Middle school Math

[Anonymous]

Please ask your middle school math coordinator right now for a placement test into Algebra 1. Some math coordinators try their best to avoid placing 6th graders in that class, but you can always ask for the placement test in the summer.

My kid did that. It was the best decision we made. She was in the most advanced classes her middle school offered in orchestra, language and math, and it was the only way for her to avoid utter misery and boredom. Thank goodness now she's going into high school, where AP courses make it easier to cater to academic kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please ask your middle school math coordinator right now for a placement test into Algebra 1. Some math coordinators try their best to avoid placing 6th graders in that class, but you can always ask for the placement test in the summer.

My kid did that. It was the best decision we made. She was in the most advanced classes her middle school offered in orchestra, language and math, and it was the only way for her to avoid utter misery and boredom. Thank goodness now she's going into high school, where AP courses make it easier to cater to academic kids.

If she did Algebra 1 in 6th grade, what did she do for 7th and 8th?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please ask your middle school math coordinator right now for a placement test into Algebra 1. Some math coordinators try their best to avoid placing 6th graders in that class, but you can always ask for the placement test in the summer.

My kid did that. It was the best decision we made. She was in the most advanced classes her middle school offered in orchestra, language and math, and it was the only way for her to avoid utter misery and boredom. Thank goodness now she's going into high school, where AP courses make it easier to cater to academic kids.

If she did Algebra 1 in 6th grade, what did she do for 7th and 8th?

7th - Honors Geo
8th - Alg 2, bused to the high school for first period (it starts earlier, which allows enough time to get bused back to middle school second period - bonus, she got used to the high school).

projected path
9th - Honor Precalc
10th - AP Calc BC
11th and 12th - her high school has multivariable with differential equations, and she can also attend advanced math classes at UMD.

She doesn't know what she wants to do in college, but since she has no academic difficulties anywhere, it's nice to open doors as much as possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please ask your middle school math coordinator right now for a placement test into Algebra 1. Some math coordinators try their best to avoid placing 6th graders in that class, but you can always ask for the placement test in the summer.

My kid did that. It was the best decision we made. She was in the most advanced classes her middle school offered in orchestra, language and math, and it was the only way for her to avoid utter misery and boredom. Thank goodness now she's going into high school, where AP courses make it easier to cater to academic kids.

Okay, you had me at "most advanced middle school orchestra class" because there isn't really a such thing. The "advanced" options for middle-school-aged kids who are accomplished strings musicians are all outside of school (e.g., MCYO). Also unclear what you mean by "advanced language" (foreign language? Advanced English which isn't advanced?)

Listen, my DC was also very good at math and took AIM in 6th and granted it was pretty easy. But to say a kid will suffer from "utter misery and boredom" at school unless they can take Algebra 1 in 6h grade is pretty dramatic. They can join the math club, the drama club, write for the school paper, play sports, take a coding class, participate in advanced orchestras or chamber groups outside of school, etc..... The possibilities are endless!

OP, I do agree with the advice to reach out to the middle school math content specialist (you can find which teacher this is on the school website). But don't immediately ask for a placement test for Algebra 1. Just start by asking them about your child's math placement. If it's AIM or AMP7+, this is already the accelerated class which is likely fine for a student with a 260 MAP-M (which is a good score, but not so ridiculously high that skipping over pre-algebra fundamentals is necessarily a good idea). If it's AMP6 or 6+, then I would ask to have your child considered for the advanced class, which as folks have said, is either AIM6 or AMP7+. (essentially the same material, but different curriculum providers as not all schools have switched over yet).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please ask your middle school math coordinator right now for a placement test into Algebra 1. Some math coordinators try their best to avoid placing 6th graders in that class, but you can always ask for the placement test in the summer.

My kid did that. It was the best decision we made. She was in the most advanced classes her middle school offered in orchestra, language and math, and it was the only way for her to avoid utter misery and boredom. Thank goodness now she's going into high school, where AP courses make it easier to cater to academic kids.

Okay, you had me at "most advanced middle school orchestra class" because there isn't really a such thing. The "advanced" options for middle-school-aged kids who are accomplished strings musicians are all outside of school (e.g., MCYO). Also unclear what you mean by "advanced language" (foreign language? Advanced English which isn't advanced?)

