Starting AAP Level IV in 4th grade, math prep?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When my son transferred to a center in 5th, I think we got him a workbook. He never looked at it and was captain of his Math Counts team the next year. I have no idea what math groups he was ever in, although I remember him telling me he wasn't good at math in 1st grade because all the other kids (in China) had tutors and already knew how to multiply and divide.

If your DC finished 4th grade in China, even average in math, he/she will be light years ahead of 5th graders here. The students here only start to catch up with some other countries' math education in college, not that there is anything wrong with it. Lots of kids in Asian counties start to learn multiplications in preschool as a fact to compete for college entries.

[Anonymous]

My son started in AAP IN 4th ( now 5th ) and did not struggle to catch up. We did no summer math prep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No experience with your situation, but have a DC going into 3rd grade AAP with probably higher-than-average math. In the orientation, I asked specific question about the math curriculum. The teacher said they do differentiate in the center.
For 3rd graders, they will have access to 3rd/4th/5th grade math. The expectation is majority 3rd grader AAP will start with normal 3rd grade math, then quickly move on to 4th grade. For the ones that need extra time, they will stay on 3rd grade math longer. For the few need extra challenges, they will even start teaching 5th grade math in 3rd grade AAP.
I would imaging the same apply to 4th grade AAP. The majority will taking 5th grade math, while some stay on 4th grade if needed.
One way to find out is to contact the center 4th grade teacher.

And here's how much what math group they are in 3rd grade will matter --- not at all. Please just let your kids have a summer. Mathnasium, Kumon, Aloha Math are not necessary for AAP kids. These grade school years are supposed to be the ones when there is no pressure, which trust me, will come soon enough. When my son transferred to a center in 5th, I think we got him a workbook. He never looked at it and was captain of his Math Counts team the next year. I have no idea what math groups he was ever in, although I remember him telling me he wasn't good at math in 1st grade because all the other kids (in China) had tutors and already knew how to multiply and divide. So what? He survived and got a great deal of satisfaction from doing it on his own --something very few kids seem to be allowed to do nowadays.

Switching in 5th grade is easier than switching in 4th grade. If you switch in 5th grade, you've already done multiplication and division. If you switch in 4th grade, all the other AAP kids in the class have already mastered multiplication and division in 3rd grade while a lot of times kids in gen ed math haven't covered even basic multiplication. If OP's DC is at a school where in gen ed 3rd graders do multiplication and division, then there is no need to do workbooks. If OP's DC hasn't done any multiplication or division, I would at least get the basis multiplication facts down over the summer. Not a big time commitment.