A big change will be implemented at Mendham next year for eleventh and twelfth graders.  Generally speaking, all the students in Advanced and Honors math classes will take one of four new IB level classes. Kids taking academic degree classes will be required to take a college prep course that will model the original course, but will give the students in it a feel for what an IB class is like. The classes are starting next year so that the now sophomores are able to take the IB math test in senior year and are well prepared. Current Juniors are allowed to continue the IB programs that they are in, but incoming juniors will be placed into the new classes. Underclassmen that are in upper levels of math to begin with will remain in their regular classes until 11th grade, and then the program will begin for them.

This new course selection will expand the IB program for all students, whether math is their favorite subject or one in which they struggle in, the new classes will tend to all levels. A concern that came up was if the new course will be tougher than the previous classes, or will it be too much to handle for those kids that are struggling in the advanced level. The answer to this question is that the new classes are aimed to model the level in which they are now, just an IB curriculum and title. Mrs. Heike and the math faculty hope to give all students an ‘IB experience’ that can make all students more prepared and aware for college. Sophomores that took Algebra 1 freshman year and Geometry the following year would go into algebra 2/pre-calc applications IB SL1 and calculus applications IB SL 2. Those students also have a choice and could instead take Calculus applications IB HL 1 and 2. Students that took Algebra 2 or Pre Calc sophomore year have the choice of either calculus/analysis IB HL 1 and 2 or Calculus Applications IB HL 1 and 2. However the Pre Calc students can also take BC Calculus AP/ IB HL and Calculus/ Analysis IB HL 3.

Basically, there are two brackets of the new program. Applications and interpretations, and Analysis and Approaches. These two divisions are then broken down into SL and HL. Analysis and applications focuses on Calculus, Analytic methods, and theoretical math while applications and interpretations focuses in on statistics, modeling, and applied mathematics. The core of the courses include a deep understanding of concepts from geometry and algebra and also basic knowledge and notions of Pre-Calculus. The two branches will help students prepare for college and develop needed skills for the future.

The Mendham faculty is excited to introduce these new courses, and hope that the classes challenge, enage, and excite incoming students!