What are the math pathways after 3rd?

[Anonymous]

MCPS is in the process of pulling back from overacceleration in math. Parent ambition does not equal child readiness (or even curiosity) in many cases. The curriculum is really quite rich on its own and can provide plenty of food for thought along the way for those who are genuinely into math. While you are waiting for DC to age into math 4/5 and 5/6, enrich at home if they are that interested.

[Anonymous]

Here are the 3 optional generally available through 8th grade; I don’t think it has been explained well in this thread.

Option 1 (regular, follows common core):
Math 4 (4th), Math 6 (6th), Math 7 (7th), Math 8 (8th), Algebra 1 (9th).

Option 2 (accelerated by 1 year):
Math 4 (4th), math 5 (5th), AMP6+ (6th), AMP 7+ (7th), Algebra 1 (8th). OR
Math 4/5 (4th), math 5/6 (5th), AMP 6+ (6th), AMP 7+ (7th), Algebra 1 (8th).

Option 3 (accelerated by 2 years)
Math 4/5 (4th), math 5/6 (5th), AIM or AMP 7+ (6th), Algebra 1 (7th), Geometry (8th).

Occasionally, students will accelerate by one more year, but this really varies by school and requires a very high MAP score. It can happen, but it’s rare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here are the 3 optional generally available through 8th grade; I don’t think it has been explained well in this thread.

Option 1 (regular, follows common core):
Math 4 (4th), Math 6 (6th), Math 7 (7th), Math 8 (8th), Algebra 1 (9th).

Option 2 (accelerated by 1 year):
Math 4 (4th), math 5 (5th), AMP6+ (6th), AMP 7+ (7th), Algebra 1 (8th). OR
Math 4/5 (4th), math 5/6 (5th), AMP 6+ (6th), AMP 7+ (7th), Algebra 1 (8th).

Option 3 (accelerated by 2 years)
Math 4/5 (4th), math 5/6 (5th), AIM or AMP 7+ (6th), Algebra 1 (7th), Geometry (8th).

Occasionally, students will accelerate by one more year, but this really varies by school and requires a very high MAP score. It can happen, but it’s rare.

This is a great explanation, thank you. I have a question about what happens after 8th grade. I have a 6th grader in Option 1 and an 8th grader in Option 2. I think they are both appropriately placed in terms of learning needs so am happy there but I do wonder if my younger child will be at a huge disadvantage going into 9th grade. What are the benefits of being a year ahead past middle school? Is it more beneficial for college acceptance reasons? Does it help with getting into certain HS magnet/special programs? I don't want to push my younger son ahead as I think he really does need to learn math at a slower pace than my older one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here are the 3 optional generally available through 8th grade; I don’t think it has been explained well in this thread.

Option 1 (regular, follows common core):
Math 4 (4th), Math 6 (6th), Math 7 (7th), Math 8 (8th), Algebra 1 (9th).

Option 2 (accelerated by 1 year):
Math 4 (4th), math 5 (5th), AMP6+ (6th), AMP 7+ (7th), Algebra 1 (8th). OR
Math 4/5 (4th), math 5/6 (5th), AMP 6+ (6th), AMP 7+ (7th), Algebra 1 (8th).

Option 3 (accelerated by 2 years)
Math 4/5 (4th), math 5/6 (5th), AIM or AMP 7+ (6th), Algebra 1 (7th), Geometry (8th).

Occasionally, students will accelerate by one more year, but this really varies by school and requires a very high MAP score. It can happen, but it’s rare.

Thanks--this is very clear and helpful!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is in the process of pulling back from overacceleration in math. Parent ambition does not equal child readiness (or even curiosity) in many cases. The curriculum is really quite rich on its own and can provide plenty of food for thought along the way for those who are genuinely into math. While you are waiting for DC to age into math 4/5 and 5/6, enrich at home if they are that interested.

