Advice needed; Algebra 2 and Geometry at Deal MS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't push.

Kids often get into trouble with this program because the ability to do Algebra 1 well in 7th grade has very little correlation with the ability/aptitude/desire to do post-calculus math in 11th grade.

I agree there is no need to push but there is in fact a great deal of correlation between interest and aptitude in math for those who do well in algebra in 7th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Weird. We were told at this year's open house that the school wasn't able to offer Algebra 2 to anyone.

I co sign and it is why we opted not go to deal. This post is made up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weird. We were told at this year's open house that the school wasn't able to offer Algebra 2 to anyone.

I co sign and it is why we opted not go to deal. This post is made up.

They were first told that they couldn’t “double block,” which logistically meant that the old way of offering Algebra 2 would no longer work. Then, later, they worked out this before-school (0th period) solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't push.

Kids often get into trouble with this program because the ability to do Algebra 1 well in 7th grade has very little correlation with the ability/aptitude/desire to do post-calculus math in 11th grade.

I agree there is no need to push but there is in fact a great deal of correlation between interest and aptitude in math for those who do well in algebra in 7th.

I think the PP is saying that it takes more than an interest in and aptitude for math to want to do post-calculus math in 11th grade. At most high schools, including JR, it will require that you take post-calculus math either online or at a local community college, taking you away from friends and activities just when friendships seem all-important and activities must be maximized for the sake of college applications. That’s the part that doesn’t necessarily correlate with doing well in 7th grade algebra 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't push.

Kids often get into trouble with this program because the ability to do Algebra 1 well in 7th grade has very little correlation with the ability/aptitude/desire to do post-calculus math in 11th grade.

I agree there is no need to push but there is in fact a great deal of correlation between interest and aptitude in math for those who do well in algebra in 7th.

I think the PP is saying that it takes more than an interest in and aptitude for math to want to do post-calculus math in 11th grade. At most high schools, including JR, it will require that you take post-calculus math either online or at a local community college, taking you away from friends and activities just when friendships seem all-important and activities must be maximized for the sake of college applications. That’s the part that doesn’t necessarily correlate with doing well in 7th grade algebra 1.

And also it’s very hard to do logistically in 11th, when many/most of these kids are trying to take 5+ APs. 12th is really the only grade when students have the schedule flexibility to take classes in person at local universities, which is a better experience than taking an online or community college class (and the best preparation for college).

[Anonymous]

There’s a problem here when families advise against doing more math when a kid can handle it because of lack of opportunities and offerings.

[Anonymous]

My kid is choosing not to take the 0 period Algebra 2 precisely because JR doesn’t offer anything past Calculus BC, and dual enrollment is a logistical nightmare at JR. Dual enrollment works if your kid goes to Walls, but my kid doesn’t want to go to Walls, and I don’t see the benefit of taking an online community college course during high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s a problem here when families advise against doing more math when a kid can handle it because of lack of opportunities and offerings.

Eh. I chose not to have my kid double-block in math because it seemed like acceleration for acceleration’s sake. There’s no reason to take calc BC in 10th grade except bragging rights. There’s no reason for most high schools to offer math beyond Calc BC, honestly. It worked out really well for my kid to do DE math at a university senior year. He’s majoring in math at a top school.

You don’t have to participate in the arms race to have a great outcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s a problem here when families advise against doing more math when a kid can handle it because of lack of opportunities and offerings.

Eh. I chose not to have my kid double-block in math because it seemed like acceleration for acceleration’s sake. There’s no reason to take calc BC in 10th grade except bragging rights. There’s no reason for most high schools to offer math beyond Calc BC, honestly. It worked out really well for my kid to do DE math at a university senior year. He’s majoring in math at a top school.

You don’t have to participate in the arms race to have a great outcome.

You are missing the point. Lots of kids are unable to do dual enrollment and have no opportunity to go past Calculus when they want to and are interested.

No one is accelerating for acceleration sakes. Kids are bored and want more who can handle it and are shut out.

It is a lack of opportunities and offerrings in what is suppose to be the best IB school in the district. And the other neighborhood high schools don’t even offer Cal BC.

[Anonymous]

Honestly these parents would be better served by arguing for tracking in 8th grade science. It’s an intro to physics and chem. With tracking in math but not in this course, you either have kids woefully bored or woefully behind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s a problem here when families advise against doing more math when a kid can handle it because of lack of opportunities and offerings.

Eh. I chose not to have my kid double-block in math because it seemed like acceleration for acceleration’s sake. There’s no reason to take calc BC in 10th grade except bragging rights. There’s no reason for most high schools to offer math beyond Calc BC, honestly. It worked out really well for my kid to do DE math at a university senior year. He’s majoring in math at a top school.

You don’t have to participate in the arms race to have a great outcome.

You are missing the point. Lots of kids are unable to do dual enrollment and have no opportunity to go past Calculus when they want to and are interested.

No one is accelerating for acceleration sakes. Kids are bored and want more who can handle it and are shut out.

It is a lack of opportunities and offerrings in what is suppose to be the best IB school in the district. And the other neighborhood high schools don’t even offer Cal BC.

