Your experience with Algebra 2.0 this year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS really liked the teaching methods of algebra 2.0. Students were given problems and asked to figure out how to solve it rather than the teacher giving the method for solving and having kids practice. He felt he learned the concepts much better that way. I was not aware of any problems with the tests. Kids seem to do very well..but that is not unusual with all the grade inflation in MoCo. We have rarely had a math text book. We find info on line if we need it. That is not a big deal to me though I know others feel very strongly about it.

There is no grade inflation in my kids' MCPSs. My children work very hard for their grades. I really resent it when people say there is grade inflation. It simply isn't true at my kids' schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is from DS "welcome to algebra" packet:
Unit 1 Relationship between quantities and reasoning with equations
Unit 2 Linear and exponential Relationships
Unit 3 Descriptive Statistics
Unit 4 Quadratic Relationships
Unit 5 Generalizing Function Properties

I'm the PP trying to plan my child's summer math study program. Thanks for posting this information. May I ask what you mean by "Welcome to Algebra" packet? Was this info given at the beginning of the school year when your ds began Algebra by way of outlining what would be covered over the year. Or was this what he was given over the summer before he began Algebra? TIA.

[Anonymous]

First day of school type thing...there was more detail...I will post it at some point if I get a minute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can any curriculum followers provide info on what was missing? PP have mentioned shallow and unorganized..but were there concepts missing? What did they spend the year on if everything was shallow? I was amazed at how much algebra was included in the elementary curriculum so given they had background in solving for x and manipulating equations..seems like there was plenty of time to really cover algebra in MS. Thanks.

PP here with discouraged child.

This is exactly the problem -- there's no real written curriculum yet, according to DD's teacher, except for some very general guidelines, and there's no textbook. And many tests are viewed as confidential so the school doesn't send them home. Therefore, it's really hard to figure out what your kid is missing. This is true for my DD, whose C's went unexplained despite my frequent questions, but it's also true for kids who are getting A's. You can't look in the textbook and see what's going on ... so who knows?

And yet MCPS is supposed to be so great..?? I am pulling my DC out and am not happy about it.

[Anonymous]

I had really hoped that Algebra would improve at MCPS, but from these comments it seems that that is not the case. I am a big supporter of public schools, but must admit the math at a BIG 3 is much better. My son's experience was that he was that he got As in Algebra in MIddle School, but did poorly on the math assessment when transferring, so he had to repeat. The result is that he now thoroughly understands Algebra and Geometry, and got a very high grade on the PSAT. The teaching at the private was oriented to understand the theory and practice of every topic completely, and not just learning how to get the right answer. I do not understand why MCPS cannot do something similar.

[Anonymous]

PP story is disturbing. Does anyone have a similar situation with 2.0 yet? Leaving MoCo for private after algebra 2.0.. I am surprised a Big 3 would take anyone with a low math score.. I do think 2.0 is less about just the steps to get the correct answer but that doesn't mean it is a good curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had really hoped that Algebra would improve at MCPS, but from these comments it seems that that is not the case. I am a big supporter of public schools, but must admit the math at a BIG 3 is much better. My son's experience was that he was that he got As in Algebra in MIddle School, but did poorly on the math assessment when transferring, so he had to repeat. The result is that he now thoroughly understands Algebra and Geometry, and got a very high grade on the PSAT. The teaching at the private was oriented to understand the theory and practice of every topic completely, and not just learning how to get the right answer. I do not understand why MCPS cannot do something similar.

I've heard similar stories from families transferring to top privates after MS. Straight 'A' MCPS Math student does poorly on placement test and has to repeat Algebra and/or Geometry. Child ends up with a better grasp of both.
I'm not sure whether MCPS has grade inflation but at least with my dc, it is pretty easy for her to ace all the summative assessments because she knows exactly what kind of problems to expect and how to go about solving them ("monkey see, monkey do"). I am not sure whether she really 'gets' it. Teacher with two dozen students is understandably (usually anyway) satisfied with good unit assessment grades.

[Anonymous]

Are you saying these children did poorly on the placement tests before 2.0 arrived or they did poorly after taking algebra 2.0 last year?

[Anonymous]

PP about some retaking algebra and geometry at big 3. Placement tests at big 3 private schools are done after the child is accepted, so they do not impact admissions. He did OK on math part of PPSAT - 80th percentile. The standard for placement at his Big 3 is much higher than in MCPS. So if there is any doubt that that a student has a complete understanding they recommend retaking the class. One year can be done in private summer school if the teacher agrees. That way the student can still take calculus senior year. There is a huge emphasis in this area about acceleration in math but for colleges completion of Calculus with an excellent grade from a good school ( private or public) and a high SAT math are sufficient for even the top colleges. It does distress me that many A students from MCPS do need to repeat math classes when they transfer to Big 3 schools. I understand that large class sizes are partially to blame. But the curriculum, teacher talent, and grade inflation also may be factors. I really think, even though people are complaining, that the new elementary school curriculum at MCPS, with far fewer students being accelerated may help when these students reach high school. Interested in others opinions on this topic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you saying these children did poorly on the placement tests before 2.0 arrived or they did poorly after taking algebra 2.0 last year?

Sorry.. before. I was hoping 2.0 would be better.

[Anonymous]

How do we reconcile MoCo's typically high SAT and AP scores with the poor math complaints?

[Anonymous]

Maybe strong students can do well on the tests regardless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do we reconcile MoCo's typically high SAT and AP scores with the poor math complaints?

+1

I am having trouble with some of the comments in this thread. When I have looked at the colleges that Gtown Prep kid attend and that the W-schools attend, I see similar results. Some kids get into Ivies, some go to good state schools, then a bunch go to other small colleges of varying quality. I have seen SAT scores in public schools get to pretty high levels, but of course there is a wide distribution.

I also know a lot of private kids that are 'all-in' on travel sports and I don't see how they could keep up with some of the public or private kids that go to academic camps like CTY and participate in other more academic activities like Math Teams, robot teams, etc.

Ultimately, kids have different abilities, different work ethics and different interests that will lead them to different places on the math scale. I can't believe that public or private will make a difference over some of these other factors.

As for 2.0, my DS will be taking it next year in 7th grade. The MS announced that they would put up a math packet, but I haven't seen it yet. This speaks to the poor rollout of the curriculum. Even if this is the greatest program ever and they eventually work out the details, this is just a criminal way to teach the current cohort of kids. I really hate Bill Gates and all these reformers (especially the ones who cram down this junk on public school kids while sending their kids to some private school with a different curriculum).

[Anonymous]

PP, the math packet you are waiting for will be a review of last years math. It will not relate to Algebra since your child has not had it yet. I would inquire with the school about the packet. My MS has had them on the website for several weeks...so this is more an issue with your school then the roll out in general.

[Anonymous]

How do we reconcile MoCo's typically high SAT and AP scores with the poor math complaints?

People the kids with 2.0 haven't taken 2.0 yet. You will not see impacted SAT results for a few more years.

Someone on a different thread said they saw an MCPS report that showed 40% of MCPS kids used to meet the gifted threshold on the Inview test but this year only 20% met the threshold. If this is true that is a huge statistical drop (it doesn't matter whether you think the threshold meant gifted or not, what matter is a straight score drop of this magnitude).