8th grade: Algebra 1 or Algebra 1 HN

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask the teacher she has now for their recommendation. In the regular class, there may be a lot of kids that are not strong in math or who have behavioral issues that may impact her learning. Please don’t focus so much on As at this age. You want her to learn the material. She does not need to worry about her GPA at this level. Kids do not need parental pressure on grades. A B is not an F. Please back off the grade pressure thing. Not every kid is going to get into Harvard.

I disagree. Algebra and the foreign language will be on her transcript so she will need to make sure does well in those classes.

Agree, the only grades that we focus on with DS are math and foreign langauge. Both are on his HS transcript and the math is foundational for higher math. English and Social Studies we pay attention to but give him more time to course correct on his own then Geometry and his langauge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP what grade bump does Honors give?

It adds 0.5 to the course points. So an A is 4.5 instead of 4.

Colleges recalculate though, so YMMV what it’s actually worth in 5 years.

OP, ask your child her thoughts. I taught both honors and regular algebra 1 for 8th graders for years. While some kids were clearly more capable math students, many of the ones who were successful were the ones who wanted to put in the effort beyond class time and learn. They did the extra problem sets, sat with challenge questions instead of waiting for answers, and asked questions as they worked through material.

An A- student in math 7 honors should be fine in algebra honors, if m7h did the suggested extensions. If they just taught the basic prealgebra curriculum, it will be a bigger stretch

Colleges recalculate? Can you elaborate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The teacher will simply recommend based on the grade. Since she has an A they will most likely recommend honors. However, they don’t the effort she may put in behind the scenes. Or how she hates math.

Expunging the grade is not an option as she would have to repeat the course in 9th. We need her completing Algebra now so she can be in Calculus as a senior.

If your goal is Calculus as a senior she needs honors. Is Calculus her goal or your goal for her? There are other math classes that are useful for kids that are less challenging for a kid who dislikes math, like AP Stats.

That is not true either. I went through FCPS. I dropped off the honors track in Geometry. Yet took AP Calculus AB as a senior.

There are other threads where parents say their kid went from regular Algebra 2 to AP Precalc AB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The teacher will simply recommend based on the grade. Since she has an A they will most likely recommend honors. However, they don’t the effort she may put in behind the scenes. Or how she hates math.

Expunging the grade is not an option as she would have to repeat the course in 9th. We need her completing Algebra now so she can be in Calculus as a senior.

If your goal is Calculus as a senior she needs honors. Is Calculus her goal or your goal for her? There are other math classes that are useful for kids that are less challenging for a kid who dislikes math, like AP Stats.

Admittedly, right now that is my goal. She doesn’t even know what Calculus is. But yes, if she can get Calculus in high school then she will not have to take it in college, where it would be much harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The teacher will simply recommend based on the grade. Since she has an A they will most likely recommend honors. However, they don’t the effort she may put in behind the scenes. Or how she hates math.

Expunging the grade is not an option as she would have to repeat the course in 9th. We need her completing Algebra now so she can be in Calculus as a senior.

Please stop with all of this desperation. And I say this with a senior who’s been accepted into college. None of that is true.

You don’t need all As. You CAN expunge grades. They can repeat the summer before 9th with a quick course, the full course or not repeat at all and still move on to Geometry in 9th. No one must take calc as a senior. You want, not need, this.

I am getting anxious from the pressure you are already putting on your kid.

[Anonymous]

And I agree with the other poster. Weighted grades aren’t that important. Colleges recalculate them because every district has their own way they weight them so only the unweighted actually matters. FCPS weights for honors. Some places don’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The teacher will simply recommend based on the grade. Since she has an A they will most likely recommend honors. However, they don’t the effort she may put in behind the scenes. Or how she hates math.

Expunging the grade is not an option as she would have to repeat the course in 9th. We need her completing Algebra now so she can be in Calculus as a senior.

If your goal is Calculus as a senior she needs honors. Is Calculus her goal or your goal for her? There are other math classes that are useful for kids that are less challenging for a kid who dislikes math, like AP Stats.

Admittedly, right now that is my goal. She doesn’t even know what Calculus is. But yes, if she can get Calculus in high school then she will not have to take it in college, where it would be much harder.

Lots of majors don’t require calculus in college and some colleges don’t care if you take calculus in high school, you still have to take it in college. The calculus AP exam is one of the most difficult to get a 4 or 5 on. If she is not strong in math, then you are setting her up for a world of hurt.

Do your own research, the majority of students in the US do not take calculus in HS. That is why they created AP Stats and other math classes for beyond Algebra 2. Maybe take a look at your HS’s class offerings in math for juniors and seniors.

She should be choosing her classes based on ability and interests. If you are worried about Algebra 1 H in 8th grade then you are in for a rough four years of math in HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The teacher will simply recommend based on the grade. Since she has an A they will most likely recommend honors. However, they don’t the effort she may put in behind the scenes. Or how she hates math.

Expunging the grade is not an option as she would have to repeat the course in 9th. We need her completing Algebra now so she can be in Calculus as a senior.

If your goal is Calculus as a senior she needs honors. Is Calculus her goal or your goal for her? There are other math classes that are useful for kids that are less challenging for a kid who dislikes math, like AP Stats.