Listen, my DC was also very good at math and took AIM in 6th and granted it was pretty easy. But to say a kid will suffer from "utter misery and boredom" at school unless they can take Algebra 1 in 6h grade is pretty dramatic. They can join the math club, the drama club, write for the school paper, play sports, take a coding class, participate in advanced orchestras or chamber groups outside of school, etc..... The possibilities are endless!

OP, I do agree with the advice to reach out to the middle school math content specialist (you can find which teacher this is on the school website). But don't immediately ask for a placement test for Algebra 1. Just start by asking them about your child's math placement. If it's AIM or AMP7+, this is already the accelerated class which is likely fine for a student with a 260 MAP-M (which is a good score, but not so ridiculously high that skipping over pre-algebra fundamentals is necessarily a good idea). If it's AMP6 or 6+, then I would ask to have your child considered for the advanced class, which as folks have said, is either AIM6 or AMP7+. (essentially the same material, but different curriculum providers as not all schools have switched over yet).

I'm the poster you were happy to poke, with your inane "you had me at" comment. This kid is my youngest, my oldest is in college already. I meant what I said. DD has been in MCYO for years, and for school orchestra, has always placed in whatever orchestral group is most experienced. For example, she is going into the Philharmonic in 9th. She finished middle school in Spanish 3 (and attends a weekend native language school in our own language). She was in Global Humanities, etc.

OP has a child who seeks to avoid boredom by exploring academic concepts that are not usually taught to their age group. It can be depressing for such a child to spend 8am to 3pm every blasted day revisiting work they have already grasped. It was certainly depressing for all of my children! Enrichment outside of school is great, and necessary, but acceleration at school is also necessary and I am giving OP a blueprint in how to go about it for math, because MCPS will not tell her.

Try not to be too smug. You never know who has more experience than you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please ask your middle school math coordinator right now for a placement test into Algebra 1. Some math coordinators try their best to avoid placing 6th graders in that class, but you can always ask for the placement test in the summer.

My kid did that. It was the best decision we made. She was in the most advanced classes her middle school offered in orchestra, language and math, and it was the only way for her to avoid utter misery and boredom. Thank goodness now she's going into high school, where AP courses make it easier to cater to academic kids.

Okay, you had me at "most advanced middle school orchestra class" because there isn't really a such thing. The "advanced" options for middle-school-aged kids who are accomplished strings musicians are all outside of school (e.g., MCYO). Also unclear what you mean by "advanced language" (foreign language? Advanced English which isn't advanced?)

Listen, my DC was also very good at math and took AIM in 6th and granted it was pretty easy. But to say a kid will suffer from "utter misery and boredom" at school unless they can take Algebra 1 in 6h grade is pretty dramatic. They can join the math club, the drama club, write for the school paper, play sports, take a coding class, participate in advanced orchestras or chamber groups outside of school, etc..... The possibilities are endless!

OP, I do agree with the advice to reach out to the middle school math content specialist (you can find which teacher this is on the school website). But don't immediately ask for a placement test for Algebra 1. Just start by asking them about your child's math placement. If it's AIM or AMP7+, this is already the accelerated class which is likely fine for a student with a 260 MAP-M (which is a good score, but not so ridiculously high that skipping over pre-algebra fundamentals is necessarily a good idea). If it's AMP6 or 6+, then I would ask to have your child considered for the advanced class, which as folks have said, is either AIM6 or AMP7+. (essentially the same material, but different curriculum providers as not all schools have switched over yet).

I'm the poster you were happy to poke, with your inane "you had me at" comment. This kid is my youngest, my oldest is in college already. I meant what I said. DD has been in MCYO for years, and for school orchestra, has always placed in whatever orchestral group is most experienced. For example, she is going into the Philharmonic in 9th. She finished middle school in Spanish 3 (and attends a weekend native language school in our own language). She was in Global Humanities, etc.

OP has a child who seeks to avoid boredom by exploring academic concepts that are not usually taught to their age group. It can be depressing for such a child to spend 8am to 3pm every blasted day revisiting work they have already grasped. It was certainly depressing for all of my children! Enrichment outside of school is great, and necessary, but acceleration at school is also necessary and I am giving OP a blueprint in how to go about it for math, because MCPS will not tell her.

Try not to be too smug. You never know who has more experience than you.

