Would you have your 8th grader retake algebra if he got a B in 7th grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what does your kid want to do? I wouldn't want my senior to be stressed out by multivariable calculus so I would probably advise they repeat algebra but only if that is what my kid wants to do

Multivariable calculus is a lot less stressful than BC IMO. Multi is a one semester course stretched out over a year, while BC isn't

DP and that was certainly my experience. Multivar (and then differential equations in college) felt easier than most math that preceeded it.

[Anonymous]

I got a B in Algebra 1 in 7th grade, and all As in Geometry, Algebra 2, precalc, BC and Multivariable in senior. It all depends on how much a student loves math and practices math daily. I wish I had developed good math practice habits in Elementary school, and continued throughout middle-school, I likely would have avoided that B. But it never bothered me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got a B in Algebra 1 in 7th grade, and all As in Geometry, Algebra 2, precalc, BC and Multivariable in senior. It all depends on how much a student loves math and practices math daily. I wish I had developed good math practice habits in Elementary school, and continued throughout middle-school, I likely would have avoided that B. But it never bothered me.

la práctica hace la perfección

[Anonymous]

90 percent UVA admits had an UWGPA of 4.0, beyond a B showing that Alg isnt fully mastered(that will cause issues down the line in alg3 and every course after that), it also cuts their chance already in grade 7 for good schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes but not because a B is a low grade. 7th grade is young to take Algebra and it is the most important math class he will take. It is the foundation for every other math class and the stronger the foundation the better. I didn’t have my own kids take it in 7th and wanted a slower math progression to have a very solid base before any high school classes. - math teacher

+1 This exactly. It’s not about the B. It’s about the foundation. Your kid should have an A or A- in Algebra before proceeding to higher level math. A B suggests there may be gaps.

This is such BS. My DS earned a B in 8th grade Algebra and went on to ace all his subsequent math classes. 🙄

[Anonymous]

Okay. Try this— WHY did your kid get a B? Was this a gave it 100%, worked with a tutor, watched Khan Academy, etc B? Or was it a blew off some homework, half assed a project and only kinda studied for tests B? A B in math isn’t the problem. The problem is that Geometry is fine, but by A2, kids without a decent foundation are really struggling in honors (as are kids with a decent foundation but without much math aptitude. It’s a real “weed out” class for engineering/CS bound kids in some FCPS HSs).

I had 7th grade A1 kids. One was brilliant and pulled off good grades without the work. Went to TJ where reality (aka Math 3) hit him hard. One was humanities driven and was off the honors math path by A2. Every humanities and social science AP in the book, but couldn’t pull off AP Calc. And had to do APStats plus standard Calc to find enough math. In BOTH cases, I wished we had redone or pushed Algebra I or just waited a year to start.

It’s not about the grade or not accepting a B. In my kids cases, the foundation was shaky— one because of aptitude and one because of attitude . And the math kid had an A (humanities kid an A- or B+, bur really worked for it). And by the time we realized it, it was too late to go back. They redid concepts with tutors. But that was a half measure.

As an aside, the humanities kid is now at WM retaking Calculus for upper level economics. And recently mentioned that she finally understands Algebra for the first time. Letting it get that far was a parenting fail, although at the time, no one suggested we do anything but keep the kids tracked where they were. Big mistake.

Math isn’t a race. Do not move a kid past A1 unless they 100% understand the material. That should be the test— not the grade in the class. Especially if it puts them on a path for multivariable/linear in HS.