That is not true either. I went through FCPS. I dropped off the honors track in Geometry. Yet took AP Calculus AB as a senior.

There are other threads where parents say their kid went from regular Algebra 2 to AP Precalc AB.

And many of those parents said it was a leap and that it wasn’t recommended. You can but is it a good idea?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The teacher will simply recommend based on the grade. Since she has an A they will most likely recommend honors. However, they don’t the effort she may put in behind the scenes. Or how she hates math.

Expunging the grade is not an option as she would have to repeat the course in 9th. We need her completing Algebra now so she can be in Calculus as a senior.

Please stop with all of this desperation. And I say this with a senior who’s been accepted into college. None of that is true.

You don’t need all As. You CAN expunge grades. They can repeat the summer before 9th with a quick course, the full course or not repeat at all and still move on to Geometry in 9th. No one must take calc as a senior. You want, not need, this.

I am getting anxious from the pressure you are already putting on your kid.

With all due respect, you don’t know our full situation. In state is extremely competitive and we want our child to have calculus before college. That’s non negotiable.

All I want to know is if Algebra 1 Honors is that much harder than regular Algebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The teacher will simply recommend based on the grade. Since she has an A they will most likely recommend honors. However, they don’t the effort she may put in behind the scenes. Or how she hates math.

Expunging the grade is not an option as she would have to repeat the course in 9th. We need her completing Algebra now so she can be in Calculus as a senior.

If your goal is Calculus as a senior she needs honors. Is Calculus her goal or your goal for her? There are other math classes that are useful for kids that are less challenging for a kid who dislikes math, like AP Stats.

That is not true either. I went through FCPS. I dropped off the honors track in Geometry. Yet took AP Calculus AB as a senior.

There are other threads where parents say their kid went from regular Algebra 2 to AP Precalc AB.

And many of those parents said it was a leap and that it wasn’t recommended. You can but is it a good idea?

I didn’t see anything about it not being recommended. Just that some people do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The teacher will simply recommend based on the grade. Since she has an A they will most likely recommend honors. However, they don’t the effort she may put in behind the scenes. Or how she hates math.

Expunging the grade is not an option as she would have to repeat the course in 9th. We need her completing Algebra now so she can be in Calculus as a senior.

Please stop with all of this desperation. And I say this with a senior who’s been accepted into college. None of that is true.

You don’t need all As. You CAN expunge grades. They can repeat the summer before 9th with a quick course, the full course or not repeat at all and still move on to Geometry in 9th. No one must take calc as a senior. You want, not need, this.

I am getting anxious from the pressure you are already putting on your kid.

With all due respect, you don’t know our full situation. In state is extremely competitive and we want our child to have calculus before college. That’s non negotiable.

All I want to know is if Algebra 1 Honors is that much harder than regular Algebra.

This board can’t answer that, as it is school and teacher dependent.

Where I teach, yes, there is a chasm between the two courses. Gen Ed uses desmos, is expected to test on questions that are the same as what is covered in class, and gets study guides that look like the test. Honors is no calculator, tests include extensions/applications of what was covered, and there is no study guide, just a list of standards and kids are expected to review old notes and assignments and create their own study guide.

But the first school I taught at gave the same test to both classes and just added 2-3 honors questions to the end for the honors kids.

There is no way to know unless you name the school. Even then, if there are multiple teachers teaching each course, YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The teacher will simply recommend based on the grade. Since she has an A they will most likely recommend honors. However, they don’t the effort she may put in behind the scenes. Or how she hates math.

Expunging the grade is not an option as she would have to repeat the course in 9th. We need her completing Algebra now so she can be in Calculus as a senior.

If your goal is Calculus as a senior she needs honors. Is Calculus her goal or your goal for her? There are other math classes that are useful for kids that are less challenging for a kid who dislikes math, like AP Stats.

Not true at all. I teach regular algebra 2 to kids who largely took regular algebra 1. A large portion of my sophomores go on to take AP calculus AB senior year.

[Anonymous]

My kid who is currently in 9th and sounds similar (got an A in 7H with hard work). She took Alg I H and got an A- with hard work. Currently has an A in Geom H.

I don’t know your kid, but I would encourage the honors class if they are doing well and want to take it. If it’s causing major stress or there is a large opportunity cost, then don’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid who is currently in 9th and sounds similar (got an A in 7H with hard work). She took Alg I H and got an A- with hard work. Currently has an A in Geom H.

I don’t know your kid, but I would encourage the honors class if they are doing well and want to take it. If it’s causing major stress or there is a large opportunity cost, then don’t.

+1 thank you this is helpful!

[Anonymous]

All I want to know is if Algebra 1 Honors is that much harder than regular Algebra.

Yes, it absolutely can be. But as others have told you, we don't know the school and it may also be dependent on the teacher your child will get. How do they grade (very picky? points off for missing a step during problem solving? not "algebraically" solving?), what is the atmosphere of the class? Does their teaching style make sense to your child? What period of the day is it?

Faster pacing, more extensions and building. That is the bottom line.

Do what's best for your kid. No message board can make that call for you.