Math 7 Honors vs. Algebra
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Anonymous
Still confused. I just asked my 6th grader who told me Math 7 honors doesnt exist in his LL IV AAP class. |
Anonymous
Disregard, I figured it out. I think Fairfax County makes it confusing. Stop using Math 7 honors and just call it Math 8. |
Anonymous
Math 7 Honors and Math 8 aren't the same class, though. Both cover 8th grade math, but the Math 8 class is slower paced and intended for kids who aren't advanced in math. Those kids generally will take regular Algebra the following year. Math 7 Honors will cover the same content as Math 8, but at a higher and deeper level. It's intended for 7th graders who are advanced in math but not advanced enough for Algebra. The kids taking Math 7 Honors will be taking Honors Algebra the following year. |
Anonymous
There are 3 main tracks in middle school in FCPS: Math 7 (7th grade SOL)-> Math 8 (8th grade SOL) Math 7 Honors (8th grade SOL) -> Algebra 1 Honors Algebra I Honors -> Geometry Honors I agree that calling it Math 7 honors is a bit confusing since they're teaching 8th grade math. They must have wanted to emphasize that the class is for 7th graders only. |
Anonymous
Thanks for confusing me again. Just when I thought I had it understood, lol. Anyways, I still consider kids that take Algebra 1 in 8th grade an advanced track. |
Anonymous
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My son qualified comfortably so we let him take Algebra 1 last year. Kid had always breezed through math, perfect grades, spent minutes on homework, it all seemed effortless. He was excited for the challenge.
Algebra 1 was a whole different level and he was totally unprepared. I blame his elementary school in part--he clearly had huge gaps in pre-Algebra preparation. I think the IOWA is relatively speaking too easy to show that? I also think he just wasn't ready maturity-wise for the amount of new material, for the extremely high expectations, for how quickly the class moved on to new concepts. He spent hours on math every day and was not doing well. We let him struggle for a couple of months until it became obvious that he wasn't catching up quickly enough on the pre-Algebra material and not mastering the Algebra itself well enough. Math 7 Honors was a return to the seemingly effortless experience with Math my son had had in elementary school. There was a HUGE difference in the degree of difficulty and expectations, a chasm. I wish there were something in between... my son was clearly not ready for one, but the second was no challenge at all. Maybe some of this is school and teacher dependent. My son is at Longfellow if that makes a difference. I also realized in the process that a number of kids had taken Algebra over the summer. So keep in mind that the Algebra 1 class is being taught to very bright kids, many of whom have seen the material before. |
Anonymous
OP here, and this is my worry. 6th grade DD has a friend in Math 7 Honors who said that the class was too easy. I'll just make sure she understands how much work Algebra will be, and then let her choose. |
Anonymous
I am the PP. I think it's worth giving Algebra a try--I don't regret it at all, though we ultimately switched my son out. It was an amazing class. TOTALLY different from Honors Algebra in 8th. |
Anonymous
NP, what textbook did you use for Algebra if you don't mind sharing. My child is struggling a bit in the class and I think an organized textbook would help. |
Anonymous
| OP again. I know they don’t use textbooks in elementary, but please tell me that they use them for Algebra. You need organized textbooks for high school math! |
Anonymous
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OP,
This is a tough one for many parents! Good problem to have, though! I had two kids qualify, one chose Algebra honors and the other chose Math 7 Honors. Both worked out great. I would rely less on IIAT and SOL scores and think about these factors: How much your child enjoys math (not just good at it) How mature your child is (organization, motivation) Whether you are thinking at all about TJ (pretty much need to be in Algebra in 7th) Either way - your choice is not irrevocable. Kids who take Algebra in 7th and end up struggling can retake in 8th (I know several kids who did this and despite initial embarrassment, they were better off) OR your child can catch up in summer school (again, not ideal, but can work). Good luck! |
Anonymous
| Let's not forget, Algebra honors in 8th grade IS one of the advanced tracks. Algebra is not normally taken until 9th grade. If that is not the case for FFX county somebody correct me. |
Anonymous
In FCPS, at least half of the kids are taking Algebra by 8th grade. FCPS has a goal of increasing the number of kids taking Algebra by 8th, so 9th grade Algebra will effectively be the remedial track in a few years. |
Anonymous
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Thanks for this question OP! I have a 6th grader now in AAP, and his teacher thinks he should qualify for Algebra in 7th without question based on his past work and test scores.
That said, I have been very hesitant to push him towards that (yes, I know we have to wait for the test results this year) given he has ADHD and a mid-year bar mitzvah. This gives me more to think about! |
Anonymous
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I would stick to Math 7 HN unless your child really loves math and performs well above grade level. Math 7 HN will give your student a good foundation for Algebra later on, and will help identify and fill-in any gaps in knowledge from Elementary school.
I think FCPS is pushing kids to advance in math when they aren’t necessarily ready. |