Retaking Algebra I in 9th grade

[Anonymous]

Algebra is the basis for all advanced math going forward. Without an understanding of algebra, the child will struggle in all future math and science classes (at least post biology).

I strongly recommend ensuring a strong background. I don't care about the grade, but rather, the understanding.

My DD has the opportunity to take Algebra in 7, but I know how she does math, and I do not think she is ready.

[Anonymous]

Any FCPS math teachers here?
My DC has something like an A-/B+ in algebra but I'm not sure the depth of understanding is really there yet. Math teacher emphatically says not to retake algebra in 9th,
and DC is scheduled for honors geometry...when it's time for algebra 2, will the algebra 1 solidify conceptually? It's been so long since I had HS math, I do not have a sense of the connection or content of the algebra sequence. TIA

[Anonymous]

I guess it's time I ask my own question about math. My risen 9th grader has been placed in algebra 2/trig. after a placement test. DC has not taken geometry yet, but is good enough from personal interest/studying to test out of it, should we?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Retaking Algebra I in 9th grade will not allow for AP Calculus before graduating and that will put her at a disadvantage for college admission and at college even if she will not be majoring in STEM.

I took Algebra I as a freshman and still managed to finish AP Calc before I graduated high school. I took Algebra I/II during first year, geometry I/II during second year, Algebra III/IV and Trig during junior year, and then took AP Calc as a senior.

In N. Virginia, the math sequence is Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus and then AP Calculus all year long courses.

I'd double up on Algebra I and Geometry then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Retaking Algebra I in 9th grade will not allow for AP Calculus before graduating and that will put her at a disadvantage for college admission and at college even if she will not be majoring in STEM.

I took Algebra I as a freshman and still managed to finish AP Calc before I graduated high school. I took Algebra I/II during first year, geometry I/II during second year, Algebra III/IV and Trig during junior year, and then took AP Calc as a senior.

In N. Virginia, the math sequence is Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus and then AP Calculus all year long courses.

I'd double up on Algebra I and Geometry then.

I do not think student can take Algebra I and Geometry at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting how many posters are advocating moving OP's DC forward even though she struggled in the class even with a tutor. Everyone seems more focused on pushing her along so she can take AP calculus than on the fact that she doesn't seem to have mastered the course at all. OP, I would consider having her repeat the course in 9th grade. You don't want her hating math or doing poorly in future math classes because she doesn't have the appropriate foundation before moving forward. Solid grades without AP calculus will look a lot better that terrible grades in all her math class, including AP calculus.

OP here: thank you so much for this advice. We had pretty much decided to do just this and your post confirmed it for us. The priority for us is mastery of the material. Having had an older child who took stats not calculus, we're not too concerned about this adversely affecting college admissions down the road. Perhaps she can take geometry next summer if the repeat of Algebra goes well. Anyway, thanks again!

[Anonymous]

Algebra I in 9th grade was the standard where I went to school - only the smart kids took Algebra in 8th grade. It went Algebra I - Geometry - Algebra II - Pre-Calc or Statistics, depending on which one you wanted to do. And everyone still got into college! She'll be fine if she needs to re-take it.

[Anonymous]

Does she really not understand the material enough to move forward, or are you just not happy with what the final grade will be?

It is possible to drop middle school courses from the high school transcript if done so soon after. The transcript would only show math courses taken in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting how many posters are advocating moving OP's DC forward even though she struggled in the class even with a tutor. Everyone seems more focused on pushing her along so she can take AP calculus than on the fact that she doesn't seem to have mastered the course at all. OP, I would consider having her repeat the course in 9th grade. You don't want her hating math or doing poorly in future math classes because she doesn't have the appropriate foundation before moving forward. Solid grades without AP calculus will look a lot better that terrible grades in all her math class, including AP calculus.

OP here: thank you so much for this advice. We had pretty much decided to do just this and your post confirmed it for us. The priority for us is mastery of the material. Having had an older child who took stats not calculus, we're not too concerned about this adversely affecting college admissions down the road. Perhaps she can take geometry next summer if the repeat of Algebra goes well. Anyway, thanks again!

You are setting the bar too low. You should set it a little bit higher unless your child is ok with NVCC. Hard work is sometimes necessary unless she just wants to forego college and do something that doesn't require college education. If she doesn't "master" the material in 9th grade then repeat it again in 10th grade because it doesn't matter how long it might take as long as she masters the material on her own schedule?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting how many posters are advocating moving OP's DC forward even though she struggled in the class even with a tutor. Everyone seems more focused on pushing her along so she can take AP calculus than on the fact that she doesn't seem to have mastered the course at all. OP, I would consider having her repeat the course in 9th grade. You don't want her hating math or doing poorly in future math classes because she doesn't have the appropriate foundation before moving forward. Solid grades without AP calculus will look a lot better that terrible grades in all her math class, including AP calculus.

