Any 5th graders in Algebra 1 ?

[Anonymous]

Are there any 5th-grade students taking Algebra 1 in your school? If so, how is the process for acceleration handled for such advanced students?

My 8yo kid(3rd grader) has already mastered the elementary math curriculum and often feels unchallenged in her current AAP class. Given her interest and ability, I believe she would benefit from more advanced coursework, possibly even starting pre-Algebra early. I’d like to understand what options might be available for her to continue to grow academically, and if there’s a process we can follow to support this acceleration.

I reached out to the school, and they also recognized that my daughter excels in math. However, they informed me that there is no option for her to start early. The earliest pathway available is pre-algebra in 5th grade, followed by online Algebra 1 in 6th grade….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there any 5th-grade students taking Algebra 1 in your school? If so, how is the process for acceleration handled for such advanced students?

My 8yo kid(3rd grader) has already mastered the elementary math curriculum and often feels unchallenged in her current AAP class. Given her interest and ability, I believe she would benefit from more advanced coursework, possibly even starting pre-Algebra early. I’d like to understand what options might be available for her to continue to grow academically, and if there’s a process we can follow to support this acceleration.

I reached out to the school, and they also recognized that my daughter excels in math. However, they informed me that there is no option for her to start early. The earliest pathway available is pre-algebra in 5th grade, followed by online Algebra 1 in 6th grade….

Which school?

[Anonymous]

For now, you need to do outside enrichment. Russian School or AoPS are great. Alg 1 will still be there next year.

My kid is adv in math. He's now in HS. It's really nice to have an easy math class as he navigates the rest of his HS courses. He's in 9th and in H. PreCalc and has completed AP BC through CTY. At home he self studies MV. But his pre calc class is an easy A for him that doesn't require much thinking and is a nice break during the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there any 5th-grade students taking Algebra 1 in your school? If so, how is the process for acceleration handled for such advanced students?

My 8yo kid(3rd grader) has already mastered the elementary math curriculum and often feels unchallenged in her current AAP class. Given her interest and ability, I believe she would benefit from more advanced coursework, possibly even starting pre-Algebra early. I’d like to understand what options might be available for her to continue to grow academically, and if there’s a process we can follow to support this acceleration.

I reached out to the school, and they also recognized that my daughter excels in math. However, they informed me that there is no option for her to start early. The earliest pathway available is pre-algebra in 5th grade, followed by online Algebra 1 in 6th grade….

A very small number of kids are allowed to take Algebra I in 5th, but they're generally already skipped ahead a year or two in 1st or 2nd grade. Only 1 or 2 kids per grade level are skipped ahead like this, and they need to be way off the charts for FCPS to even consider allowing the skip. Unless your kid's 3rd grade iready math score is around 570-580+ your kid isn't in the ballpark for this level of acceleration. If your kid is around that level, I'd see if she can skip up to 4th grade AAP math right now.

[Anonymous]

My DC is not that precocious in math and took Algebra I in 7th grade, along with many other kids in his AAP class. However, what I have heard is that for the kids who are super-advanced, the logistical headaches make the grade acceleration more trouble than its worth. Several of them have said that if they could do it over again, they wouldn't have accelerated that much.

Think carefully before moving ahead so much in math. If your DC takes Algebra I in 5th grade, then takes Geo in 6th, Alg II in 7th, Precal in 8th, Calc in 9th, multivar in 10th. Then math at GMU for 11th and 12th?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there any 5th-grade students taking Algebra 1 in your school? If so, how is the process for acceleration handled for such advanced students?

My 8yo kid(3rd grader) has already mastered the elementary math curriculum and often feels unchallenged in her current AAP class. Given her interest and ability, I believe she would benefit from more advanced coursework, possibly even starting pre-Algebra early. I’d like to understand what options might be available for her to continue to grow academically, and if there’s a process we can follow to support this acceleration.

I reached out to the school, and they also recognized that my daughter excels in math. However, they informed me that there is no option for her to start early. The earliest pathway available is pre-algebra in 5th grade, followed by online Algebra 1 in 6th grade….

Does the school agree that she's mastered the entire elementary curriculum? Do her test scores reflect that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC is not that precocious in math and took Algebra I in 7th grade, along with many other kids in his AAP class. However, what I have heard is that for the kids who are super-advanced, the logistical headaches make the grade acceleration more trouble than its worth. Several of them have said that if they could do it over again, they wouldn't have accelerated that much.

Think carefully before moving ahead so much in math. If your DC takes Algebra I in 5th grade, then takes Geo in 6th, Alg II in 7th, Precal in 8th, Calc in 9th, multivar in 10th. Then math at GMU for 11th and 12th?

I currently teach middle school Geometry and I can't imagine a 6th grader having the maturity to take Geometry - it's a lot more than being good at math - it requires organization, planning, and patience. It would be a struggle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC is not that precocious in math and took Algebra I in 7th grade, along with many other kids in his AAP class. However, what I have heard is that for the kids who are super-advanced, the logistical headaches make the grade acceleration more trouble than its worth. Several of them have said that if they could do it over again, they wouldn't have accelerated that much.

