Math options upper elementary

[Anonymous]

My kid didn't have any problems with maturity, executive function, and being among older kids for math. There's no general answer as to whether acceleration is the correct path for kids who qualify. Some will thrive with the acceleration. Others won't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 8th grader is in precalc and I regret allowing this much acceleration. It is so much work. It was pretty smooth sailing until this year. I feel like their maturity and executive function does not match the work level. We will slow down and repeat it next year

That's a whole extra level beyond Algebra in 6th.

I know a lot of the tippy top math students in the DMV are, and Algebra 1 in 6th (or even 7th!) is plenty for them because these kids are super self-motivated and have access to so much free and affordable excellent online/book enrichment that they will *never* get in school no matter how much they accelerate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve had one kid who qualified for double acceleration in 5th. They have to have 575 on their 3rd AND 4th SOLs along with the 145+ COGAT and another content assessment. This kid breezed through 7th grade math as a 5th grader (top of the 6th advanced class he was working with), took algebra in 6th, and in 8th he was taking precalc at the high school. (Not sure how he got both geometry and algebra II knocked out in 7th— summer study?)

This was the most mathematically brilliant kid I’ve had in my career (20+ years). I’ve had other kids I thought could have handled the double acceleration, but the requirements are SO stringent it’s almost impossible to meet them.

Looks like they're excessively stringent.

Not really. The one child I know that got the extra acceleration (150+ COGAT, perfect scores on every SOL) really struggled with the classroom aspect of the class. Because it’s a small handful of young kids in a classroom full of significantly older kids, it introduces other stressors. She’s stopping math entirely after she completes her 4 years of HS math.

This is a myth. Younger kids are perfectly fine being in a classroom with others who are older. The main issues have to do with not being ready to learn the material, not with the class composition.

It's probably fine for one class, especially if it's in the same school and not commuting over to high school, but more time a kid spends learning with older kids, the more they struggle socially. It's not great to have a kid skip ahead 2 years in all classes in school completely.
Its better to find a class or club with similarly aged peers if you can, which might mean a private afterschool / online program.

[Anonymous]

Mine did both -- a county enrichment program in middle school, and then acceleration not a class with older students at a regular high school.

The same-age middle school was much better.
He ended up dropping the 9th grade math class, taking an elective instead, and did the math as independent study, before returning to class for 10th (calculus) and then back to independent study for the rest of high school.

[Anonymous]

Again, it all depends on the individual kid. My 8th grader is taking math class with a bunch of 10th and 11th graders. It's fine. He's had As throughout and no social issues whatsoever.

If you're considering accelerating your child (who has the aptitude and meets the criteria) beyond 7th grade Algebra, here are a few things to consider:
-Is your child content with taking their regular, similar aged peers school class + outside enrichment? If so, then the logistical mess of acceleration most likely isn't worth it.

If your kid is unhappy with the school's advanced class and wants to accelerate:
-Are they reasonably organized and independent? Can they keep track of their homework? Are they past the phase where they're making a lot of careless errors?

-Are they used to being around older kids? Do they socialize reasonably well with the older kids?

If the answer to both of these is 'yes', the kid will likely be fine with the acceleration. It's an easier choice if your child is a younger sibling, since they will already know some of the older kids in the high school, and you as the parent will somewhat know what to expect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve had one kid who qualified for double acceleration in 5th. They have to have 575 on their 3rd AND 4th SOLs along with the 145+ COGAT and another content assessment. This kid breezed through 7th grade math as a 5th grader (top of the 6th advanced class he was working with), took algebra in 6th, and in 8th he was taking precalc at the high school. (Not sure how he got both geometry and algebra II knocked out in 7th— summer study?)

This was the most mathematically brilliant kid I’ve had in my career (20+ years). I’ve had other kids I thought could have handled the double acceleration, but the requirements are SO stringent it’s almost impossible to meet them.

