Honors Pre-Calc

[Anonymous]

My kid, currently in Hon Algebra 2 in 9th grade, is scheduled to take Hon Pre-Calc next year. He is more of a humanities kid and got As in Algebra this year his year, but barely. We're thinking he can start in Honors and drop down if necessary. Thoughts on whether there is some light summer prep that might help? Khan Academy or something?

[Anonymous]

I don’t know the answer, but that’s a great idea. My dd had to drop down to regular pre-calc after getting A’s in Algebra and she was not alone amongst her friends. And it was still hard for her!

[Anonymous]

Honors precalc is notoriously the hardest math class most kids take.

[Anonymous]

OP here. So do people recommend just starting in regular? We are really torn.

[Anonymous]

OP, have you asked the teacher for a recommendation? They know your child best and what is expected in honors precalc.

[Anonymous]

My kid had this dilemma and went with regular pre-calc. The material covered in the first week of honors was given 3 weeks in the regular class (she conferred with friends). Its the pace that makes it so challenging, you have to grasp the concepts immediately and start applying them. She was very glad of the choice she made.

[Anonymous]

Hope parents of younger kids read this.

Unless you have a math kid, this is likely the scenario you will put your kid in by placing them on the advanced math track.

OP your plan sounds good.

[Anonymous]

This was the same scenario for my kid and she wound up choosing not to take Honors pre-calc. I think it was a great decision. She's in plenty of other Honors and AP classes and skipping honors took off a bit of unnecessary pressure.

[Anonymous]

Khan Academy. Don't sell your kid short.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid, currently in Hon Algebra 2 in 9th grade, is scheduled to take Hon Pre-Calc next year. He is more of a humanities kid and got As in Algebra this year his year, but barely. We're thinking he can start in Honors and drop down if necessary. Thoughts on whether there is some light summer prep that might help? Khan Academy or something?

I think that if your kid (and you) are already stressed about him not earning an A in Honors Precalc, he should start in regular Precalc. If you can manage the idea that a B is a good grade and that part of the goal will be to learn how to manage a challenging course, then stay in Honors Precalc. But your post makes me think he should drop to a slower pace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid, currently in Hon Algebra 2 in 9th grade, is scheduled to take Hon Pre-Calc next year. He is more of a humanities kid and got As in Algebra this year his year, but barely. We're thinking he can start in Honors and drop down if necessary. Thoughts on whether there is some light summer prep that might help? Khan Academy or something?

I think that if your kid (and you) are already stressed about him not earning an A in Honors Precalc, he should start in regular Precalc. If you can manage the idea that a B is a good grade and that part of the goal will be to learn how to manage a challenging course, then stay in Honors Precalc. But your post makes me think he should drop to a slower pace.

OP here - I would be 100 percent fine with my kid getting a B. I would be less fine with a C and not at all fine with him being excessively stressed about this class. The teacher did not give us a strong lead in either direction

[Anonymous]

I would hire a tutor for this summer to prepare your child for Honors Pre-calc. Math isn't hard when taught one-on-one, but it's hard to teach as a group. Please don't sell your kid short, OP. Believe in him. My Humanities kid with dyscalculia (math disability) went all the way to AP Calc BC. He was proud to have achieved that much and he learned the value of hard work. When he went to college for his non-STEM major, he was pleasantly surprised to find that his required math class was comparatively easy.