Sometime I feel like MCPS is working for RSM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is in the process of pulling back from overacceleration in math. Parent ambition does not equal child readiness (or even curiosity) in many cases. The curriculum is really quite rich on its own and can provide plenty of food for thought along the way for those who are genuinely into math. While you are waiting for DC to age into math 4/5 and 5/6, enrich at home if they are that interested.

Sometime I feel like MCPS is working for RSM.

DP here. I wish MCPS would offer genuine at-grade level enrichment rather than making acceleration the only option for kids who want more. The enrichment at our school is just so he harder problems in the Eureka math set. It definitely isn’t engaging kids to go deeper in the grade-level standards. That’s part of why people push to get into compacted math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are the 3 optional generally available through 8th grade; I don’t think it has been explained well in this thread.

Option 1 (regular, follows common core):
Math 4 (4th), Math 6 (6th), Math 7 (7th), Math 8 (8th), Algebra 1 (9th).

Option 2 (accelerated by 1 year):
Math 4 (4th), math 5 (5th), AMP6+ (6th), AMP 7+ (7th), Algebra 1 (8th). OR
Math 4/5 (4th), math 5/6 (5th), AMP 6+ (6th), AMP 7+ (7th), Algebra 1 (8th).

Option 3 (accelerated by 2 years)
Math 4/5 (4th), math 5/6 (5th), AIM or AMP 7+ (6th), Algebra 1 (7th), Geometry (8th).

Occasionally, students will accelerate by one more year, but this really varies by school and requires a very high MAP score. It can happen, but it’s rare.

This is a great explanation, thank you. I have a question about what happens after 8th grade. I have a 6th grader in Option 1 and an 8th grader in Option 2. I think they are both appropriately placed in terms of learning needs so am happy there but I do wonder if my younger child will be at a huge disadvantage going into 9th grade. What are the benefits of being a year ahead past middle school? Is it more beneficial for college acceptance reasons? Does it help with getting into certain HS magnet/special programs? I don't want to push my younger son ahead as I think he really does need to learn math at a slower pace than my older one.

The difference is that the child on the “regular” track won’t be able to take calculus in high school. The one taking Algebra in 8th will have the chance to take it senior year I know that people in this area are quick to accelerate as much as possible, but I think it is perfectly fine to get through precalc in high school and save calc for college if it is even needed. Also if the alternative is pushing a kid to accelerate who is not ready for it, I think that is a recipe for unnecessary stress.

[Anonymous]

More on this now locked thread:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/195/1078504.page#23297838

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is in the process of pulling back from overacceleration in math. Parent ambition does not equal child readiness (or even curiosity) in many cases. The curriculum is really quite rich on its own and can provide plenty of food for thought along the way for those who are genuinely into math. While you are waiting for DC to age into math 4/5 and 5/6, enrich at home if they are that interested.

Sometime I feel like MCPS is working for RSM.

DP here. I wish MCPS would offer genuine at-grade level enrichment rather than making acceleration the only option for kids who want more. The enrichment at our school is just so he harder problems in the Eureka math set. It definitely isn’t engaging kids to go deeper in the grade-level standards. That’s part of why people push to get into compacted math.

Yep, heard this too from parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is in the process of pulling back from overacceleration in math. Parent ambition does not equal child readiness (or even curiosity) in many cases. The curriculum is really quite rich on its own and can provide plenty of food for thought along the way for those who are genuinely into math. While you are waiting for DC to age into math 4/5 and 5/6, enrich at home if they are that interested.

Sometime I feel like MCPS is working for RSM.

Right?? Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is in the process of pulling back from overacceleration in math. Parent ambition does not equal child readiness (or even curiosity) in many cases. The curriculum is really quite rich on its own and can provide plenty of food for thought along the way for those who are genuinely into math. While you are waiting for DC to age into math 4/5 and 5/6, enrich at home if they are that interested.

Sometime I feel like MCPS is working for RSM.