It was explained to me that kids brain development reaches a point where abstract concepts in math “click” more easily. If your kid isn’t there, no shame in waiting until they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what does your kid want to do? I wouldn't want my senior to be stressed out by multivariable calculus so I would probably advise they repeat algebra but only if that is what my kid wants to do

Multivariable calculus is a lot less stressful than BC IMO. Multi is a one semester course stretched out over a year, while BC isn't

For both my kids (one TJ one base school) it was a semester of multi and a semester of linear algebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:90 percent UVA admits had an UWGPA of 4.0, beyond a B showing that Alg isnt fully mastered(that will cause issues down the line in alg3 and every course after that), it also cuts their chance already in grade 7 for good schools

Algebra 3?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay. Try this— WHY did your kid get a B? Was this a gave it 100%, worked with a tutor, watched Khan Academy, etc B? Or was it a blew off some homework, half assed a project and only kinda studied for tests B? A B in math isn’t the problem. The problem is that Geometry is fine, but by A2, kids without a decent foundation are really struggling in honors (as are kids with a decent foundation but without much math aptitude. It’s a real “weed out” class for engineering/CS bound kids in some FCPS HSs).

I had 7th grade A1 kids. One was brilliant and pulled off good grades without the work. Went to TJ where reality (aka Math 3) hit him hard. One was humanities driven and was off the honors math path by A2. Every humanities and social science AP in the book, but couldn’t pull off AP Calc. And had to do APStats plus standard Calc to find enough math. In BOTH cases, I wished we had redone or pushed Algebra I or just waited a year to start.

It’s not about the grade or not accepting a B. In my kids cases, the foundation was shaky— one because of aptitude and one because of attitude . And the math kid had an A (humanities kid an A- or B+, bur really worked for it). And by the time we realized it, it was too late to go back. They redid concepts with tutors. But that was a half measure.

As an aside, the humanities kid is now at WM retaking Calculus for upper level economics. And recently mentioned that she finally understands Algebra for the first time. Letting it get that far was a parenting fail, although at the time, no one suggested we do anything but keep the kids tracked where they were. Big mistake.

Math isn’t a race. Do not move a kid past A1 unless they 100% understand the material. That should be the test— not the grade in the class. Especially if it puts them on a path for multivariable/linear in HS.

It was explained to me that kids brain development reaches a point where abstract concepts in math “click” more easily. If your kid isn’t there, no shame in waiting until they are.

This 100%
So so smart and insightful

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes but not because a B is a low grade. 7th grade is young to take Algebra and it is the most important math class he will take. It is the foundation for every other math class and the stronger the foundation the better. I didn’t have my own kids take it in 7th and wanted a slower math progression to have a very solid base before any high school classes. - math teacher

+1 This exactly. It’s not about the B. It’s about the foundation. Your kid should have an A or A- in Algebra before proceeding to higher level math. A B suggests there may be gaps.

This is such BS. My DS earned a B in 8th grade Algebra and went on to ace all his subsequent math classes. 🙄

Which subsequent math classes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what does your kid want to do? I wouldn't want my senior to be stressed out by multivariable calculus so I would probably advise they repeat algebra but only if that is what my kid wants to do

Multivariable calculus is a lot less stressful than BC IMO. Multi is a one semester course stretched out over a year, while BC isn't

For both my kids (one TJ one base school) it was a semester of multi and a semester of linear algebra.

That's because the other half of university MV Calc semester is the high school / GMU Differential Equations semester.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:90 percent UVA admits had an UWGPA of 4.0, beyond a B showing that Alg isnt fully mastered(that will cause issues down the line in alg3 and every course after that), it also cuts their chance already in grade 7 for good schools

NOVA parents get a reputation for being absolutely insane for a reason.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it is a crucial foundational course. It's not about the grade. It's about a strong foundation and with grade inflation that B is not a great foundation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is currently in 7th grade and has a solid B in Algebra. It is highly unlikely he will pull it up to an A. I don’t want DS starting high school with a 3.0 GPA.

Would you have him retake Algebra in 8th?

NO a solid B is just fine. Ignore the people telling you he must take it over for an A. Also grade inflation is not everywhere. OUr FCPS has a very high/hard math standard. Kids work hard for a B. Not worth the stress of retaking especially if he understood the material and there is no guarantee of an A when retaking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:90 percent UVA admits had an UWGPA of 4.0, beyond a B showing that Alg isnt fully mastered(that will cause issues down the line in alg3 and every course after that), it also cuts their chance already in grade 7 for good schools

Algebra 3?

alg2-typo