Anyone move their DC to algebra in 6th

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Plan out the four year plan. Also determine if yours is a kid that really likes math or is just good at it. If they don’t really love it and want more math I would not accelerate to Algebra in 6th because they are going to be sick of the advanced math sooner.

Mine still want advanced math in hs and logistically it’s been hard as our school has few offerings.

You have to plan to fight with the principal and central office to do it at another school but you have to drive your child back and forth or at Mc. Mc is hard logistics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this still a problem for the kids who take algebra in 7th grade? I have kid who is fine in math. She took AIM in 6th grade last year, so Algebra was the next class in the track. She is not passionate about math, but pushes herself to get A’s. Any recommendations? We are in the BCC cluster too.

Yes and no, it depends on what the hs offers. They can take Calc ab and bc or do bc and stats. Or Mv and higher if your school offers it. Or, they go to another school with you driving them or Mc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this still a problem for the kids who take algebra in 7th grade? I have kid who is fine in math. She took AIM in 6th grade last year, so Algebra was the next class in the track. She is not passionate about math, but pushes herself to get A’s. Any recommendations? We are in the BCC cluster too.

8th. -geometry
9th algebra 2
10th pre-calc
11th AP Calc AB/ BC
12th AP Calc BC if AB done in 11th or AP Stats or multivariable

There, see, totally done. Not every school will have these options but BCC does

Most or all schools have ab and bc but not Mv.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It varies by school. For us, school offered it to kids with a MAP score of 250 or above (or possibly 240, I'm not sure) and a teacher recommendation. It was offered as an option on our course selection, so we just chose it, and the children were placed in it.

Really? That seems like a low MAP cutoff, not even 99th percentile (I think 240 is only like 90th actually.). I thought Algebra 1 in 6th was only supposed to be for the most profoundly gifted kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It varies by school. For us, school offered it to kids with a MAP score of 250 or above (or possibly 240, I'm not sure) and a teacher recommendation. It was offered as an option on our course selection, so we just chose it, and the children were placed in it.

Really? That seems like a low MAP cutoff, not even 99th percentile (I think 240 is only like 90th actually.). I thought Algebra 1 in 6th was only supposed to be for the most profoundly gifted kids?

From what I understand from someone else, 250 is some kind of central office standard to allow students into Algebra I in 6th grade.

An issue is supposedly math departments are seeing students struggle in math when they get into high school. And I think some are wondering if it's because students are being rushed into Algebra in 6th grade and not grasping the fundamentals. Based on both the school staff and students that we talked to on the path, middle school math hasn't been an issue.

So it was a little bit surprising to hear that the fifth grade math teacher was refusing to recommend students to take Algebra I regardless of their MAP score and it doesn't sound like parents could get information from the teacher. Especially when just the year prior the teacher did recommend students for Algebra I. And I don't know if it's a coincidence or not, that teacher left the school after that year.

In all honesty, I thought it was part of some DEI initiative from the new principal who had just arrived a couple of years prior. Where we've seen a lot of changes at the elementary school since their arrival with the slowing down of things. But then saw the second post on this thread of the parent with the kid from Westland. So guess that maybe this kind of thing has been going on for a little while now.

It sounds like middle schools take the fifth grade teacher recommendation the most in consideration above all else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It varies by school. For us, school offered it to kids with a MAP score of 250 or above (or possibly 240, I'm not sure) and a teacher recommendation. It was offered as an option on our course selection, so we just chose it, and the children were placed in it.

Really? That seems like a low MAP cutoff, not even 99th percentile (I think 240 is only like 90th actually.). I thought Algebra 1 in 6th was only supposed to be for the most profoundly gifted kids?

I think its also used as a bribe to get kids to schools that need their test scores boosted. Smart kids are fine doing it with the right teacher. The only time we've had math issues is with a not so great teacher and we've supplemented with a tutor. Its hard when some teachers refuse textbooks and little homework/practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It varies by school. For us, school offered it to kids with a MAP score of 250 or above (or possibly 240, I'm not sure) and a teacher recommendation. It was offered as an option on our course selection, so we just chose it, and the children were placed in it.

Really? That seems like a low MAP cutoff, not even 99th percentile (I think 240 is only like 90th actually.). I thought Algebra 1 in 6th was only supposed to be for the most profoundly gifted kids?

From what I understand from someone else, 250 is some kind of central office standard to allow students into Algebra I in 6th grade.

An issue is supposedly math departments are seeing students struggle in math when they get into high school. And I think some are wondering if it's because students are being rushed into Algebra in 6th grade and not grasping the fundamentals. Based on both the school staff and students that we talked to on the path, middle school math hasn't been an issue.

