Blair math: functions
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Anonymous
Could any Blair parent with kid in Blair and taking Functionc please tell when do we hear from Blair if DC got accepted in Function? Will it be before summer? |
Anonymous
| I seem to remember being given my child's math placement after the summer math camp at Blair. |
Anonymous
I thought it was more a current teacher rec than a Blair invite. But, maybe a current Blair parent could shed some light? |
Anonymous
Frm what I have heard, for TPMS magnet students, they get recommended by their teacher. For kids from other schools, they are recommended after summer math camp/ placement test at Blair. Current Blair parent, could you provide info on this for TPMS magnet as well as other schools? |
Anonymous
Yes, you are right.--A current function parent |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
| I thought there would be an assessment test during the recommended pre-school week during summer for incoming HS students. How else would they know who to invite? |
Anonymous
The one-week summer school has an assessment every day. Blair magnet uses the assessment to determine who could be successful in the Function class. Most of the students in Function haven't taken Algebra II in middle school so Algebra II is not a perquisition for the Function. By the way, if your DC is ready for the Function but is not recommended or cannot attend the summer school, s/he can always appeal. |
Anonymous
| What if your child is unable to attend the week in the summer? |
Anonymous
you can tell Blair magnet that your DC just made JMO  . I am sure they will find a right class for him/her.
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Anonymous
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OP: I had a child who wanted functions at this point at Takoma. I think a lot of the kids think that. He didn't get placed there, and after a quarter, once he saw the level of work and the number of kids who dropped out of functions, he was quite happy he wasn't placed there.
He feels so strongly that it's too hard that he's trying to persuade his sibling - who actually is likely to get placed in functions - not to do it. I talked with a parent ahead of time who warned me not to let my child go into functions b/c the level of work and stress was so high. That parent had multiple children who had gone through the class. |
Anonymous
OTOH, my DC *loved* functions. Loved it. He loved the extra work, loved the teacher, could not get enough of it. |
Anonymous
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21:37 - Thanks for that perspective. I suspect 2nd child will love it as well; he has regularly sought out extra math outside of school and both wants and needs the class, I think.
For OP though, if she's trying to catch her child up to be in the class b/c the child just wants it now, it likely is going to be too much too fast. Best to let the teachers sort through it during the week in the summer. |
Anonymous
HUH? What is JMO? |
Anonymous
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Functions seems to be geared to students who excel at the following skills:
1. Strong ability at algebraic manipulation of complex functions, far beyond that which is offered in regular Algebra II class. 2. Ability to work both very fast and very accurately - there is no time to "proofread" the work Finally, and most importantly: 3. Ability to solve problems above and beyond of what has been presented in class - i.e. the creative spark The latter seems to be the greatest difference between functions and pre-calc sequence that takes 3 semesters. Your child has to have all three qualities to do well in the class. The quality of the class can be inferred from the summer camp. However, the actual class will both move faster and demand more than the summer camp did. |