MATHEMATICS

Paul writes in Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse…” God’s dominion covers all things and He uses all things, including mathematics, to direct people to His power and Godhead. The voice of the living God speaks in and through the discipline of mathematics because it was created and ordained by Him. James Nickel in his book Mathematics: Is God Silent?  states, “To affirm a relationship to the physical reality of creation, the very life source of mathematics, is to ultimately affirm accountability to the Creator of that reality” (p. 283). Through the study of math we want our students to increase their knowledge of God and become awed by His display of order and power, causing us to increase our accountability to Him and strengthening our personal relationship with Him.

 

In addition to the spiritual implications of a strong mathematical curriculum we desire our students to have a powerful and useful tool as they progress in their academic careers. We have chosen a program that is both challenging as well as practical in scope and sequence. The grammar years are filled with building the necessary fundamentals required to understand mathematics at a more abstract level. This is achieved through focusing on mastering the grammar, or rules, of mathematical procedures.  The early grammar grades, Kin.-Second grade use manipulatives, chants, songs, and teacher-lead practice to master the basic concepts and facts.  Third grade through Sixth grade build upon this foundation as they move from using less manipulatives to more independent and abstract thinking. Students naturally transition to a focus on algebra as they move into the logic stage of their development. At this point the students begin to see why math works and learn of the potential of its disciplines. Progressing to the rhetoric stage the students learn how to apply math to real life in the form of geometry, trigonometry, and calculus. In their senior year students also receive instruction in consumer/business math that gives them life simulations without the risk of real financial turmoil. Overall the program is God centered, comprehensive, and practical from start to finish.