At the high school level, TASIS uses a
AP and IB courses, has been in place for
can find common denominators — bad
system of mathematics “tracks”, which are
the better part of 7 or 8 years,” Jim adds.
pun, I know — amongst their students
tailored to the needs of students who find
“I am, however, taking a hard look at the
and who can forge a coherent classroom
math satisfying, smirk-worthy, or spine-
transition from the Middle School to the
experience in a short time,” he adds. “We
chilling. These cover everything from basic
High School. One of my goals for the year
also look for teachers who can do all the
general and integrated math courses to AP
is to smooth this transition and to provide
rest of the things a boarding school requires
Calculus and Statistics and International
good tracks for both stronger and weaker
as well as teach mathematics well. The
Baccalaureate courses. One of the future
students from Grades 7 through 10.”
whole experience has to work well. When
challenges TASIS faces is how to ensure
I interview a candidate on Skype I like
elementary-aged students are receiving
At TASIS, the mathematics courses are
to hear them talk about their boarding
the mathematical education that will best
fairly well-defined in their focus. Each
experience, too.”
prepare them for the high school track that
course has a book which fits into a
suits them.
sequence of books that TASIS feels makes
And for those teachers who are stuck with
sense for a developing mathematics student. the terrified students? “There is a wide Tracks are determined by a variety of
“Of course, all teachers have their favorite
range of responses to this situation, I am
factors – not just how the students respond
topics and approaches for each topic. Some
sure, from get used to it, this is a discipline,
to the word ‘mathematics’. A student’s
will use calculators more than others, for
to let’s make a game out of this difficult topic,”
grade level and aspirations for his or her
example, but first and foremost, every
Jim says, laughing. “Different groups
future are a major contribution, as is the
student in a given course should have the
of students sometimes require different
time the student will spend at TASIS.
same set of skills and understandings when
approaches, but we do not have any
Currently, students are placed based on
they leave that course regardless of the
particular policy on when it is appropriate
their transcripts, then are given placement
section and teacher to which they were
to crack the whip or to play games.” So
tests. “These, together with regular
assigned,” Jim says.
what does Mr. Shields do in his courses?
homework and quizzes during the first
“Me? I don’t play games, but that’s me and
week, give us a good sense of the student’s
Perhaps of all subjects, mathematics
placement, and we take care of any
requires a certain type of teacher.
adjustments the first week,” Jim says. “Our current curriculum, apart from the 16 eTASIS TODAY
“Experience and flexibility are very
Higher Level Mathematics for you.” Download and read about TASIS
important, as our student body is like none
Mathematics Courses in the 2012-2013
they’ve seen before. We need teachers who
Course Catalogue.