OP here: thank you so much for this advice. We had pretty much decided to do just this and your post confirmed it for us. The priority for us is mastery of the material. Having had an older child who took stats not calculus, we're not too concerned about this adversely affecting college admissions down the road. Perhaps she can take geometry next summer if the repeat of Algebra goes well. Anyway, thanks again!

You are setting the bar too low. You should set it a little bit higher unless your child is ok with NVCC. Hard work is sometimes necessary unless she just wants to forego college and do something that doesn't require college education. If she doesn't "master" the material in 9th grade then repeat it again in 10th grade because it doesn't matter how long it might take as long as she masters the material on her own schedule?

Yes, anyone who takes Algebra in 9th grade will end up at NVCC or not going to college at all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting how many posters are advocating moving OP's DC forward even though she struggled in the class even with a tutor. Everyone seems more focused on pushing her along so she can take AP calculus than on the fact that she doesn't seem to have mastered the course at all. OP, I would consider having her repeat the course in 9th grade. You don't want her hating math or doing poorly in future math classes because she doesn't have the appropriate foundation before moving forward. Solid grades without AP calculus will look a lot better that terrible grades in all her math class, including AP calculus.

OP here: thank you so much for this advice. We had pretty much decided to do just this and your post confirmed it for us. The priority for us is mastery of the material. Having had an older child who took stats not calculus, we're not too concerned about this adversely affecting college admissions down the road. Perhaps she can take geometry next summer if the repeat of Algebra goes well. Anyway, thanks again!

You are setting the bar too low. You should set it a little bit higher unless your child is ok with NVCC. Hard work is sometimes necessary unless she just wants to forego college and do something that doesn't require college education. If she doesn't "master" the material in 9th grade then repeat it again in 10th grade because it doesn't matter how long it might take as long as she masters the material on her own schedule?

You clearly don't have a child of college age yet. Only in this area do parents like you insist that taking math on a "normal" schedule (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Stats or Precalc.) is somehow "setting the bar too low". Plenty of excellent colleges are just fine with this, as long as four years of high school math have been completed. Not every child is interested in being a STEM major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC took Algebra this year as an 8th grader and did pretty well until the last quarter. Unfortunately, although she tried very hard and had a tutor, her grade completely tanked and we've agreed she should retake it as a freshman. Not only to improve the GPA, but also to make sure she's understanding everything thoroughly before moving on. Does anyone have an experience like this with your own kids? What was their math sequence in high school if they took Algebra in 9th grade? TIA.

Most important thing is that she understand the fundamentals of math, and really feel comfortable with the basics. Math is built on the basics. Summer school this summer to catch up. It is only 1 quarter and 9th grade is Geometry.

I agree with this. This is what I would do if it was my child. Don't make DC retake the entire year of algebra if she only messed up one quarter. Having her retake it in 9th will put her at a huge disadvantage in terms of the math sequence and college admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC took Algebra this year as an 8th grader and did pretty well until the last quarter. Unfortunately, although she tried very hard and had a tutor, her grade completely tanked and we've agreed she should retake it as a freshman. Not only to improve the GPA, but also to make sure she's understanding everything thoroughly before moving on. Does anyone have an experience like this with your own kids? What was their math sequence in high school if they took Algebra in 9th grade? TIA.

Most important thing is that she understand the fundamentals of math, and really feel comfortable with the basics. Math is built on the basics. Summer school this summer to catch up. It is only 1 quarter and 9th grade is Geometry.

I agree with this. This is what I would do if it was my child. Don't make DC retake the entire year of algebra if she only messed up one quarter. Having her retake it in 9th will put her at a huge disadvantage in terms of the math sequence and college admissions.

Also, hire a tutor along with her retaking it during the summer. Summer is a wonderful time to catch up on math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess it's time I ask my own question about math. My risen 9th grader has been placed in algebra 2/trig. after a placement test. DC has not taken geometry yet, but is good enough from personal interest/studying to test out of it, should we?

geometry is very different than algebra I don't see how she can test out of it and how she was places in algebra 2/trig without taking geometry first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting how many posters are advocating moving OP's DC forward even though she struggled in the class even with a tutor. Everyone seems more focused on pushing her along so she can take AP calculus than on the fact that she doesn't seem to have mastered the course at all. OP, I would consider having her repeat the course in 9th grade. You don't want her hating math or doing poorly in future math classes because she doesn't have the appropriate foundation before moving forward. Solid grades without AP calculus will look a lot better that terrible grades in all her math class, including AP calculus.

OP here: thank you so much for this advice. We had pretty much decided to do just this and your post confirmed it for us. The priority for us is mastery of the material. Having had an older child who took stats not calculus, we're not too concerned about this adversely affecting college admissions down the road. Perhaps she can take geometry next summer if the repeat of Algebra goes well. Anyway, thanks again!

OP, there are many different tracks in FCPS Math. Please do not squeeze geometry into the summer. It is a very important course and going forward they are including Trig and Algebra II in Geometry. Might be smarter to move forward with Geometry (required course) and then tone it down from there. Thee are many possibilities. Have you looked at the expanded version of the math curriculum?