Geometry Math-U-See - Learning Options

GEOMETRY MATH-U-SEE IS A YEAR-LONG COURSE FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS.

This geometry course is the study of plane and solid figures on the basis of axioms and theorems as well as the measurement of the earth in terms of points, lines, line segments, rays, angles, and planes. This course requires students to focus on logical proof and critical thinking when solving problems. It is a prerequisite for Math-U-See’s Algebra II. Topics include describing points, lines, rays, line segments, angles, and planes; calculating the measure of the interior and exterior angles of a regular polygon; understanding the geometry of a circle, sphere, and ellipse; computing the volume and surface area of solids; using the Pythagorean theorem to identity triangle attributes; applying postulates, theorems, definitions, and properties to proofs; working with algebraic expressions containing radicals; completing transformations within a Cartesian plane; and basic trigonometric functions. Math-U-See Geometry meets the Geometry requirement for the VSA Associate and Standard Level diploma only. Homework will average 4-6 hours per week.

The Veritas Approach to Math

Unlike some classical educators, we believe math is a crucial subject. It’s necessary for a well-rounded, rigorous classical education. In the grammar years, math provides content for developing memorization tools. In the dialectic years, subjects like Algebra I and Geometry develop students’ reasoning skills. In the rhetoric years, Pre-calculus, Calculus, Statistics, and Business Math lead students to value math in real-world applications.

At Veritas, we’re convinced that math has been dumbed down in America.١ Most students are more capable than we think. Our mission is to help make sure your children don’t become a dismal math statistic. For more than 25 years, we’ve been proving that our math standards shouldn’t come from what we were raised with. After all, if the education we ourselves received was as education should be, why would we be doing something different for our children? A study of historical٢ and international math standards helps us see this clearly.

Maybe the best way to understand our approach is to mark some milestones.

Veritas recommends Saxon Math for K–6th, Jacobs for Algebra I and Geometry, Foerster for Algebra II and Pre-Calculus, and Larson for Calculus.

Saxon, with its incremental advances and continual review, works best with the grammar stage. Thankfully, Harold Jacobs understands the dialectic student and has written a superb curriculum for them with Algebra I and Geometry. One of his former students, Paul Foerster, writes where Jacobs left off, providing us our favorite texts for Algebra II and Pre-Calculus. Finally, Larson, a most prolific producer of Calculus texts, provides the capstone to our math curriculum.

Some prefer to stick with Saxon into the secondary school years. We are fine with that—even offering live class options using Saxon—but prefer texts written with more of a classical pedagogical approach.

Today, all math education needs to address the use of technology. At Veritas, it’s simple: use technology as a tool, not a crutch. Learning to work a two-variable algebraic equation is important. When mastered, however, why waste time plugging and chugging the numbers to develop a graphing solution? Let a machine do the number crunching. Students simply need to know how to do it.

Math is crucial to classical education. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

١Americans are lagging in math: http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/02/15/u-s-students-internationally-math-science/

٢A Brief History of American K-12 Mathematics Education: https://www.csun.edu/~vcmth00m/AHistory.html

٣Is Calculus necessary? http://www.math.harvard.edu/~knill/pedagogy/use/index.html

Live Online Course

This geometry course is the study of plane and solid figures on the basis of axioms and theorems as well as the measurement of the earth in terms of points, lines, line segments, rays, angles, and planes. This course requires students to focus on logical proof and critical thinking when solving problems. It is a prerequisite for Math-U-See's Algebra II. Topics include describing points, lines, rays, line segments, angles, and planes; calculating the measure of the interior and exterior angles of a regular polygon; understanding the geometry of a circle, sphere, and ellipse; computing the volume and surface area of solids; using the Pythagorean theorem to identity triangle attributes; applying postulates, theorems, definitions, and properties to proofs; working with algebraic expressions containing radicals; completing transformations within a Cartesian plane; and basic trigonometric functions. Math-U-See Geometry meets the Geometry requirement for the VSA Associate Level diploma only. Homework will average 4 - 6 hours per week.

View Geometry Math-U-See Syllabus

Prerequisites

Minimum age of 12 on the first day of class. Successful completion of Algebra I Math-U-See or comparable course in the previous 24 months is strongly encouraged.

You Teach

You Teach is our term for those who take our curriculum and teach it themselves, whether at home or at school.

As one of the most powerful branches of mathematics, geometry is focused on the math behind the physical space of God's creation. This subject is far more than the study of shapes, though. It's a subject that develops students' reasoning skills, and Math-U-See's multisensory, mastery approach to learning is an especially good option for young minds that struggle with abstract concepts. The Math-U-See Geometry Universal Set contains everything you need for a successful experience with this key course:

• Instruction manual with complete solutions
• Instruction DVD
• Student workbook
• Tests booklet
• Lifetime access to the Demme Learning Geometry Digital Pack with lots of helpful resources, including online versions of lesson videos

Major concepts and skills your geometry student will master include describing points, lines, rays, line segments, angles, and planes; calculating the measure of the interior and exterior angles of a regular polygon; understanding the geometry of a circle, sphere, and ellipse; understanding and computing volume and surface area of solids; using the Pythagorean theorem to identify triangle attributes; and applying postulates, theorems, definitions, and properties to geometric proofs. Some of the other topics the course explores include working with algebraic expressions containing radicals, completing geometric transformations within a Cartesian plane, and understanding basic trigonometric functions.