Think carefully before moving ahead so much in math. If your DC takes Algebra I in 5th grade, then takes Geo in 6th, Alg II in 7th, Precal in 8th, Calc in 9th, multivar in 10th. Then math at GMU for 11th and 12th?

I currently teach middle school Geometry and I can't imagine a 6th grader having the maturity to take Geometry - it's a lot more than being good at math - it requires organization, planning, and patience. It would be a struggle.

This is what's wrong with our schools. The low expectations.

[Anonymous]

A kid who is that good at math will never be satisfied by what school offers. The reason they are so far advanced is that the school curriculum is so thin.

Supplements with enriched math at home and they won't need to skip so far ahead in school.

The best math students in the DMV area, the ones winning national awards, are in Algebra 1 in 6th or 7th in school, but farther, deeper, and wider in enrichment at home. Regular school math just isn't a factor for them.

[Anonymous]

6th grade Algebra 1, 7th grade Geometry, 8th grade Algebra-2. No summer math. This is the best math progression recommended by our school counselor for our advanced student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:6th grade Algebra 1, 7th grade Geometry, 8th grade Algebra-2. No summer math. This is the best math progression recommended by our school counselor for our advanced student.

How would 6th grade algebra 1 happen? Online? Go to ms and take bus back to elementary school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC is not that precocious in math and took Algebra I in 7th grade, along with many other kids in his AAP class. However, what I have heard is that for the kids who are super-advanced, the logistical headaches make the grade acceleration more trouble than its worth. Several of them have said that if they could do it over again, they wouldn't have accelerated that much.

Think carefully before moving ahead so much in math. If your DC takes Algebra I in 5th grade, then takes Geo in 6th, Alg II in 7th, Precal in 8th, Calc in 9th, multivar in 10th. Then math at GMU for 11th and 12th?

I currently teach middle school Geometry and I can't imagine a 6th grader having the maturity to take Geometry - it's a lot more than being good at math - it requires organization, planning, and patience. It would be a struggle.

I had a 6th grader in class one year. He did fine mathematically, but it was awkward socially. Maybe he was awkward in his base elementary school too, but the difference between a bunch of 8th graders and a 6th grader was huge. Very Sheldon Cooper-esque, with the 8th graders staring at him bug eyed a lot for the things he said and did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there any 5th-grade students taking Algebra 1 in your school? If so, how is the process for acceleration handled for such advanced students?

My 8yo kid(3rd grader) has already mastered the elementary math curriculum and often feels unchallenged in her current AAP class. Given her interest and ability, I believe she would benefit from more advanced coursework, possibly even starting pre-Algebra early. I’d like to understand what options might be available for her to continue to grow academically, and if there’s a process we can follow to support this acceleration.

I reached out to the school, and they also recognized that my daughter excels in math. However, they informed me that there is no option for her to start early. The earliest pathway available is pre-algebra in 5th grade, followed by online Algebra 1 in 6th grade….

You can always enrich at home with Beast Academy / AoPS. Can you talk to her teacher about her working independently at her own pace during math class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC is not that precocious in math and took Algebra I in 7th grade, along with many other kids in his AAP class. However, what I have heard is that for the kids who are super-advanced, the logistical headaches make the grade acceleration more trouble than its worth. Several of them have said that if they could do it over again, they wouldn't have accelerated that much.

Think carefully before moving ahead so much in math. If your DC takes Algebra I in 5th grade, then takes Geo in 6th, Alg II in 7th, Precal in 8th, Calc in 9th, multivar in 10th. Then math at GMU for 11th and 12th?

If they want to slow down later they can do AB in 9th, stats in 10th, BC in 11th, and multi or linear algebra or differential equations in 12th

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC is not that precocious in math and took Algebra I in 7th grade, along with many other kids in his AAP class. However, what I have heard is that for the kids who are super-advanced, the logistical headaches make the grade acceleration more trouble than its worth. Several of them have said that if they could do it over again, they wouldn't have accelerated that much.

Think carefully before moving ahead so much in math. If your DC takes Algebra I in 5th grade, then takes Geo in 6th, Alg II in 7th, Precal in 8th, Calc in 9th, multivar in 10th. Then math at GMU for 11th and 12th?

I currently teach middle school Geometry and I can't imagine a 6th grader having the maturity to take Geometry - it's a lot more than being good at math - it requires organization, planning, and patience. It would be a struggle.

How much of this is due to the subject itself vs how the course is structured? Plenty of kids take AoPS geometry, which is far more challenging than even the honors geometry at TJ and other magnet programs: https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c70h2719403_in_what_grade_did_you_take_geometry (ignore the spike at first grade - that's used as the "show me the results" option)