Algebra I summer review

[Anonymous]

My daughter completely hated Mathnasium. She cried and cried the first session and I gave up. Private tutor much better for her. Just depends on the kid.

[Anonymous]

NYC poster here - Woah, we're way behind! My 8th grader has taken half a year of algebra 1 so that he can speed ahead to geometry in 9th. What's the high school sequence there? And is this for public?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I cannot speak highly enough of Mathnasium. My son did Algebra 1 in 7th, Geometry in summer and now in 8th does Algebra2/trig (this is a compressed class, 2 years in 1) and there is no way he would maintain his straight As with his accelerated schedule without Mathnasium. They have helped him have complete understanding of the material. He goes twice a week and being them any help he needs. Also if you do over the summer, I'd bet that your daughter will fo into Algebra 2 already knowing all of the Q1 material. Huge math confidence builder.

Private math tutor. I have a number of clients that I see weekly in Algebra and Geometry during the school year. I'm curious when you refer to Mathnasium, is your DC going during the school year?

Personally, I see tremendous benefit to seeing my students weekly during the school year. I usually "do" homework with them, which consists of watching them do the problems. While I do that, I am teaching them how to organize their math work on the page, how to show step by step what they are doing, correcting mistakes in their understanding of computation, teaching them shortcuts, re-teaching or reinforcing the conceptual aspects of the lesson, showing them how to use their textbook or class notes to help themselves when I am not there, teaching them how to look for their own errors, teaching them techniques for checking their own answers when their is no answer key or it is a test, teaching them how to study for a test and studying with them, identifying important formulas to be memorized, etc.

IME, summer review is never bad, but weekly help during the school year can be more important, particularly in Algebra and Geometry, where a foundation is being built in organizational and problem-solving skills and confidence. I often have parents ask me to tutor their students before a test, but, honestly, that is too late and at that point it's hard to fix all the small underlying fundamentals that are contributing to poor performance. So, IMO, a few weeks at the end of summer, leading into weekly tutoring during the class may be a better solution. Best if the weekly tutor comes mid-week (T,W, TH) so that they can fix problems from earlier in the week and look ahead.

Mathanasium is year round.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NYC poster here - Woah, we're way behind! My 8th grader has taken half a year of algebra 1 so that he can speed ahead to geometry in 9th. What's the high school sequence there? And is this for public?

You’re not behind. Some private schools offer Algerba I in 7th and Geometry in 8th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NYC poster here - Woah, we're way behind! My 8th grader has taken half a year of algebra 1 so that he can speed ahead to geometry in 9th. What's the high school sequence there? And is this for public?

You’re not behind. Some private schools offer Algerba I in 7th and Geometry in 8th.

In MCPS, algebra in 8th, geometry in 9th is on grade level math. Advanced students do algebra 1 in 7th and geometry in 8th. I have heard it is about a third of students are on the advanced track. In any event, it is the advanced track, but it is fairly common.

[Anonymous]

I heard from my friends that their children got really great algebra and geometry tutoring from a site called www.omnikidslearning.com. Apparently, some kids from Thomas Jefferson made it, and they recruit students from the school to teach your child 1-on-1. The students have a lot of experience in tutoring and are very knowledgeable about STEM topics. And, they said that the tutors even could come to your house to teach! However, these classes were in the fall, and I'm not entirely sure they teach in the summer. But, I do know students are readily available during them and are eager to teach, so they probably have tutors available during that time.