My daughter's friend who is a rising 8th grader is in Multivariable calculus camp, WTF?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's so annoying when jealous or ignorant people presume a child has been pressured into advanced academic subjects.

Not all of them would complain that much with a stellar athlete.

We are an academically-minded family. My son would MUCH RATHER do any kind of intellectual activity than do sports. In late elementary he was reading at a 12th grade level, and doing advanced math. Not because we pushed him, but because we think topics like these are fun and interesting - we unwittingly created an environment where he could like such things.

Do you understand, OP? Please stop criticizing other families like this - it makes you seem very insecure.

I was with you until you went there.

You can't take credit for something, and also call people who claim that you caused something ignorant and jealous. You need to choose.

Gosh, you really want to find fault, don't you? It's joint credit, to be perfectly truthful.
Most parents unconsciously project a fear of higher math onto their kids. We didn't, so I think we can take some credit, thank you very much.
We also applaud my son's efforts! Although it's not really effort when you BEG to do it, and could do it all day, is it? You sure do have a hard time understanding that these things can be a pleasure!

Predisposition (his and ours) also plays an important role, and that's not credit, it's the luck of the draw to have passed down some genes.

[Anonymous]

My DS belongs to Davidson Young Scholars- he's not doing multi-variable calculus or anything close but there are definitely middle school aged kids who are capable. It's phenomenal really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what? I know a few kids who passed AP calculus in middle school and now in HS are completely burned out.

How do you pass AP calculus in middle school? Middle schools don't offer AP calculus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do you care? If the kid wanted to go, good for them. If they like math, good for them.

I don't see how a 13 year old could have just "picked up" on all the prerequisite math needed to take multivariable calculus without having been specifically taught ahead. I don't know if he wanted to go or it was his parents' idea, but according to my daughter, he is saying that it's really hard.

[Anonymous]

So what do kids who learn multivariable calculus in middle school take when they are a Junior in high school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS belongs to Davidson Young Scholars- he's not doing multi-variable calculus or anything close but there are definitely middle school aged kids who are capable. It's phenomenal really.

Multivariable calculus in middle school would imply that the kid has gone through Prealgebra, Algebra 1 and 2, aspects of trigonometry, and single-variable calculus and possibly other topics. Even if done cursorily, where does one find the time to go through all these topics in sufficient depth to get something out multivariable calculus? Are any school systems in the DC area equipped or willing to let a 2nd or 3rd grader go through Algebra 1 and so on? I know that DCPS isn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is it possible for a 13 year old to be in a multivariable calculus camp? What would be the point of even trying to push your kid ahead this far?

Can you post the link to the specific camp? Possible? I guess for some truly gifted kids. But I am very skeptical that a camp can attract enough kids at that age to be doing this level of work. Even what passes for calculus in many high schools falls short (as measured by how many kids take the AP tests and, of those, how many get 5s). And bear in mind that real college level calculus at challenging schools is harder than the AP exams at the same levels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is it possible for a 13 year old to be in a multivariable calculus camp? What would be the point of even trying to push your kid ahead this far?

Wake up OP. It's a tough world out there and your kids are going to have to compete.

Do you think parent in China sit around worrying about "pushing their kids ahead" this far?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is it possible for a 13 year old to be in a multivariable calculus camp? What would be the point of even trying to push your kid ahead this far?

Can you post the link to the specific camp? Possible? I guess for some truly gifted kids. But I am very skeptical that a camp can attract enough kids at that age to be doing this level of work. Even what passes for calculus in many high schools falls short (as measured by how many kids take the AP tests and, of those, how many get 5s). And bear in mind that real college level calculus at challenging schools is harder than the AP exams at the same levels.

13:58 PP here. I agree. Even for a truly gifted kid, what school system around here is equipped to serve them? To be at that level, either the school is making accommodations such that an elementary school child can learn Algebra 1/2. Are even the best elementary schools (not JKLM) in DC area able/have the staffing to do this? Perhaps the HGCs? If any PP has experience, personal or otherwise, I'd really appreciate their insights.

[Anonymous]

Is it because kid wants it or because parents are pushing and kid has no clue? Two very different scenarios. Either way, OP, you don't sound concerned about the kid, but more jealous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
It's so annoying when jealous or ignorant people presume a child has been pressured into advanced academic subjects.

Not all of them would complain that much with a stellar athlete.

We are an academically-minded family. My son would MUCH RATHER do any kind of intellectual activity than do sports. In late elementary he was reading at a 12th grade level, and doing advanced math. Not because we pushed him, but because we think topics like these are fun and interesting - we unwittingly created an environment where he could like such things.

Do you understand, OP? Please stop criticizing other families like this - it makes you seem very insecure.

You sound really, really off. Just your post on its own. Yikes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it because kid wants it or because parents are pushing and kid has no clue? Two very different scenarios. Either way, OP, you don't sound concerned about the kid, but more jealous.

Not jealous, just more flabbergasted. And honestly, if the kid can handle the work, more power to him and his family, but admittedly it seems a bit nutty to me.

[Anonymous]

We're a sports type of family but that doesn't mean my kids don't do math as well. Balance. My kids would be fish out of water at that camp though, we just don't have that kind of aptitude and I'm smart enough to know that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS belongs to Davidson Young Scholars- he's not doing multi-variable calculus or anything close but there are definitely middle school aged kids who are capable. It's phenomenal really.

Multivariable calculus in middle school would imply that the kid has gone through Prealgebra, Algebra 1 and 2, aspects of trigonometry, and single-variable calculus and possibly other topics. Even if done cursorily, where does one find the time to go through all these topics in sufficient depth to get something out multivariable calculus? Are any school systems in the DC area equipped or willing to let a 2nd or 3rd grader go through Algebra 1 and so on? I know that DCPS isn't.

Actually, there are a couple of math phenoms at our school who work with a math specialist and have taken full on Algebra I in elementary school. DCPS absolutely can and does handle this. But it is rare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS belongs to Davidson Young Scholars- he's not doing multi-variable calculus or anything close but there are definitely middle school aged kids who are capable. It's phenomenal really.

Multivariable calculus in middle school would imply that the kid has gone through Prealgebra, Algebra 1 and 2, aspects of trigonometry, and single-variable calculus and possibly other topics. Even if done cursorily, where does one find the time to go through all these topics in sufficient depth to get something out multivariable calculus? Are any school systems in the DC area equipped or willing to let a 2nd or 3rd grader go through Algebra 1 and so on? I know that DCPS isn't.

Actually, there are a couple of math phenoms at our school who work with a math specialist and have taken full on Algebra I in elementary school. DCPS absolutely can and does handle this. But it is rare.

Which one? I am genuinely interested as DS (rising 3rd grader) might benefit from advanced math instruction. But in any case, for the child to follow OPs sequence, would have to have finished pre-Algebra in 3rd, Algebra1 or Geometry in 4th (with trigonometry) etc. that would be admirable.