Magnet Functions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reports from my kid are that his friends are already struggling in functions. Kids who have always got 100 percent getting 30 percent for example. Very glad I discouraged him from taking the test. I really don’t see any benefit here.

30% is not a problem. The grading is curved fairly. That means it's a good test that won't stifle anyone with a low ceiling.

Blair SMACS is a Science, Math, and Computer Science magnet.

If you are there for Science or Computer Science, you don't need Functions.

If you are there for Math, Functions is your chance to catch up to the kids from WPES (or continue on your path if you are from WPES) and have a once in a county opportunity to take amazing math classes in high school.

You don't even need to take extremely advanced math if you take Functions in 9th. You can continue to Analysis 1 (Calculus) A/B in 10th, Applied Stats and Discrete Math in 11th,

and Sports Stats (project) or
Analysis 2 A (half of Multivariable Calculus) or Linear Algebra, in 12th.

Agree with this, but.. what is WPES ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reports from my kid are that his friends are already struggling in functions. Kids who have always got 100 percent getting 30 percent for example. Very glad I discouraged him from taking the test. I really don’t see any benefit here.

30% is not a problem. The grading is curved fairly. That means it's a good test that won't stifle anyone with a low ceiling.

Blair SMACS is a Science, Math, and Computer Science magnet.

If you are there for Science or Computer Science, you don't need Functions.

If you are there for Math, Functions is your chance to catch up to the kids from WPES (or continue on your path if you are from WPES) and have a once in a county opportunity to take amazing math classes in high school.

You don't even need to take extremely advanced math if you take Functions in 9th. You can continue to Analysis 1 (Calculus) A/B in 10th, Applied Stats and Discrete Math in 11th,

and Sports Stats (project) or
Analysis 2 A (half of Multivariable Calculus) or Linear Algebra, in 12th.

Agree with this, but.. what is WPES ?

The mythical Wealthy Potomac Elem School - where 5th graders take Algebra.

[Anonymous]

They advise the kids to stay in Functions for about a month. I think there's a specific date they will check the grades and consult with the teacher and make recommendations for kids to stay or move to Precal. It's true a lot of kids move to Precal and there's no issue at all with this. They purposely have a Precal class the same period as the Functions classes and leave room in those classes for Functions kids.

[Anonymous]

My kid loved functions and said it was the first time they have really learned anything interesting in math since starting school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reports from my kid are that his friends are already struggling in functions. Kids who have always got 100 percent getting 30 percent for example. Very glad I discouraged him from taking the test. I really don’t see any benefit here.

The benefit is that kids who love math and excel in it can go on to take more math later in their high school years.

My kid has taken health over the summer so that frees up a spot for a higher level math elective later in their high school years (if desired) without putting them under unnecessary pressure in 9th. Seems like a much more reasonable approach to me.

My kid loves Functions and doesn't experience it as pressure, unnecessary or otherwise.

[Anonymous]

My kid likes math more than some kids, but less than other kids. My kid is also faster at learning math than solenoids, but slower than others, and was more knowledgeable in 9th grade than some, but less than others. My kid has more time commitment for music/sports/other classes than some kids, and less than others.

All of the kids chose a math class that fit their preparation, and had a time commitment (varied based on their ability) that was acceptable for their interest level and schedule balance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reports from my kid are that his friends are already struggling in functions. Kids who have always got 100 percent getting 30 percent for example. Very glad I discouraged him from taking the test. I really don’t see any benefit here.

Isn't this a good thing?? Kids that always get 100% are not learning efficiently because they likely already know everything. I would Love for my kid to have this specific opportunity to encounter something hard and initially fail at it, before college.

Is it a good thing? Maybe. But 3-5 hours of homework a night for one class doesn’t sound good to me.

Don't believe the myth, not even close to that.

Not a myth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reports from my kid are that his friends are already struggling in functions. Kids who have always got 100 percent getting 30 percent for example. Very glad I discouraged him from taking the test. I really don’t see any benefit here.

