celebrate. However, in a skill-based subject like mathematics, it is only half the battle; the student must also practice the concept by completing all the assigned work. This evolution of concept to skill allows them to perform well on an evaluation by tackling new questions without making careless errors.

Collectively, our students enter the reach-ahead program with a wide range of mathematical abilities and, more importantly, a wide range of learning skills. To ensure that all of our new students are ready for the program, we assign preliminary work for them to complete over the summer. In addition, we run a math camp for one week in the middle of August, which students can choose to take advantage of at no additional cost.

The simple recipe for success for all of these students is to take ownership of their learning by listening and participating in class discussions and then using class time effectively by completing as much of the assigned work as possible while assistance from the teacher is available.

At times, practicing and mastering new concepts and skills becomes a challenge within the time constraints of a 70-minute class. In this case, it is important for the students to use other resources available, such as extra help. For Middle School students, there are two options available: The first is Open Classroom, which takes place during lunch recess every day except for Wednesday. This resource provides direct access to the teacher in a short 15-minute session and is useful for addressing one or two specific questions. A second resource, The Math Centre, is available for approximately one and a half hours after school, every day except for Thursday. This resource also provides students with individual attention to address specific questions. In the rare case that a student is taking full advantage of these resources and is still struggling with the course content, then options for more direct support will be discussed.