DP here. I wish MCPS would offer genuine at-grade level enrichment rather than making acceleration the only option for kids who want more. The enrichment at our school is just so he harder problems in the Eureka math set. It definitely isn’t engaging kids to go deeper in the grade-level standards. That’s part of why people push to get into compacted math.

We had this last year for our second grader (Northwood cluster ES). Once a week she got pulled out to do harder problems/puzzle type problems with some other higher scoring math kids. It was great and she loved it, but I haven't heard about it this year. Not sure if they just haven't started it yet or if they don't have the staff for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are the 3 optional generally available through 8th grade; I don’t think it has been explained well in this thread.

Option 1 (regular, follows common core):
Math 4 (4th), Math 6 (6th), Math 7 (7th), Math 8 (8th), Algebra 1 (9th).

Option 2 (accelerated by 1 year):
Math 4 (4th), math 5 (5th), AMP6+ (6th), AMP 7+ (7th), Algebra 1 (8th). OR
Math 4/5 (4th), math 5/6 (5th), AMP 6+ (6th), AMP 7+ (7th), Algebra 1 (8th).

Option 3 (accelerated by 2 years)
Math 4/5 (4th), math 5/6 (5th), AIM or AMP 7+ (6th), Algebra 1 (7th), Geometry (8th).

Occasionally, students will accelerate by one more year, but this really varies by school and requires a very high MAP score. It can happen, but it’s rare.

This is a great explanation, thank you. I have a question about what happens after 8th grade. I have a 6th grader in Option 1 and an 8th grader in Option 2. I think they are both appropriately placed in terms of learning needs so am happy there but I do wonder if my younger child will be at a huge disadvantage going into 9th grade. What are the benefits of being a year ahead past middle school? Is it more beneficial for college acceptance reasons? Does it help with getting into certain HS magnet/special programs? I don't want to push my younger son ahead as I think he really does need to learn math at a slower pace than my older one.

The difference is that the child on the “regular” track won’t be able to take calculus in high school. The one taking Algebra in 8th will have the chance to take it senior year I know that people in this area are quick to accelerate as much as possible, but I think it is perfectly fine to get through precalc in high school and save calc for college if it is even needed. Also if the alternative is pushing a kid to accelerate who is not ready for it, I think that is a recipe for unnecessary stress.

Not sure what is documented but this is effectively untrue at most HS. Most kids are accelerated on path to take Calculus in 11th grade. The rest are taking in the 12th. That is the normal path. There are remedial paths below that but that's the exception.

Note to OP and other parents as someone with an older child. While it is frustrating to see your kid not being challenged in math, you need to think ahead. Look at the many threads on here of kids struggling in pre-calc. There are certainly some kids that can handle calculus in 11th or even earlier but this is rare. Unless you have a real math oriented kid, pushing them too far ahead is setting up for problems later.

[Anonymous]

OP, you need to reach out to your school's math enrichment specialist and the principal. My son, who is in 4th now and doing compacted 4/5 math, has always been pulled out for "enrichment" (not every day but a few times a week) with a handful of other kids to do more complex math with the math specialist. He's gotten this support since K. Last year (3rd grade) I had to advocate for it, but he did get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you need to reach out to your school's math enrichment specialist and the principal. My son, who is in 4th now and doing compacted 4/5 math, has always been pulled out for "enrichment" (not every day but a few times a week) with a handful of other kids to do more complex math with the math specialist. He's gotten this support since K. Last year (3rd grade) I had to advocate for it, but he did get it.

Wow! I'd love to know what school.

My school makes kids repeat the whole year of math of the kid comes in from out of county and already was a level-ahead in school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you need to reach out to your school's math enrichment specialist and the principal. My son, who is in 4th now and doing compacted 4/5 math, has always been pulled out for "enrichment" (not every day but a few times a week) with a handful of other kids to do more complex math with the math specialist. He's gotten this support since K. Last year (3rd grade) I had to advocate for it, but he did get it.

This does not happen at most schools. Way too many kids that are behind. And IMO that's where extra resources should be spent.