30% is not a problem. The grading is curved fairly. That means it's a good test that won't stifle anyone with a low ceiling.

Blair SMACS is a Science, Math, and Computer Science magnet.

If you are there for Science or Computer Science, you don't need Functions.

If you are there for Math, Functions is your chance to catch up to the kids from WPES (or continue on your path if you are from WPES) and have a once in a county opportunity to take amazing math classes in high school.

You don't even need to take extremely advanced math if you take Functions in 9th. You can continue to Analysis 1 (Calculus) A/B in 10th, Applied Stats and Discrete Math in 11th,

and Sports Stats (project) or
Analysis 2 A (half of Multivariable Calculus) or Linear Algebra, in 12th.

What is WPES???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid likes math more than some kids, but less than other kids. My kid is also faster at learning math than solenoids, but slower than others, and was more knowledgeable in 9th grade than some, but less than others. My kid has more time commitment for music/sports/other classes than some kids, and less than others.

All of the kids chose a math class that fit their preparation, and had a time commitment (varied based on their ability) that was acceptable for their interest level and schedule balance.

This post is so difficult to follow.

[Anonymous]

My daughter took functions at PHS her freshman year and because she is obsessed with Math she did great. She is not a junior and is not much ahead of others but she feels comfortable that one of her majors will be Applied Mathematics and the other Astronomy and Physics. She said half of her class dropped out after the semester though.

[Anonymous]

Mine thought it was worthwhile for the extra magnet math elective. She really likes math -- science and cs, not so much. She even took 2 mag math electives sr year but ditched srp. Placed out of all the math foundation courses at her university and has a handful of classes left to get a degree, which frees her up to indulge all her arts passions.

But, it was really intense and stressful at times. I think it is a little more student friendly now than it was pre covid, though.

But, as a PP said, you can always move back to pre calc. It's still very accelerated , and it's important for kids to not get burned out. A few switch back most years. No shame in that. It's about priorities, not competence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reports from my kid are that his friends are already struggling in functions. Kids who have always got 100 percent getting 30 percent for example. Very glad I discouraged him from taking the test. I really don’t see any benefit here.

30% is not a problem. The grading is curved fairly. That means it's a good test that won't stifle anyone with a low ceiling.

Blair SMACS is a Science, Math, and Computer Science magnet.

If you are there for Science or Computer Science, you don't need Functions.

If you are there for Math, Functions is your chance to catch up to the kids from WPES (or continue on your path if you are from WPES) and have a once in a county opportunity to take amazing math classes in high school.

You don't even need to take extremely advanced math if you take Functions in 9th. You can continue to Analysis 1 (Calculus) A/B in 10th, Applied Stats and Discrete Math in 11th,

and Sports Stats (project) or
Analysis 2 A (half of Multivariable Calculus) or Linear Algebra, in 12th.

Agree with this, but.. what is WPES ?

The mythical Wealthy Potomac Elem School - where 5th graders take Algebra.

not so mythical...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid likes math more than some kids, but less than other kids. My kid is also faster at learning math than solenoids, but slower than others, and was more knowledgeable in 9th grade than some, but less than others. My kid has more time commitment for music/sports/other classes than some kids, and less than others.

All of the kids chose a math class that fit their preparation, and had a time commitment (varied based on their ability) that was acceptable for their interest level and schedule balance.

This post is so difficult to follow.

I think it's a word problem. I think it would have made more sense had they incorporated red and blue marbles.

[Anonymous]

My kid is great in math and I always thought he would do Functions. Imagine a kid who usually gets 98% in all his classes each quarter without studying a lot, but is not going to make it to Math Olympiad. He liked it, but it was a lot of homework. He decided to drop down to Pre-Calc so there was more time for other things — music, drama, sports— and just vegging out with us. So it’s really whatever the kid wants is fine.

[Anonymous]

Functions is a lot of work. The warnings that the coordinator and the teacher provide at the beginning of the year are for real. So, as long as your kid is willing to put in the time and work, they will be fine.