Give me a break. You don't know how "experienced" I am, and I didn't even read your lengthy paragraph about your child's resume because I don't care, and it's not relevant to other students' experiences nor helpful to the OP.

My advice to the OP was to reach out to the MS math content specialist and first find out what placement their child *already* has, as this appears to be an unknown. Then you can go from there. My other piece of advice is that, no matter how brilliant you think your child may be - and let's face it, kids of DCUM posters are always above average - math placement above the already-accelerated track is not always a good idea.

You seem to be coming from a place where you are assuming all of the MS math content specialists are terrible. Maybe some are, but some of them are actually very knowledgeable (this is their job!), and may be able to provide helpful advice on appropriate math placement, whether that's the regular accelerated track or trying to place in to Algebra 1. If placement in Alg. 1 is a possibility, the content specialist could also advise on whether this means placement in a class with most/all 7th graders or will it be mixed 7/8 (depends on the MS and how big a cohort exists for 7th grade Algebra 1). Socially/emotionally, there is a big difference between 6th graders, and 7th/8th graders. OP's child may prefer to be with other (smart) 6th graders.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you all for the information. I reached out and found out that my kid is in AIM 6. I don't even see that on the website. FWIW, it is Parkland MS. I will reach out to the Math coordinator and see what the other options would be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go on AoPS and do the free enrichment stuff for pre algebra and algebra, number theory and counting. That will be interesting and challenging and avoid the lopsidedness of pushing ahead in MAP/Khan grade-level content with no depth or breadth.

Second AoPS. If you have a mathy kid and don't want to fight the school to get algebra in 6th then competition math is a very useful brain bending outlet.

What is AoPS?

Art of Problem Solving. A paid tutoring/enrichment class. They have online and in person enrichment classes. Along with Russian Math, some of the outside tutoring that DCUM loves to hate for contributing to the outside MCPS enrichment arms race for "wealthy" families .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go on AoPS and do the free enrichment stuff for pre algebra and algebra, number theory and counting. That will be interesting and challenging and avoid the lopsidedness of pushing ahead in MAP/Khan grade-level content with no depth or breadth.

Second AoPS. If you have a mathy kid and don't want to fight the school to get algebra in 6th then competition math is a very useful brain bending outlet.

What is AoPS?

Art of Problem Solving. A paid tutoring/enrichment class. They have online and in person enrichment classes. Along with Russian Math, some of the outside tutoring that DCUM loves to hate for contributing to the outside MCPS enrichment arms race for "wealthy" families .

How different is this from Kumon and Mathnasium, Aloha Math, IXL? Besides Khan Academy, what are the other free sources?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go on AoPS and do the free enrichment stuff for pre algebra and algebra, number theory and counting. That will be interesting and challenging and avoid the lopsidedness of pushing ahead in MAP/Khan grade-level content with no depth or breadth.

The number theory and counting won't matter for MCPS. It's great stuff but largely not part of the curriculum.

It's good for preparing for competitions though. If the kid enjoys math, they should consider joining mathletes.

[Anonymous]

I enrolled my kid in AoPS algebra while he was taking algebra in MCPS. I had hoped that it would help augment what he was learning in class, but it was not helpful for that. It’s probably better for a kid who is truly trying to work ahead or prep for competition math. If you want something that seems to align with MCPS curriculum, check out ixl.com. Like khan, they have online practice problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aim or algebra

That sounds right. If you really wanted to push, Algebra but AIM may help reinforce foundational skills. It isn't a race.

It absolutely is a race which everyone will acknowledge in just a few short years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go on AoPS and do the free enrichment stuff for pre algebra and algebra, number theory and counting. That will be interesting and challenging and avoid the lopsidedness of pushing ahead in MAP/Khan grade-level content with no depth or breadth.

Second AoPS. If you have a mathy kid and don't want to fight the school to get algebra in 6th then competition math is a very useful brain bending outlet.

What is AoPS?

Art of Problem Solving. A paid tutoring/enrichment class. They have online and in person enrichment classes. Along with Russian Math, some of the outside tutoring that DCUM loves to hate for contributing to the outside MCPS enrichment arms race for "wealthy" families .

How different is this from Kumon and Mathnasium, Aloha Math, IXL? Besides Khan Academy, what are the other free sources?

