Math 678 (Prealgebra for 6th Graders) in APS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. It is just a relabeling of the old class except they try to actually teach 8th grade math, rather than skipping from Math 7 to Algebra I. Because they teach 8th grade math, they give the 8th grade SOL. I don't see what the problem is with giving the SOL that reflects the content they learned? It doesn't go on your "permanent record." The only downside on the SOL seems to be for the school if the kids do poorly. If my kid seemed in over his head or was struggling, I would pull him out, of course. My kid learned the 6th grade standards in 5th grade. But if kids can handle this challenge what is the problem? It's only first quarter, so we'll have to see what happens when they ramp up more. But I'm pretty sure this is the same trajectory that the AAP kids in on in Fairfax.

In AAP, 6th grade honors math teaches 7th grade math and kids take the 7th grade SOL. Some kids then take Algebra 1 honors in 7th and others take 7th grade honors, which is basically 8th grade math. They don't condense 3 years of math into one and they don't take the 8th grade SOL. In AAP 3rd grade math covers 3rd and 4th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if a kid takes 678 in 6th, when do they take calculus?

If it is still 11th, then it is just a relabeling of the old class.

Yes, that would put you in Algebra in 7th so Calculus in 11th.

Well, assuming every curriculum is developed with the idea of the best prep for calc in 11th, then on some fundamental level they really are all the same.

[Anonymous]

And these 678 kids really aren't doing 3 in 1. Most of them have a good mastery of 6 already. They are doing 7/8. Which is what fairfax aap 6th graders are doing.

[Anonymous]

I have a child in 678. Our class doesn’t seem to have a textbook. Are any of you aware of any APS MS using a textbook that has all of the relevant 678 curriculum in it? If so, please respond with the title (I may try to pick up a used one on Amazon, to supplement at home - it is a lot to cover in a year).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And these 678 kids really aren't doing 3 in 1. Most of them have a good mastery of 6 already. They are doing 7/8. Which is what fairfax aap 6th graders are doing.

Do 6th graders in aap take the 8th grade SOL?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And these 678 kids really aren't doing 3 in 1. Most of them have a good mastery of 6 already. They are doing 7/8. Which is what fairfax aap 6th graders are doing.

Do 6th graders in aap take the 8th grade SOL?

No. They take Math 6 Hn, which covers 7th grade math, and take the 7th grade SOL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And these 678 kids really aren't doing 3 in 1. Most of them have a good mastery of 6 already. They are doing 7/8. Which is what fairfax aap 6th graders are doing.

Do 6th graders in aap take the 8th grade SOL?

No. They take Math 6 Hn, which covers 7th grade math, and take the 7th grade SOL.

We're in Fairfax. I believe they basically skip 8th grade math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And these 678 kids really aren't doing 3 in 1. Most of them have a good mastery of 6 already. They are doing 7/8. Which is what fairfax aap 6th graders are doing.

Do 6th graders in aap take the 8th grade SOL?

No. They take Math 6 Hn, which covers 7th grade math, and take the 7th grade SOL.

We're in Fairfax. I believe they basically skip 8th grade math.

AAP/honors math kids who take Algebra 1 Hn in 7th grade skip 8th grade math. Those who delay taking Algebra 1 Hn until 8th, take math 7 Hn, which is 8th grade math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And these 678 kids really aren't doing 3 in 1. Most of them have a good mastery of 6 already. They are doing 7/8. Which is what fairfax aap 6th graders are doing.

Do 6th graders in aap take the 8th grade SOL?

No. They take Math 6 Hn, which covers 7th grade math, and take the 7th grade SOL.

We're in Fairfax. I believe they basically skip 8th grade math.

This is what APS was doing for kids taking Algebra in 7th. The new path is designed to cover the 8th grade concepts in addition to 7th. (They include 6th in the name but really kids taking that will have covered 6th grade in ES).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And these 678 kids really aren't doing 3 in 1. Most of them have a good mastery of 6 already. They are doing 7/8. Which is what fairfax aap 6th graders are doing.

Do 6th graders in aap take the 8th grade SOL?

No. They take Math 6 Hn, which covers 7th grade math, and take the 7th grade SOL.

We're in Fairfax. I believe they basically skip 8th grade math.

AAP/honors math kids who take Algebra 1 Hn in 7th grade skip 8th grade math. Those who delay taking Algebra 1 Hn until 8th, take math 7 Hn, which is 8th grade math.

Are the students who take algebra I in 7th grade in the same class as the students taking algebra I in 8th? Is it he exact same course?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And these 678 kids really aren't doing 3 in 1. Most of them have a good mastery of 6 already. They are doing 7/8. Which is what fairfax aap 6th graders are doing.

Do 6th graders in aap take the 8th grade SOL?

