8th grade: Algebra 1 or Algebra 1 HN

[Anonymous]

Hi All,

Hoping you can weigh in. My DD is currently in Math 7 HN and doing well, but currently at a low A. She does have to work somewhat hard to maintain this. She doesn’t enjoy math and struggles with word problems and more application type stuff. I usually have to help her with homework at some points. Would it be better for her to take regular Algebra or Algebra 1 HN next year?

I want to make sure she is confident and has a solid A in Algebra as it will be a high school course. But I also know honors give the grade bump. I have heard that it’s harder to raise your GPA without honors classes. Based on my older child’s experience with honors math classes, I don’t think she would do Geometry Honors. I know geometry is quite different from Algebra. Would it be worth it to do Algebra Honors at this point? Or just do regular knowing we will get off the honors track later?

[Anonymous]

Ask the teacher she has now for their recommendation. In the regular class, there may be a lot of kids that are not strong in math or who have behavioral issues that may impact her learning. Please don’t focus so much on As at this age. You want her to learn the material. She does not need to worry about her GPA at this level. Kids do not need parental pressure on grades. A B is not an F. Please back off the grade pressure thing. Not every kid is going to get into Harvard.

[Anonymous]

Let her decide and know you can expunge the grade if it doesn’t go well since it’s middle school. But like the other poster said, don’t focus so much on As. That’s too much pressure at this age.

In 8th, one of mine took regular, the other took honors. It was completely teacher dependent on which was better and why.

[Anonymous]

And adding to my post, there were not behavior issues in the regular Alg class.

[Anonymous]

My post about this got disappeared but how do you know if your child should take pre-algebra or algebra in 8th? My daughter is in regular math 7th and has As.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And adding to my post, there were not behavior issues in the regular Alg class.

I truly think the myth about your kid must take all Honors or they'll be with the bad kids is just that...a myth.

[Anonymous]

PP what grade bump does Honors give?

[Anonymous]

If she has an A, even with effort, in Math 7H I would take Algebra 1 H. She might need to work at it but it provides her with more options in HS. But talk to the Teacher and get their recommendation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP what grade bump does Honors give?

There is a 0.5 for all HS honors classes. AP and IB get a 1.0 bump.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP what grade bump does Honors give?

It adds 0.5 to the course points. So an A is 4.5 instead of 4.

Colleges recalculate though, so YMMV what it’s actually worth in 5 years.

OP, ask your child her thoughts. I taught both honors and regular algebra 1 for 8th graders for years. While some kids were clearly more capable math students, many of the ones who were successful were the ones who wanted to put in the effort beyond class time and learn. They did the extra problem sets, sat with challenge questions instead of waiting for answers, and asked questions as they worked through material.

An A- student in math 7 honors should be fine in algebra honors, if m7h did the suggested extensions. If they just taught the basic prealgebra curriculum, it will be a bigger stretch

[Anonymous]

OP here. The teacher will simply recommend based on the grade. Since she has an A they will most likely recommend honors. However, they don’t the effort she may put in behind the scenes. Or how she hates math.

Expunging the grade is not an option as she would have to repeat the course in 9th. We need her completing Algebra now so she can be in Calculus as a senior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask the teacher she has now for their recommendation. In the regular class, there may be a lot of kids that are not strong in math or who have behavioral issues that may impact her learning. Please don’t focus so much on As at this age. You want her to learn the material. She does not need to worry about her GPA at this level. Kids do not need parental pressure on grades. A B is not an F. Please back off the grade pressure thing. Not every kid is going to get into Harvard.

I disagree. Algebra and the foreign language will be on her transcript so she will need to make sure does well in those classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP what grade bump does Honors give?

It adds 0.5 to the course points. So an A is 4.5 instead of 4.

Colleges recalculate though, so YMMV what it’s actually worth in 5 years.

OP, ask your child her thoughts. I taught both honors and regular algebra 1 for 8th graders for years. While some kids were clearly more capable math students, many of the ones who were successful were the ones who wanted to put in the effort beyond class time and learn. They did the extra problem sets, sat with challenge questions instead of waiting for answers, and asked questions as they worked through material.

An A- student in math 7 honors should be fine in algebra honors, if m7h did the suggested extensions. If they just taught the basic prealgebra curriculum, it will be a bigger stretch

How will we know if the teacher did this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The teacher will simply recommend based on the grade. Since she has an A they will most likely recommend honors. However, they don’t the effort she may put in behind the scenes. Or how she hates math.

Expunging the grade is not an option as she would have to repeat the course in 9th. We need her completing Algebra now so she can be in Calculus as a senior.

If your goal is Calculus as a senior she needs honors. Is Calculus her goal or your goal for her? There are other math classes that are useful for kids that are less challenging for a kid who dislikes math, like AP Stats.

[Anonymous]

Algebra 1 Honors to get the extra extensions. The learning is more important than the grade.