Is it possible to skip taking geometry for 8th grader?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Geometry is the most eloquent of math subjects. That’s your biggest chance to fall in love with math. STEM majors and math majors reflect on this! I wouldn’t have skipped it ever!

Really? Most of the math people I know, myself included, loathed geometry. I adored algebra, trig, calc, but geometry? Barf.

That said, I still don’t think it’s wise to skip it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Geometry is the most eloquent of math subjects. That’s your biggest chance to fall in love with math. STEM majors and math majors reflect on this! I wouldn’t have skipped it ever!

Except when you take it through MCPS. My kid did Geometry outside of MCPS and I agree with your comment. But MCPS ensures that it sucks the joy out of every math class.

If a kid can show he/she is proficient in Geometry, MCPS should allow them to move on.

[Anonymous]

You can easily take geometry in summer school, my kid did. It’s six weeks of full time class, though. Nowadays they may offer it online. I’m sure you can get info from either your counseling office or their website. I’m sure you won’t mind the following, but do keep in mind they have to take four years of math in HS. Plan accordingly!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geometry is the most eloquent of math subjects. That’s your biggest chance to fall in love with math. STEM majors and math majors reflect on this! I wouldn’t have skipped it ever!

Really? Most of the math people I know, myself included, loathed geometry. I adored algebra, trig, calc, but geometry? Barf.

That said, I still don’t think it’s wise to skip it.

Untrue. What I have found to be true, talking to fellow scientists, is that those who had a strong preference for either Algebra or Geometry didn't like the other. I LOVED geometry and wasn't a fan of algebra.

[Anonymous]

^ I think it solicits different areas of the brain, hence the preferences.

[Anonymous]

Not smart to skip. 99%-tilers are dime a dozen

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:08:34 again - also, if it's for this current school year, we're Oct 30th. It's highly unlikely MCPS will let a student parachute into Algebra 2 right now. They can also be a bit finicky with placement tests: when DD did her placement test to attend Algebra 1, the questions were ABOUT algebra 1, and she needed to get them all right. I was expecting pre-algebra questions, just to assess whether she was prepared, but no. I've heard that the placement test and decisions are entirely at the school's discretion, however. If I were your math coordinator, I would insist on a geometry test and expect full mastery, then assess her mastery of the first quarter of algebra 2. But since it's a graduation requirement, I don't think they'll allow your kid to skip Geometry.

Thanks for your clarification. Your input is extremely helpful. We'll plan to talk to our school math coordinator and will definitely confirm content mastery even if any option is available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geometry is the most eloquent of math subjects. That’s your biggest chance to fall in love with math. STEM majors and math majors reflect on this! I wouldn’t have skipped it ever!

Except when you take it through MCPS. My kid did Geometry outside of MCPS and I agree with your comment. But MCPS ensures that it sucks the joy out of every math class.

If a kid can show he/she is proficient in Geometry, MCPS should allow them to move on.

Yes! It is our concern as well; math classes (even more advanced level ) are not stimulating and interesting, which is disappointing. Did you child take Geometry both inside and outside MCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is is possible to request skipping taking geometry for 8th grader (and take the high school 9th grade level math)?
If so what is the requirement? (Map is currently at 99% tile at 7 and 8th grade levels.)

99%tile is where the score ranks nationwide. A large number of MCPS students fall in the 99th percentile. It is not an indication of understanding 99% of 8th grade math (geometry).

Not this again. That large number is about 1 percent. MCPS percentiles are NOT substantially different from the national percentages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can easily take geometry in summer school, my kid did. It’s six weeks of full time class, though. Nowadays they may offer it online. I’m sure you can get info from either your counseling office or their website. I’m sure you won’t mind the following, but do keep in mind they have to take four years of math in HS. Plan accordingly!

These were last year's high school summer offerings. They include honors geometry. Can middle school kids take high school summer classes?

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/extendedhours/summerschool/courses.aspx

[Anonymous]

Re summer classes through MCPS: to check the box, you can certainly do that. Most students who take summer courses do so as a remedial option to change their bad grade. They're also very short and thus concentrated, and can be hard to follow for someone with no prior experience, and not include the full curriculum others get during the year.

So if you take one to get ahead in a subject that builds on itself, year after year, be careful - you will not get the same instruction as in the full year course, and might run into difficulties in the next year's class.

[Anonymous]

https://marylandpublicschools.org/about/Pages/DCAA/Math/MMGR.aspx

Maryland Mathematics Graduation Requirements
Enrollment Requirements

A. Students shall enroll in a mathematics class in each year of high school.
COMAR 13A.03.02.03 Enrollment and Credits Requirements
FAQs about mathematics every year of high school enrollment requirement.

Credit Requirements
COMAR 13A.03.02.03 Enrollment and Credits Requirements

B. a student who entered the 9th grade class in the 2020—2021 school year or earlier shall have earned a minimum of:
three credits, including one with instruction in algebra aligned with the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment for algebra and one with instruction in geometry aligned with the content standards for geometry;

C. students entering the 9th grade class in the 2021—2022 school year shall have earned a minimum of :
four credits, including one with instruction in algebra aligned with the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment for algebra and one with instruction in geometry aligned with the content standards for geometry;

You must be enrolled in a state approved course for Geometry and earn one full credit. You can't test out of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://marylandpublicschools.org/about/Pages/DCAA/Math/MMGR.aspx

Maryland Mathematics Graduation Requirements
Enrollment Requirements

A. Students shall enroll in a mathematics class in each year of high school.
COMAR 13A.03.02.03 Enrollment and Credits Requirements
FAQs about mathematics every year of high school enrollment requirement.

Credit Requirements
COMAR 13A.03.02.03 Enrollment and Credits Requirements

B. a student who entered the 9th grade class in the 2020—2021 school year or earlier shall have earned a minimum of:
three credits, including one with instruction in algebra aligned with the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment for algebra and one with instruction in geometry aligned with the content standards for geometry;

C. students entering the 9th grade class in the 2021—2022 school year shall have earned a minimum of :
four credits, including one with instruction in algebra aligned with the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment for algebra and one with instruction in geometry aligned with the content standards for geometry;

You must be enrolled in a state approved course for Geometry and earn one full credit. You can't test out of it.

Very helpful! How do we find out if an outside-MCPS course contents is stated approved for Honors Geometry or not? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

MCPS does not give credit for outside math courses unless you are a transfer student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geometry is the most eloquent of math subjects. That’s your biggest chance to fall in love with math. STEM majors and math majors reflect on this! I wouldn’t have skipped it ever!

Really? Most of the math people I know, myself included, loathed geometry. I adored algebra, trig, calc, but geometry? Barf.

That said, I still don’t think it’s wise to skip it.

Untrue. What I have found to be true, talking to fellow scientists, is that those who had a strong preference for either Algebra or Geometry didn't like the other. I LOVED geometry and wasn't a fan of algebra.

I agree with the algebra vs. geometry divide, but most of those in the latter camp I know didn’t like math generally, whereas those of us in the former did.

Also, plenty of scientists are abysmal at math. Not the physicists or chemists, usually.