What elementary/middle schools have the strongest math programs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BASIS DC hands down if you have an accelerated math leaner. A handful of kids took Algebra 1 last year in 5th grade and are taking Algebra 2 in 6th grade. These kids on are on track to take Calculus in 8th grade.

Waiting eagerly to hear how these 8th graders do on the AP Calculus BC exam.

In their other schools, BASIS has a great track record for AP calculus and other testing. Like I said there is only a handful of kids taking the highest track to be on schedule for calculus in 8th grade which BASIS has done successfully at their other schools. All students are given diagnostics to place them appropriately into the right level of math and are re-assessed frequently. Most of the students are on track for Algebra 1 in 7th grade and will not take calculus in 8th grade. But at the least the option exists for advanced learners. They also have the Leap program for other disciplines such as science, language arts, etc.

I'd be very curious to see how those students do in the long run. I know FCPS is reconsidering pushing so many kids into 7th grade algebra because they feel they may not be ready. I can't imagine mor than 1 kid a year who could really handle Calculus BC in 8th grade.

And this is why American students can't compete with Finland, Korea, and Poland...low expectations.

You don't seem to have any knowledge of the education system in Finland, Korea and Poland.

[Anonymous]

Calculus BC in the 8th grade is not low expectations. Back in the day, at my strong math/science magnet, we usually did it senior year.

Note that we did have in my junior high (7th - 9th) about four guys who were working their way forward on their own speed on who knows what while we were learning algebra and probability. They could have been doing calculus. Note, one of them skipped high school and is now a math professor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And this is why American students can't compete with Finland, Korea, and Poland...low expectations.

So how many children in those countries take Calculus BC at age 13?

I can't speak for "all those" countries, but in my eastern-european one everyone started algebra in 5th grade. And geometry as well.
We did addition/subtraction in first, multiplication/division in second (had to memorize the multipl. facts the summer before), fractions/decimals in third, order of operations either in third or in fourth, and started equations and graphs in fifth. It's NOT complicated. I'm not gifted in math at all - trust me. But we didn't just have a "problem of the week" like my son does. We had 5-10 problems assigned to us every day. That's all it takes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And this is why American students can't compete with Finland, Korea, and Poland...low expectations.

So how many children in those countries take Calculus BC at age 13?

I can't speak for "all those" countries, but in my eastern-european one everyone started algebra in 5th grade. And geometry as well.
We did addition/subtraction in first, multiplication/division in second (had to memorize the multipl. facts the summer before), fractions/decimals in third, order of operations either in third or in fourth, and started equations and graphs in fifth. It's NOT complicated. I'm not gifted in math at all - trust me. But we didn't just have a "problem of the week" like my son does. We had 5-10 problems assigned to us every day. That's all it takes.

How old is the average 1st grader in your home country? I know many European countries don't start full school until age 7. SO 1st grade would be equivalent to 2nd grade here....... Plus, my kids go some algebra and geometry in their math classes in ES, but didn't start the full on Algebra until MS.

[Anonymous]

I'm from India. There was no differentiation in elementary or middle school. 6 year olds were in 1st grade, so it was the same as the U.S. I remember learning all my multiplication tables in 1st grade, and having verbal quizzes and games in school. Algebra and geometry started in 4th grade. These subjects were taught every year, and for everyone from that point onward. Trigonometry was started in 6th grade. Everyone started calculus in 9th. Tracking into educational fields (science, humanities, or social science) started in 11th grade. The science track in 11th and 12th grade did really high level math, the social science kids did the next level. The humanities kids had the "easiest" math but it still required continuing with calculus.

[Anonymous]

Hah! Told ya...Americans have low expectations for their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm from India. There was no differentiation in elementary or middle school. 6 year olds were in 1st grade, so it was the same as the U.S. I remember learning all my multiplication tables in 1st grade, and having verbal quizzes and games in school. Algebra and geometry started in 4th grade. These subjects were taught every year, and for everyone from that point onward. Trigonometry was started in 6th grade. Everyone started calculus in 9th. Tracking into educational fields (science, humanities, or social science) started in 11th grade. The science track in 11th and 12th grade did really high level math, the social science kids did the next level. The humanities kids had the "easiest" math but it still required continuing with calculus.

What percentage of Indian children are in these types of schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm from India. There was no differentiation in elementary or middle school. 6 year olds were in 1st grade, so it was the same as the U.S. I remember learning all my multiplication tables in 1st grade, and having verbal quizzes and games in school. Algebra and geometry started in 4th grade. These subjects were taught every year, and for everyone from that point onward. Trigonometry was started in 6th grade. Everyone started calculus in 9th. Tracking into educational fields (science, humanities, or social science) started in 11th grade. The science track in 11th and 12th grade did really high level math, the social science kids did the next level. The humanities kids had the "easiest" math but it still required continuing with calculus.

What percentage of Indian children are in these types of schools?

Based on their scores on international tests, Indians are kicking some butt! 72/73, but hey, they beat Kyrgyzstan!

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/Indian-students-rank-2nd-last-in-global-test/articleshow/11492508.cms

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm from India. There was no differentiation in elementary or middle school. 6 year olds were in 1st grade, so it was the same as the U.S. I remember learning all my multiplication tables in 1st grade, and having verbal quizzes and games in school. Algebra and geometry started in 4th grade. These subjects were taught every year, and for everyone from that point onward. Trigonometry was started in 6th grade. Everyone started calculus in 9th. Tracking into educational fields (science, humanities, or social science) started in 11th grade. The science track in 11th and 12th grade did really high level math, the social science kids did the next level. The humanities kids had the "easiest" math but it still required continuing with calculus.

