Should I send my kids to mathnasium?

[Anonymous]

Wow, this post is eye-opening! I went to a regular (well-rated) public high school in New England, no G&T or Kumon, but managed to get strong enough in math such that I eventually aced my math and engineering classes at MIT. I doubt the kids in AAP are less intelligent than I was - so I guess the quality of curriculum and instruction has deteriorated??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD completed math program at Kumon McLean. She breezed through Algebras and skipped Calculus - because of Kumon.

Is this doublespeak for "Took AP stats" ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, this post is eye-opening! I went to a regular (well-rated) public high school in New England, no G&T or Kumon, but managed to get strong enough in math such that I eventually aced my math and engineering classes at MIT. I doubt the kids in AAP are less intelligent than I was - so I guess the quality of curriculum and instruction has deteriorated??

Yes the deterioration is in the form of quantity over quality. There appears to be no teaching happening in the classroom in this area and pyramid (McLean). It is expected and business as usual (by the school) that families will easily pay outside companies to prep their kids if they have not been able to learn in class. The only interesting question then is, what is actually happening in class? My guess is that it's mainly mindless assessments and or drill/worksheets, but minimal delivery of valuable ideas/concepts. Since there are no textbooks, if a kid doesn't get what's happening in class, they're permanently behind unless they employ outside assistance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, this post is eye-opening! I went to a regular (well-rated) public high school in New England, no G&T or Kumon, but managed to get strong enough in math such that I eventually aced my math and engineering classes at MIT. I doubt the kids in AAP are less intelligent than I was - so I guess the quality of curriculum and instruction has deteriorated??

Yes the deterioration is in the form of quantity over quality. There appears to be no teaching happening in the classroom in this area and pyramid (McLean). It is expected and business as usual (by the school) that families will easily pay outside companies to prep their kids if they have not been able to learn in class. The only interesting question then is, what is actually happening in class? My guess is that it's mainly mindless assessments and or drill/worksheets, but minimal delivery of valuable ideas/concepts. Since there are no textbooks, if a kid doesn't get what's happening in class, they're permanently behind unless they employ outside assistance.

22:09 here and I agree with this assessment.

[Anonymous]

You don’t need any of those math extracurriculars. It’s a waste of money and time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don’t need any of those math extracurriculars. It’s a waste of money and time.

So what would you instead suggest the OP and many (most?) others in the pyramid should be doing instead? Picketing the front office? Boycotting the school events until the admins decide to focus on actually teaching?

[Anonymous]

Our second-grader started Mathnasium this year together with a friend. I thought for sure they'd be the youngest, but there are a number of Kindergartners.

[Anonymous]

This whole post disturbs me.

Unless your child is struggling, of course don’t send them to extra school. They are already at school all day long. Let your kid be kids! If they can’t hack it in AAP without outside math instruction, they should NOT be in AAP. By doing this extra stuff, you are screwing up the instruction yourselves.

How is this a real thread???

[Anonymous]

OP, which school?

I'm finding it hard to believe that there's any school out there with nearly all of the kids doing math tutoring. I'm also finding it hard to believe that any FCPS school is departing from the regular AAP pacing guide so strongly. The exams are supposed to be standard across FCPS.

[Anonymous]

What does mathnasium charge?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD completed math program at Kumon McLean. She breezed through Algebras and skipped Calculus - because of Kumon.

Is this doublespeak for "Took AP stats" ?

McLean High told her she can take AP stats in 9th grade, but she got into TJ and is on a different math path now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, this post is eye-opening! I went to a regular (well-rated) public high school in New England, no G&T or Kumon, but managed to get strong enough in math such that I eventually aced my math and engineering classes at MIT. I doubt the kids in AAP are less intelligent than I was - so I guess the quality of curriculum and instruction has deteriorated??

Yes the deterioration is in the form of quantity over quality. There appears to be no teaching happening in the classroom in this area and pyramid (McLean). It is expected and business as usual (by the school) that families will easily pay outside companies to prep their kids if they have not been able to learn in class. The only interesting question then is, what is actually happening in class? My guess is that it's mainly mindless assessments and or drill/worksheets, but minimal delivery of valuable ideas/concepts. Since there are no textbooks, if a kid doesn't get what's happening in class, they're permanently behind unless they employ outside assistance.

22:09 here and I agree with this assessment.

Not having text books makes learning much, much more difficult for many kids. My kids are at a school that uses books now, and I cannot believe how much more independent they are an how much less stress there is over schoolwork. They are learning more and doing well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This whole post disturbs me.

Unless your child is struggling, of course don’t send them to extra school. They are already at school all day long. Let your kid be kids! If they can’t hack it in AAP without outside math instruction, they should NOT be in AAP. By doing this extra stuff, you are screwing up the instruction yourselves.

How is this a real thread???

I would not say my kids are struggling in AAP math. They get 4s in math. They are not advanced within AAP math.

We moved last year so my older child started in 4th grade AAP. We realized some kids were more advanced and just assumed the kids were smarter in McLean. This year, there are 5th graders going to 6th grade AAP math so not going to 5th grade AAP math. These kids are very likely TJ bound kids. We have no interest in sending our kids to TJ.

[Anonymous]

We are at a different FCPS pyramid and have not found this to be the norm. The teachers teach and the kids learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The more math the better, if you can afford it. Kumon and Mathnasium are very different programs from one another. You’re going to have to pick one do it asap.

Money is non-factor. It may be annoying to drive my kids to yet another activity.

Our kids already do a lot - sports, chess, Science Olympiad and piano.

Your kids need to learn how to manage themselves in an unstructured or loosely structured environment in order to do well in college.

Giving them some more free time is better than signing them up for another class.