Birchwood School
World Class Education in a Globally Diverse Environment
A private elementary school serving grades K through 8
4400 West 140th Street
Cleveland, OH 44135
Office: 216.251.2321
Fax: 216.251.2787
Core Curriculum
> Mathematics Curriculum

In order to address a wide range of abilities, and to make mathematics

challenging and exciting to all children, our mathematics program follows
three guidelines. First we believe that children should develop core
competencies at the earliest possible age, referring specifically to
computation skills - whole number operations, fraction and decimal
operations, and basic geometry vocabulary and concepts. These skills
become tools in the student’s math “toolbox,” and as students gain fluency
with their “tools,” they learn to enjoy math and are prepared to do higher-
level mathematics.

Second, because students gain a strong working knowledge of
computational skills, we are able to give them extended experience solving
word problems that require critical thinking, logic, and a variety of problem
solving strategies. All students in grades 2-8 take classes that prepare
them to participate in an assortment of math contests requiring higher
order thinking and problem solving skills.

Third, we allow considerable flexibility in accommodating each child’s math
aptitude. It is not unusual for children to be working on math content that is
one, two, or even three years ahead of current grade level. We offer our
junior high school students formal classes in high school honors algebra
and geometry. Furthermore, we support the interest of the highly
motivated and able math students who wish to compete at the state or
national levels in math contests such as the American Mathematics
Contest 8
, Continental Math League, and Math Olympiads.  We also
enable these students to take online math courses through Northwestern
University Gifted LearningLinks
program for both enrichment and acceleration.

Links to grade level syllabi:

Kindergarten

1st & 2nd Grade

3rd & 4th Grade

5th Grade Singapore Series 51 & 52

5th or 6th Grade Course #2

5th or 6th Grade Course #3

5th or 6th Grade Singapore Series 6

6th Grade Pre-Algebra

7th Grade Pre-Algebra

7th Grade High School Algebra

8th Grade High School Geometry

8th Grade Algebra 1

Wood Math: Pre-Algebra and Algebra

Birchwood School Mathematics Curricular Options and Study Strands