No. They take Math 6 Hn, which covers 7th grade math, and take the 7th grade SOL.

We're in Fairfax. I believe they basically skip 8th grade math.

AAP/honors math kids who take Algebra 1 Hn in 7th grade skip 8th grade math. Those who delay taking Algebra 1 Hn until 8th, take math 7 Hn, which is 8th grade math.

Are the students who take algebra I in 7th grade in the same class as the students taking algebra I in 8th? Is it he exact same course?

Yes. The Algebra 1 honors class includes 7th and 8th graders. Also, 7th grade AAP/honors math students are only allowed to take Algebra 1 Hn, they can't take the regular Algebra class non-honors track 8th graders take.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And these 678 kids really aren't doing 3 in 1. Most of them have a good mastery of 6 already. They are doing 7/8. Which is what fairfax aap 6th graders are doing.

Do 6th graders in aap take the 8th grade SOL?

No. They take Math 6 Hn, which covers 7th grade math, and take the 7th grade SOL.

We're in Fairfax. I believe they basically skip 8th grade math.

AAP/honors math kids who take Algebra 1 Hn in 7th grade skip 8th grade math. Those who delay taking Algebra 1 Hn until 8th, take math 7 Hn, which is 8th grade math.

Are the students who take algebra I in 7th grade in the same class as the students taking algebra I in 8th? Is it he exact same course?

Yes. The Algebra 1 honors class includes 7th and 8th graders. Also, 7th grade AAP/honors math students are only allowed to take Algebra 1 Hn, they can't take the regular Algebra class non-honors track 8th graders take.

To clarify the last sentence, if you take Algebra in 7th, you can only take honors. If you take it in 8th you have the option of regular or honors.

[Anonymous]

I do not think that 8th grade math should be skipped. It is not “prealgebra” anymore like 15 years ago before common core. Math 7 aligns more with that old course. Math 8 is much more rigorous than prealgebra. The newer CCSS algebra I *should* be delving deeper than the algebra I courses of he past. Linear equations and functions are covered in 8h grade math. These were up until recently only introduced in Algebra I. In fact most of the 8th grade CCSS were once Algebra I topics. Contemporary Algebra I assumes this and again *should* quickly delve deeper into the study of non- linear functions including quadratic and exponential functions—topics which used to introduced in Algebra II. Math 8 also includes the foundational geometry and algebra needed to take high school geometry. Both CCSS geometry and Algebra I were meant to directly build from Math 8.

I realize VA has is own standards. But they either directly align with common core or are purportedly better, right? If kids are skipppng math 8 or rushing through it I’d indeed worry about the level at which teachers can teach Algebra I.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not think that 8th grade math should be skipped. It is not “prealgebra” anymore like 15 years ago before common core. Math 7 aligns more with that old course. Math 8 is much more rigorous than prealgebra. The newer CCSS algebra I *should* be delving deeper than the algebra I courses of he past. Linear equations and functions are covered in 8h grade math. These were up until recently only introduced in Algebra I. In fact most of the 8th grade CCSS were once Algebra I topics. Contemporary Algebra I assumes this and again *should* quickly delve deeper into the study of non- linear functions including quadratic and exponential functions—topics which used to introduced in Algebra II. Math 8 also includes the foundational geometry and algebra needed to take high school geometry. Both CCSS geometry and Algebra I were meant to directly build from Math 8.

I realize VA has is own standards. But they either directly align with common core or are purportedly better, right? If kids are skipppng math 8 or rushing through it I’d indeed worry about the level at which teachers can teach Algebra I.

My kids covered these topics in the "Math 7 for 6th graders" which was the previous course taken before Algebra 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And these 678 kids really aren't doing 3 in 1. Most of them have a good mastery of 6 already. They are doing 7/8. Which is what fairfax aap 6th graders are doing.

Do 6th graders in aap take the 8th grade SOL?

No. They take Math 6 Hn, which covers 7th grade math, and take the 7th grade SOL.

We're in Fairfax. I believe they basically skip 8th grade math.

AAP/honors math kids who take Algebra 1 Hn in 7th grade skip 8th grade math. Those who delay taking Algebra 1 Hn until 8th, take math 7 Hn, which is 8th grade math.

Are the students who take algebra I in 7th grade in the same class as the students taking algebra I in 8th? Is it he exact same course?

Yes. The Algebra 1 honors class includes 7th and 8th graders. Also, 7th grade AAP/honors math students are only allowed to take Algebra 1 Hn, they can't take the regular Algebra class non-honors track 8th graders take.

In APS, Algebra I "Intensified" is for 7th graders whereas Algebra I is for 8th graders. At the beginning of the year, my DD was in a combined class, but each grade had it's own syllabus, and the Intensified class had more on it. Not sure how this actually plays out in class - DD is now in a class with all 7th graders due to some scheduling changes.