So it was a little bit surprising to hear that the fifth grade math teacher was refusing to recommend students to take Algebra I regardless of their MAP score and it doesn't sound like parents could get information from the teacher. Especially when just the year prior the teacher did recommend students for Algebra I. And I don't know if it's a coincidence or not, that teacher left the school after that year.

In all honesty, I thought it was part of some DEI initiative from the new principal who had just arrived a couple of years prior. Where we've seen a lot of changes at the elementary school since their arrival with the slowing down of things. But then saw the second post on this thread of the parent with the kid from Westland. So guess that maybe this kind of thing has been going on for a little while now.

It sounds like middle schools take the fifth grade teacher recommendation the most in consideration above all else.

This is the problem. Teachers are seeing students struggle with higher division math and science because they don’t have a solid enough foundation. Teachers at all levels think there is too much emphasis of acceleration to the detriment of students gaining fundamental skills and really understanding concepts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It varies by school. For us, school offered it to kids with a MAP score of 250 or above (or possibly 240, I'm not sure) and a teacher recommendation. It was offered as an option on our course selection, so we just chose it, and the children were placed in it.

Really? That seems like a low MAP cutoff, not even 99th percentile (I think 240 is only like 90th actually.). I thought Algebra 1 in 6th was only supposed to be for the most profoundly gifted kids?

From what I understand from someone else, 250 is some kind of central office standard to allow students into Algebra I in 6th grade.

An issue is supposedly math departments are seeing students struggle in math when they get into high school. And I think some are wondering if it's because students are being rushed into Algebra in 6th grade and not grasping the fundamentals. Based on both the school staff and students that we talked to on the path, middle school math hasn't been an issue.

So it was a little bit surprising to hear that the fifth grade math teacher was refusing to recommend students to take Algebra I regardless of their MAP score and it doesn't sound like parents could get information from the teacher. Especially when just the year prior the teacher did recommend students for Algebra I. And I don't know if it's a coincidence or not, that teacher left the school after that year.

In all honesty, I thought it was part of some DEI initiative from the new principal who had just arrived a couple of years prior. Where we've seen a lot of changes at the elementary school since their arrival with the slowing down of things. But then saw the second post on this thread of the parent with the kid from Westland. So guess that maybe this kind of thing has been going on for a little while now.

It sounds like middle schools take the fifth grade teacher recommendation the most in consideration above all else.

This is the problem. Teachers are seeing students struggle with higher division math and science because they don’t have a solid enough foundation. Teachers at all levels think there is too much emphasis of acceleration to the detriment of students gaining fundamental skills and really understanding concepts.

To the detriment of kids who really need the acceleration. It's not like there's a huge number of children clamoring for more math!

[Anonymous]

250 seems low? My 4th grader had a 254 on MAP-M at the end of 3rd last year. That’s making me wonder if I should ask if she can go into Compacted 5/6 instead of 4/5….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:250 seems low? My 4th grader had a 254 on MAP-M at the end of 3rd last year. That’s making me wonder if I should ask if she can go into Compacted 5/6 instead of 4/5….

It’s a different test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:250 seems low? My 4th grader had a 254 on MAP-M at the end of 3rd last year. That’s making me wonder if I should ask if she can go into Compacted 5/6 instead of 4/5….

It’s a different test.

My kid scored 269 at the end of 5th grade (5/6 so took the 6th grade test) and no one even suggested that they should go into algebra. Just AIM. Which is plenty accelerated unless you’re doing serious outside supplementation, which we aren’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:250 seems low? My 4th grader had a 254 on MAP-M at the end of 3rd last year. That’s making me wonder if I should ask if she can go into Compacted 5/6 instead of 4/5….

It’s a different test.

New Poster - I just learned about this detail at back to school night. One of the 5th grade teachers gave us the heads up that we could expect our kid’s MAP-M score to sink because they have to take a different MAP-M test this year due to the compacted 5/6 math. 6-9th grade math is on a different test and many of the concepts will be new to our kid. No big deal, but I appreciated the warning.

[Anonymous]

Colleges are saying that they are seeing lots of accelerated kids struggling with advanced college math. This is one reason MCPS is trying to slow down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Successfully? What scores do you need to be placed in Algebra 1 in 6th grade?

You need to be at one of the wealthy W feeders and score 250+ on the map-m, but at most schools they aren't setup for this. They wont' do it regardless of scores. For example, at our school a few years back there was a 6th grader in the high 280s and there was no accomodation. They had to take Algebra in 7th like eveyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:250 seems low? My 4th grader had a 254 on MAP-M at the end of 3rd last year. That’s making me wonder if I should ask if she can go into Compacted 5/6 instead of 4/5….

The test 4th graders take is different than the one for middle school. Scores are typically 10-20 points lower.