It doesn't quite add up to make math choices for one student based on another's level. I get the concern about the equity gap it might create, but why should one child halt their math progression until another catches up? And if closing the equity gap is the main concern, why is FCPS even facilitating a AAP track seperate from the gen ed track? |
If student is in year round math enrichment, then summer geometry is merely a review of what they already know. DC did summer geometry, and then took Algebra 2 full year and outperformed many other 9th graders. Even at TJ, started with precalculus courses (math 4 & 5) which went smoothly. It truly depends on your student and how much math practice they put in and efficient habits they've developed since elementary school. |
Thank you. |
But you need geo for math competitions that matter (AMC 10), so summer geometry won't hurt. |
I'm confused are your students in summer geometry or full year geometry? If retention is the issue, then having covered the content over a short period of time would have led to less forgetting and thus less stress. |
Which math enrichment was he in? |
Yes, you register through ACE. |
DS attends RSM math competition program and RSM grade level math class. He is dropping the grade level math class because it moves too slowly, he learns more in the math competition class. The math competition class teaches more Algebra and Geometry starting in 4th grade. He is taking an AoPS math competition class this summer. It is online and he will miss a few sessions but he will have access to the notes and problems. AoPS has math competition classes and regular classes. Everyone on this board has heard about Curie. There are a a lot of places to go for enrichment that is interesting and challenging. DS happens to enjoy the math competitions and the types of problems they present. They are more thought puzzles that use math then straight word problems. The math competition classes present a variety of topics, Algebra, Geometry, Math Theory, and the like because those are the types of questions that appear on the math competitions. They are challenging and fun, well fun for him, to work. It is my personal version of hell but math is not my strength. He loves it. |
We have discussed our math progression approach with our school math teacher to get their input, and were highly encouraged to engage in some sort of summer math. Our student progressed through the elementary math at a faster pace, and enrolled in Algebra 1 in 6th grade full year, and has not needed to take any summer school course since then. Currently about to complete Calc AB this year in 10th grade. |
Can you post a review of the AoPS class vs RSM competition classes after he finished his summer class? Is he taking geometry at the same time? Is he on the school's math team? |
AB? What's next, BC? What was the value in skipping ahead just to slow down later? You'd end up in the same place going slow and steady vs rushing and stopping. |
Until 2 weeks after summer ends when you forget it. |
There you go again, focusing on the wrong thing. |
People naturally focus on their own child. |
Sure but the programs are probably not comparable. the RSM classes is a weekly class during the school year that includes a video component and is limited to 12 kids in his class. The AoPS is going to be online, no cameras, chat discussion, and message boards. RSM has a summer math competition program as well but it is in person and we cannot do that because of vacations and the like, he would miss too much. His ES does not have a math team but he is planning on trying out for the math counts team next year. He scores high in every math competition that he does and enjoys the challenge. He loves the math competition class. He is in the National Math Competition Program through RSM, they select a limited number of kids per grade each year, at least that is what the website says. The NMCP moves at a faster pace then the local program. DS participated in the local program in 4th and 5th grade and really enjoyed it. The local math competition program has 2 levels now for each grade level. We have no idea how he was selected for the NMCP program but he was and he loves it. There is number theory, geometry, and algebra. It moves at a fast pace and he has homework problems that are challenging enough that he asks to talk them through with his dad. Taking the class next year was an automatic yes for him. I suspect that he has learned far more algebra and geometry in the math competition classes then he has in school or in the regular RSM class. It really has been great. He is currently in the 6th grade honors math class at RSM, it is prealgebra, and bored stiff. He is dropping the RSM grade level class next year. He did not do the geometry class because he had 4 hours of math already and didn't want to add a fifth. RSM choose not to move him up a grade this year and he has found the grade level class to be repetitive and boring. We were disappointed with their choice and he is not returning next year. |