What percentage of Indian children are in these types of schools?

Based on their scores on international tests, Indians are kicking some butt! 72/73, but hey, they beat Kyrgyzstan!

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/Indian-students-rank-2nd-last-in-global-test/articleshow/11492508.cms

That didn't answer the question. What percentage of Indian children have access to this type of education?

[Anonymous]

NP. India has a 50 % secondary attendance rate, according to World Bank data. It was about 25% in the 80's, l believe largely because high schools were rarer in rural areas.

[Anonymous]

I guess my question would be what gets sacrificed for acceleration. I was bored in ES math in 5th and 6th grade, so I probably could have used some acceleration. However, if kids learn algebra in 5th, when do they learn about negative integers, counting in different bases etc. That stuff is necessary for higher math. Also, I think it's great to try to get as many people as possible to take calculus and basic statistics in high school. However, I'm in a math intensive field, and I don't really see how it helps you to take differential equation in high school rather than in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And this is why American students can't compete with Finland, Korea, and Poland...low expectations.

So how many children in those countries take Calculus BC at age 13?

I can't speak for "all those" countries, but in my eastern-european one everyone started algebra in 5th grade. And geometry as well.
We did addition/subtraction in first, multiplication/division in second (had to memorize the multipl. facts the summer before), fractions/decimals in third, order of operations either in third or in fourth, and started equations and graphs in fifth. It's NOT complicated. I'm not gifted in math at all - trust me. But we didn't just have a "problem of the week" like my son does. We had 5-10 problems assigned to us every day. That's all it takes.

How old is the average 1st grader in your home country? I know many European countries don't start full school until age 7. SO 1st grade would be equivalent to 2nd grade here....... Plus, my kids go some algebra and geometry in their math classes in ES, but didn't start the full on Algebra until MS.

They start school at 7, but I adjusted the grade level to match their american equivalent. Actually, just like for the Indian poster above, both Algebra and Geometry starts in 4th grade, which would be 5th here. Algebra and Geometry are taught concurrently for the next 4 years, at which point some kids leave school to go to trade schools, and others continue with calculus. Chemistry/Physics/Biology is also taught concurrently from either 5th or 6th grade (I forget now which one) and is taught for at least 4 years straight. And, unlike India, the attendance rate is 100% of the population. This is your regular neighborhood public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
They start school at 7, but I adjusted the grade level to match their american equivalent. Actually, just like for the Indian poster above, both Algebra and Geometry starts in 4th grade, which would be 5th here. Algebra and Geometry are taught concurrently for the next 4 years, at which point some kids leave school to go to trade schools, and others continue with calculus. Chemistry/Physics/Biology is also taught concurrently from either 5th or 6th grade (I forget now which one) and is taught for at least 4 years straight. And, unlike India, the attendance rate is 100% of the population. This is your regular neighborhood public school.

Why is the difference between teaching classes called "Algebra" and "Geometry" in fifth through ninth grade (or eighth?) and teaching classes called Math 5 (which includes algebra and geometry), Math 6 (which includes algebra and geometry), "Algebra", and "Geometry" during those same grades?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And this is why American students can't compete with Finland, Korea, and Poland...low expectations.

So how many children in those countries take Calculus BC at age 13?

I can't speak for "all those" countries, but in my eastern-european one everyone started algebra in 5th grade. And geometry as well.
We did addition/subtraction in first, multiplication/division in second (had to memorize the multipl. facts the summer before), fractions/decimals in third, order of operations either in third or in fourth, and started equations and graphs in fifth. It's NOT complicated. I'm not gifted in math at all - trust me. But we didn't just have a "problem of the week" like my son does. We had 5-10 problems assigned to us every day. That's all it takes.

How old is the average 1st grader in your home country? I know many European countries don't start full school until age 7. SO 1st grade would be equivalent to 2nd grade here....... Plus, my kids go some algebra and geometry in their math classes in ES, but didn't start the full on Algebra until MS.

They start school at 7, but I adjusted the grade level to match their american equivalent. Actually, just like for the Indian poster above, both Algebra and Geometry starts in 4th grade, which would be 5th here. Algebra and Geometry are taught concurrently for the next 4 years, at which point some kids leave school to go to trade schools, and others continue with calculus. Chemistry/Physics/Biology is also taught concurrently from either 5th or 6th grade (I forget now which one) and is taught for at least 4 years straight. And, unlike India, the attendance rate is 100% of the population. This is your regular neighborhood public school.

European schools are often cited for their model of "starting later" i.e. Finland - but that's only citing mandatory attendance laws - but what's often left out of that story is that the overwhelming majority of European students start before the mandatory starting age and have academically robust public preschool programs. So, they don't actually start later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
European schools are often cited for their model of "starting later" i.e. Finland - but that's only citing mandatory attendance laws - but what's often left out of that story is that the overwhelming majority of European students start before the mandatory starting age and have academically robust public preschool programs. So, they don't actually start later.

Not sure about that. Pre-schools in my country were awful. Far from "robust", they were a major health hazard.