Out of curiosity, what would this kid take their senior year? Have to go to a college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve had one kid who qualified for double acceleration in 5th. They have to have 575 on their 3rd AND 4th SOLs along with the 145+ COGAT and another content assessment. This kid breezed through 7th grade math as a 5th grader (top of the 6th advanced class he was working with), took algebra in 6th, and in 8th he was taking precalc at the high school. (Not sure how he got both geometry and algebra II knocked out in 7th— summer study?)

This was the most mathematically brilliant kid I’ve had in my career (20+ years). I’ve had other kids I thought could have handled the double acceleration, but the requirements are SO stringent it’s almost impossible to meet them.

Out of curiosity, what would this kid take their senior year? Have to go to a college?

Would have to be at George Mason, because the dual enrollment between FCPS and Mason that's offered in-school ends at differential equations, which that kid would be on track to take junior year. But I would think the county could accomodate some sort of dual enrollment where the kid goes to GMU or participates in an online class through GMU for a higher level math course - just without peers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 8th grader is in precalc and I regret allowing this much acceleration. It is so much work. It was pretty smooth sailing until this year. I feel like their maturity and executive function does not match the work level. We will slow down and repeat it next year

Isn't it nice to be able to repeat a class as necessary without worrying about him "falling behind"? I bet he'll do wonderfully next year, likely better than if he had taken it the first time as a 9th grader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine did both -- a county enrichment program in middle school, and then acceleration not a class with older students at a regular high school.

The same-age middle school was much better.
He ended up dropping the 9th grade math class, taking an elective instead, and did the math as independent study, before returning to class for 10th (calculus) and then back to independent study for the rest of high school.

Do all schools allow students to take a core course like math as independent study? If not, which school was this? This seems like the perfect option for gifted kids - let them take AoPS or EMF math or RSM classes as an independent study instead of making them sit in a class that's several years behind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve had one kid who qualified for double acceleration in 5th. They have to have 575 on their 3rd AND 4th SOLs along with the 145+ COGAT and another content assessment. This kid breezed through 7th grade math as a 5th grader (top of the 6th advanced class he was working with), took algebra in 6th, and in 8th he was taking precalc at the high school. (Not sure how he got both geometry and algebra II knocked out in 7th— summer study?)

This was the most mathematically brilliant kid I’ve had in my career (20+ years). I’ve had other kids I thought could have handled the double acceleration, but the requirements are SO stringent it’s almost impossible to meet them.

Out of curiosity, what would this kid take their senior year? Have to go to a college?

Assuming they're really into math and take one credit per semester when they start DE:

9: calc BC
10: linear algebra and MVC
11: discrete math and differential equations
12: lots of options: analysis, complex variables, a more theoretical linear algebra class, number theory, combinatorics, abstract algebra, etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve had one kid who qualified for double acceleration in 5th. They have to have 575 on their 3rd AND 4th SOLs along with the 145+ COGAT and another content assessment. This kid breezed through 7th grade math as a 5th grader (top of the 6th advanced class he was working with), took algebra in 6th, and in 8th he was taking precalc at the high school. (Not sure how he got both geometry and algebra II knocked out in 7th— summer study?)

This was the most mathematically brilliant kid I’ve had in my career (20+ years). I’ve had other kids I thought could have handled the double acceleration, but the requirements are SO stringent it’s almost impossible to meet them.

Out of curiosity, what would this kid take their senior year? Have to go to a college?

Assuming they're really into math and take one credit per semester when they start DE:

9: calc BC
10: linear algebra and MVC
11: discrete math and differential equations
12: lots of options: analysis, complex variables, a more theoretical linear algebra class, number theory, combinatorics, abstract algebra, etc

This. In my district there are about 30 or so kids that that precalc in 8th. I would say majority repeat it in 9th then continue on with the above schedule. But all of their required math credits are done by 8-9th grade as it is. Our high school offers advanced math beyond calculus, but they don’t have to continue to take math all 4 yrs. Lots will take AP stats, AP economics, or AP computer science junior and/or senior year.