Yes, you are pushing acceleration for acceleration sake.

The topic of this thread is a kid who “is not thrilled about the early start and the extra work.” You read those words and conclude that if that kid isn’t pressured to take on the extra work, it will hurt some other hypothetical kid who is “bored and wants more.”

This is exactly the kind of reasoning that turns middle and high school into a relentless pressure cooker, a race to nowhere.

Geometry in 8th is enough. Kids who are “not thrilled” about the idea of doing more should not be pressured to do more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s a problem here when families advise against doing more math when a kid can handle it because of lack of opportunities and offerings.

Eh. I chose not to have my kid double-block in math because it seemed like acceleration for acceleration’s sake. There’s no reason to take calc BC in 10th grade except bragging rights. There’s no reason for most high schools to offer math beyond Calc BC, honestly. It worked out really well for my kid to do DE math at a university senior year. He’s majoring in math at a top school.

You don’t have to participate in the arms race to have a great outcome.

You are missing the point. Lots of kids are unable to do dual enrollment and have no opportunity to go past Calculus when they want to and are interested.

No one is accelerating for acceleration sakes. Kids are bored and want more who can handle it and are shut out.

It is a lack of opportunities and offerrings in what is suppose to be the best IB school in the district. And the other neighborhood high schools don’t even offer Cal BC.

Yes, you are pushing acceleration for acceleration sake.

The topic of this thread is a kid who “is not thrilled about the early start and the extra work.” You read those words and conclude that if that kid isn’t pressured to take on the extra work, it will hurt some other hypothetical kid who is “bored and wants more.”

This is exactly the kind of reasoning that turns middle and high school into a relentless pressure cooker, a race to nowhere.

Geometry in 8th is enough. Kids who are “not thrilled” about the idea of doing more should not be pressured to do more.

I’m the PP and my statement was a generalization for kids who love math and want more, not specifically about OP’s kids.

Yes there are kids who want more and are bored and not challenged. No one is pushing them at all.

It’s just tiring how parents on here try to justify the status quo and don’t demand more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s a problem here when families advise against doing more math when a kid can handle it because of lack of opportunities and offerings.

Eh. I chose not to have my kid double-block in math because it seemed like acceleration for acceleration’s sake. There’s no reason to take calc BC in 10th grade except bragging rights. There’s no reason for most high schools to offer math beyond Calc BC, honestly. It worked out really well for my kid to do DE math at a university senior year. He’s majoring in math at a top school.

You don’t have to participate in the arms race to have a great outcome.

You are missing the point. Lots of kids are unable to do dual enrollment and have no opportunity to go past Calculus when they want to and are interested.

No one is accelerating for acceleration sakes. Kids are bored and want more who can handle it and are shut out.

It is a lack of opportunities and offerrings in what is suppose to be the best IB school in the district. And the other neighborhood high schools don’t even offer Cal BC.

No, you are missing the point. My kid was offered double blocking, and we declined. He was the top math student in his class. He could do the work. But why? Why rush? Why not let him take gym and art and music with his friends? He took calc BC in 11th and two college classes in 12th. There is no reason to go faster than that except to say that you did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s a problem here when families advise against doing more math when a kid can handle it because of lack of opportunities and offerings.

Eh. I chose not to have my kid double-block in math because it seemed like acceleration for acceleration’s sake. There’s no reason to take calc BC in 10th grade except bragging rights. There’s no reason for most high schools to offer math beyond Calc BC, honestly. It worked out really well for my kid to do DE math at a university senior year. He’s majoring in math at a top school.

You don’t have to participate in the arms race to have a great outcome.

You are missing the point. Lots of kids are unable to do dual enrollment and have no opportunity to go past Calculus when they want to and are interested.

No one is accelerating for acceleration sakes. Kids are bored and want more who can handle it and are shut out.

It is a lack of opportunities and offerrings in what is suppose to be the best IB school in the district. And the other neighborhood high schools don’t even offer Cal BC.

Yes, you are pushing acceleration for acceleration sake.

The topic of this thread is a kid who “is not thrilled about the early start and the extra work.” You read those words and conclude that if that kid isn’t pressured to take on the extra work, it will hurt some other hypothetical kid who is “bored and wants more.”

This is exactly the kind of reasoning that turns middle and high school into a relentless pressure cooker, a race to nowhere.

Geometry in 8th is enough. Kids who are “not thrilled” about the idea of doing more should not be pressured to do more.

I’m the PP and my statement was a generalization for kids who love math and want more, not specifically about OP’s kids.

Yes there are kids who want more and are bored and not challenged. No one is pushing them at all.

It’s just tiring how parents on here try to justify the status quo and don’t demand more.

I think you aren't hearing the parents of kids who did accellerate and are saying, it wasn't worth it. And no, your kid won't be bored. There are plenty of other courses to take.

[Anonymous]

Since it’s 0 period, can they try it the first week or 2 of school to see if they like it? They might really enjoy the challenge if friends are in the class/if the teacher is good, even if they’re not sure at this moment about the early wake-up