They do more difficult problems that kids won't see in regular classes rather than reinforce/practice the types of problems the need for school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please ask your middle school math coordinator right now for a placement test into Algebra 1. Some math coordinators try their best to avoid placing 6th graders in that class, but you can always ask for the placement test in the summer.

My kid did that. It was the best decision we made. She was in the most advanced classes her middle school offered in orchestra, language and math, and it was the only way for her to avoid utter misery and boredom. Thank goodness now she's going into high school, where AP courses make it easier to cater to academic kids.

Okay, you had me at "most advanced middle school orchestra class" because there isn't really a such thing. The "advanced" options for middle-school-aged kids who are accomplished strings musicians are all outside of school (e.g., MCYO). Also unclear what you mean by "advanced language" (foreign language? Advanced English which isn't advanced?)

Listen, my DC was also very good at math and took AIM in 6th and granted it was pretty easy. But to say a kid will suffer from "utter misery and boredom" at school unless they can take Algebra 1 in 6h grade is pretty dramatic. They can join the math club, the drama club, write for the school paper, play sports, take a coding class, participate in advanced orchestras or chamber groups outside of school, etc..... The possibilities are endless!

OP, I do agree with the advice to reach out to the middle school math content specialist (you can find which teacher this is on the school website). But don't immediately ask for a placement test for Algebra 1. Just start by asking them about your child's math placement. If it's AIM or AMP7+, this is already the accelerated class which is likely fine for a student with a 260 MAP-M (which is a good score, but not so ridiculously high that skipping over pre-algebra fundamentals is necessarily a good idea). If it's AMP6 or 6+, then I would ask to have your child considered for the advanced class, which as folks have said, is either AIM6 or AMP7+. (essentially the same material, but different curriculum providers as not all schools have switched over yet).

I'm the poster you were happy to poke, with your inane "you had me at" comment. This kid is my youngest, my oldest is in college already. I meant what I said. DD has been in MCYO for years, and for school orchestra, has always placed in whatever orchestral group is most experienced. For example, she is going into the Philharmonic in 9th. She finished middle school in Spanish 3 (and attends a weekend native language school in our own language). She was in Global Humanities, etc.

OP has a child who seeks to avoid boredom by exploring academic concepts that are not usually taught to their age group. It can be depressing for such a child to spend 8am to 3pm every blasted day revisiting work they have already grasped. It was certainly depressing for all of my children! Enrichment outside of school is great, and necessary, but acceleration at school is also necessary and I am giving OP a blueprint in how to go about it for math, because MCPS will not tell her.

Try not to be too smug. You never know who has more experience than you.

Give me a break. You don't know how "experienced" I am, and I didn't even read your lengthy paragraph about your child's resume because I don't care, and it's not relevant to other students' experiences nor helpful to the OP.

My advice to the OP was to reach out to the MS math content specialist and first find out what placement their child *already* has, as this appears to be an unknown. Then you can go from there. My other piece of advice is that, no matter how brilliant you think your child may be - and let's face it, kids of DCUM posters are always above average - math placement above the already-accelerated track is not always a good idea.

You seem to be coming from a place where you are assuming all of the MS math content specialists are terrible. Maybe some are, but some of them are actually very knowledgeable (this is their job!), and may be able to provide helpful advice on appropriate math placement, whether that's the regular accelerated track or trying to place in to Algebra 1. If placement in Alg. 1 is a possibility, the content specialist could also advise on whether this means placement in a class with most/all 7th graders or will it be mixed 7/8 (depends on the MS and how big a cohort exists for 7th grade Algebra 1). Socially/emotionally, there is a big difference between 6th graders, and 7th/8th graders. OP's child may prefer to be with other (smart) 6th graders.

Not PP, but there is maybe about 5% of children for whom curriculum is too watered down and they would very much benefit from differentiation. We, the parents, are rightfully upset that MCPS is making this so difficult in middle school. You don't know our children better than we do. You won't be able to impose false equality on the back of our children, sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I enrolled my kid in AoPS algebra while he was taking algebra in MCPS. I had hoped that it would help augment what he was learning in class, but it was not helpful for that. It’s probably better for a kid who is truly trying to work ahead or prep for competition math. If you want something that seems to align with MCPS curriculum, check out ixl.com. Like khan, they have online practice problems.

That's fine for reinforcement support, but it's a terrible idea to do that if you can't handle the enriched math. Accelerating like that driving a race car into a brick wall.