How is this possible for so many 7th graders to breeze through Algebra I, when my 8th grader in same class is needing a tutor? |
Very teacher and school dependent. At my kids’ middle school, there were timed tests, few grades and the tests had few questions. Here’s an example: My kids’ teacher would give 3 tests each quarter and the tests had 10-15 questions. If you missed one, you were already at a 90. No quizzes. So they had very little to boost a grade up. My friend’s kid’s teacher gave quizzes once a week and all quizzes and tests had a lot of questions. So those kids could miss several questions and still get an A. |
Practice math starting elementary grades, and student will be more confident taking on higher math levels with ease in middle and high school grades. |
I assume that part of it is that a 7th grader taking Algebra has a more intuitive understanding of math than an 8th or 9th grader taking Algebra. DS is in 6th grade, he scored high enough on the IAAT to take Algebra next year. He takes a math competition class as an extra curricular activty and spends about 4-5 hours workign on math problems for fun. Two hours are with his competition class, one hour is doing homework, and he takes a few older math competition tests each week because he enjoys the challenge. I expect that he will do just fine in Algebra next year if he passes advanced on the SOL because the math competition class is covering material covered in algebra and geometry already. |
How is it possible for so many 7th graders to run an 8 minute mile, when my 8th grader can barely crack 10 and needs to take breaks to walk midway through? |
So they skip 8th grade math. |
All the topics are minimally covered. Math acceleration is for students who learn the concepts when shown, and don't need to be walked through each individual application one at a time. So for example they can learn percentages and then they can solve all the percentages problems through Math 8 level in a week, instead of spreading 10 kinds of percentages questions over 1 week per year for 3 years. |
There is no 8th grade math. It's just a time to continue to go over concepts and give the brain more time to mature. This push to accelerate math classes is relatively new. And personally I don't see the point of taking college level math classes in high school. What do you take in college? Those were some of my favorite classes in college. And kids take them again, in college, since they don't really learn them properly in high school. But retaking a class seems silly to me. There are other classes kids could take in high school but kids don't take them since it would not be "the most rigorous schedule" for college application purposes. |
By qualifying for algebra, they showed that they already did prelgebra at "HS pace" instead of spread across multiple years. |
FCPS wants everyone to skip 8th grade math. It's review and filler for kids who delay algebra |
Also if the student wants to go into a serious STEM major. It sure is nice to have all 3 semesters of Calculus done if you plan on majoring in CS, EE, etc. |
Why are you assuming from the number enrolled that they are breezing through it? I'd guess a handful of kids are and the rest are struggling. Personally I breezed through Algebra 1 in 7th and then really struggled in Geometry and Algebra 2. |
You know what, so be it, 7th graders enrolled in Algebra 1 HN.
How do you all suggest we get to equitable math where everyone at each grade level is enrolled in same math level, similar to how we currently have equitable English or Social Studies? |
I think you are approaching this question from the wrong direction. |
Equity means giving everyone what they need, not giving the same for everyone.
School lunch serving the same plate of food to tiny elementary schoolers and giant senior football linemen isvnot equitable. |