6th grade algebra

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have been given the option of putting our child in 6th grade algebra coming from GT magnet. Would like some feedback from those whose child has done it. Our child is not particularly "mathy" though who knows what direction life will take. Challenge but by the time he is finished with HS..what level will he be at..probably more math than I ever had..maybe my future poet (kidding) doesn't need that challenge??

I chose this path for my DC who attended the neighborhood MS after having attended a HGC in 4th (took Math 6) and 5th grade (took Math 7). Although DC does well in math, DC is much more interested in language arts/history/social studies (DC, however, was turned-off by the HGC experience and wasn't interested in continuing in the magnet program for MS -- but that's another story). Coming out of the HGC, DC was well prepared to take Algebra I in 6th grade and frankly would have been bored with another year of arithmetic-based math instruction or with IM (which an older sibling took in order to delay Algebra I until 7th Grade). DC now attends the neighborhood HS and is taking AP Calculus as a sophomore, plans to take Multivariable Calculus or Statistics as a junior, and will take some other math course as a senior (although DC may have to travel somewhere to take an appropriate level math course if one isn't offered at the local HS). In short, my non-mathy DC greatly benefitted by taking Algebra I in 6th grade, and also starting foreign language in 6th grade, because those courses contributed the most academic rigor in DC's successful transition from the magnet program back into the general education program. On the other hand, older DC greatly benefitted by delaying Algebra I to 7th Grade because that DC wasn't coming from a (rigorous) magnet program and also had more difficulty making the transition from ES to MS than the younger DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isnt the "no hs credit" the point and problem? Most kids will take 4 years of math in hs--whether they start at Algebra 1 or Algebra 2/Trig or whatevere. Pity the non-STEM hs kid taking crazy off-the -charts math in her junior and senior years of hs. There are tons of other challenging classes she could be taking then that would be more useful and more interesting.

Actually most people complain because those MS classes DO count for HS credit and are on the HS transcript. The colleges are the ones who want to see 4 years of math during the HS years.

I understand the hs transcript part, but do the ms classes count for credit? So it is possible to graduate from hs not having taken a math course during the 4 years of hs (assuming the necessary credits were earned during ms)? If so, we still need to cater to the colleges' wishes, right?

It is probably possible to to not take a math class in HS and meet MCPS graduation requirements (although highly unlikley that a kid who was that accelerated in math would stop taking it after 8th grade). However colleges are focused on what you take in 9th-12th grade. If you are advanced and enter 9th grade doing pre calculus then they want to see you progress from there all the way through 12th grade. So that could mean 7-8 math classes on your transcript.

Frankly the answer for most kids is to start Alg 1 in 7th or 8th grade. You are then on a track to take AP Calc or multivariable in HS. If you want to pursue higher level math that's what college is for.

Agreed. (BTW, my understanding is that in FFX, you must take 3 years of hs math during your hs years in order to graduate).