LCPS Curriculum and Instruction committee 3/10 meeting about advanced math

[Anonymous]

Middle school math advancement is on the agenda.

[Anonymous]

What did they decide?

[Anonymous]

They will put up a video soon.

[Anonymous]

Meeting audio is up, and discussion of math starts at 1:17.
People might also be interested in a discussion of change to reading instruction. I don't think they're abandoning phonics but didn't pay close attention.

Looks like on a case by case basis they will evaluate for 6th grade algebra, and parents can contact their elementary principal who will coordinate with Wendy King the gifted coordinator for testing.

[Anonymous]

They put up a lot of VMPIish arguments against acceleration- that students retake calculus in college, and not many are taking advanced math classes in high school. They did not put up any data that the kids who take algebra in 6th grade do poorly in high school classes, just that they do not continue to take classes that are three years ahead as a junior or senior. They also leave out of this count the kids who went to AOS/AET/TJ.

[Anonymous]

I think after this meeting, they asked principals to tell anyone who scored above 90% they can take algebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think after this meeting, they asked principals to tell anyone who scored above 90% they can take algebra.

The test they all took was for permission to take PRE algebra.

[Anonymous]

Yes, and anyone who scores above 90% on this is given permission to take algebra, or perhaps will be given a test, IAAT, to take algebra. The test they took was SOL 7 for prealgebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, and anyone who scores above 90% on this is given permission to take algebra, or perhaps will be given a test, IAAT, to take algebra. The test they took was SOL 7 for prealgebra.

There is a deadline of April 22 for submitting a request to take algebra in 6th grade. Contact your elementary principal for the form.

[Anonymous]

I kind of see where LCPs is going with the math , but as usual they are leaning towards too extreme.

I have a 10th grader who is finishing up AP BC calc. He started with Algebra 1 in 6th grade with a full class of 6th graders. He is now one of only TWO Children who have managed to not drop out over the years. A 90% fail rate is pretty bad. It is very clear that parents have pushed their kids beyond their abilities and wasted everyone’s time.

For 11th grade he’s taking multi variable calc. For this there is ONE class in the entire county offered at woodgrove and the rest of the students have to log into the online live class. Even then the county only has demand for one full classroom.

Tracking your child in Algebra 1 in 6th grade statically sets them up for failure. I only suggest this if your child is truly gifted in math. Like savant level. What LCPs and Virginia should do is require rigorous testing that doesn’t allow for a waiver.

Tracking starting with Algebra 1 in 6th grade is not just a matter of having a smart hardworking child. It’s the equivalent of expecting your child to be a D1 athlete. You have to factor in true god given gifts to make it work.

Both my son and the other student will probably be the kid who gets into Harvard or MIT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I kind of see where LCPs is going with the math , but as usual they are leaning towards too extreme.

I have a 10th grader who is finishing up AP BC calc. He started with Algebra 1 in 6th grade with a full class of 6th graders. He is now one of only TWO Children who have managed to not drop out over the years. A 90% fail rate is pretty bad. It is very clear that parents have pushed their kids beyond their abilities and wasted everyone’s time.

For 11th grade he’s taking multi variable calc. For this there is ONE class in the entire county offered at woodgrove and the rest of the students have to log into the online live class. Even then the county only has demand for one full classroom.

Tracking your child in Algebra 1 in 6th grade statically sets them up for failure. I only suggest this if your child is truly gifted in math. Like savant level. What LCPs and Virginia should do is require rigorous testing that doesn’t allow for a waiver.

Tracking starting with Algebra 1 in 6th grade is not just a matter of having a smart hardworking child. It’s the equivalent of expecting your child to be a D1 athlete. You have to factor in true god given gifts to make it work.

Both my son and the other student will probably be the kid who gets into Harvard or MIT.

This is one of the best explanations I have seen about this topic. Thank you. I think too many parents don't look at the full picture.

[Anonymous]

Well, make sure he gets into AoS, publishes research and wins a national or international competition

[Anonymous]

How many of his classmates in 6th grade Algebra 1 went to TJ or AoS? Are you including them in your 90% figure?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many of his classmates in 6th grade Algebra 1 went to TJ or AoS? Are you including them in your 90% figure?

This is the flaw in the numbers given at the committee meeting.
AoS gives calculus in 11th grade, though some topics get covered in 10th grade. Not sure what TJ does.

[Anonymous]

I don't know what will happen in 10th grade, but for now the numbers taking algebra 2 in 8th is higher than the number taking algebra in 6th.