Blair Functions
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Anonymous
Bragging rights |
Anonymous
But these are kids who apparently need their parents to force their way in |
Anonymous
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Great class taught by an excellent teacher. It favors students who show strong understanding of the material, with an ability to solve novel mathematical problems on a timed test. This is the class that matures students whi are later chosen to represent the school and, yearly, the United States on math and physics olympiads.
I say that as a parent of child who chose to transfer down after 1st exam. My child could sove the problems in theory, but there was a hefty arithmetic component that proved too challenging. We were unwilling to settle for a B, likely for two years running. I think for any kid targeting UMD engineering, hold on for the ride, you will be better prepared. For any kid targeting Ivies, only stay if you are a star. Historic Blair data show no admission penalty, even to MIT, to transfer students who do well otherwise. |
Anonymous
| To answer the original question, request Functions summer camp, and if chosen, take the class. It is that easy. Parental pressure is not required to get into the class. |
Anonymous
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Currently have DC in junior year doing analysis 2 at Blair. Started out with Functions in 9th grade, recommended for by Ms. Manchester in TPMS.
DC has been getting A's and B's in this math track in the past 2 1/2 years. He has strong math skills, very good in math however the teacher is very harsh in grading, and also does not give many tests so that kids can do better on subsequent tests if they do not do as well on one test. My DC has been getting straight A's in all other courses including the higher level CS track that he tested into. Math Homework is several hours every night and DC has strong extracurriculars which requires him for practice 3 times a week. He is also a member and captain of couple school clubs which he loves. DC likes the math teacher very much. However my sincere opinion is that it is not worth having your DC going through extremely fast and rigorous course just to put them ahead by one semester from their peers. If you DC only does math (math competitions AMC and such), this course is totally for your DC. However if DC has other busy meaningful extra curriculars and would like to pursue them at the highest level, and participate in other lunch and after school activities (science, music related clubs, student government which are fun and they learn a lot), you may want to think before having your DC take this course. I wish someone had given me this advice. OP's did tell us that Functions year is tough, however this toughness continues in sophomore and junior year. I wish someone told us that. In junior year, students have so many other things to also focus on (AP's, SAT and subject tests, internships), having this type of a math track is less than ideal. Hope that helps future parents and DC's considering this track |
Anonymous
Is this functions summer camp open to every Blair student including rising 9th graders ? It is indeed a good idea to join the camp if it helps for the class |
Anonymous
It is open to every Blair rising 9th grade SMAC student. For kid not coming from TPMS, it is mostly how you get recommended for Functions. We did not know about it until after my child was already committed for that week and she did not go. Also it is 1/2 day and we do not live very close. It is good to attend but not essential. A friend gave her the problems... |
Anonymous
DC is a current TPMS magnet. We got Blair SMAC invitation and it has magnet pre-calculus not functions. Does it mean DC gets recommendation for pre-calculus only ? But we can still sign up for the summer function camp even though DC is a TPMS magnet and even recommended for functions -- it is better to be prepared. |
Anonymous
please... |
Anonymous
What is it? Where is it? How long is it? Who takes it? |
Anonymous
Go back and read all the posts ,there was info about this.. here is some: 02/02/2020 18:34 Subject: Blair Functions Anonymous Anonymous wrote: Manchester sends rec’s after..... (so she may well recommend functions.). Also, if you do the math camp for blair, some kids get pulled in that way. BUT, understand that class is no joke. Super hard, very few A’s, and an enormous amount of homework. Yes, this. Ask Ms. Manchester about it. Or, better yet, have your kid ask her. I think she asks for an essay even. Functions nearly killed my math lover, but they still love math and the teacher. Here's an example: they had a snow day, so he arranged an online class that was supposed to be like 1-2 hrs. They were working in online groups for 4-5 hours. Homework for this class can take 5 hours. If you are a parent who has already enriched your kid with outside math classes (you all know who you are), it won't be as intense. For mine -- who is artsy fartsy and never supplemented with Mr. Li or CTY or A++ or whatever (& who also has outside commitments), but who came out of Takoma magnet Geom, so had some groundwork for it -- it was a challenge with more Bs than As. Still loves math though. Some kids in the class were in ESs that bumped them up early, so they took Alg 2 in 8th already. Analysis (the 2nd year) isn't as intense in the breadth of coverage, but the expectations are deeper. Still more Bs than As for that. Hope that helps. |
Anonymous
Is there a separate class for functions kids? I though the basic premise of the class (though anyone can attend) was to get pre-calc kids who have not taken Algebra II or do not come from TPMS up to speed. |
Anonymous
….And to decide if some non TPMS school kids belong in Functions. My pre-calc kid who did not know about it enough in advance to attend did fine without it. I think he got the problems from someone else. |
Anonymous
DD in functions track. Not worth the amount of time taken for homework and teacher grading. Continues getting B's in analysis too (and A's in all other courses). This is not because the kids are not smart or do not study, the expectations are way too high. Kids study math all the time because they do not know what will be asked in the test. There are equally qualified teachers in precalc track and students learn a lot and are not stressed. Kids get into Ivy leagues (if that is your DC's goal) and top universities not being in this track |
Anonymous
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Absolutely.
This track is not for Ivy-worthiness. For real, getting multiple B's in math track and then getting a lackluster letter from a Functions teacher who is simultaneously writing a letter for a member of the US Olympic Math Team is not the path to Harvard. Do a great job in other courses, get A's in regular math track starting with precalc in 9th grade, do well with the research project, and likely some other Ivy will want you. If not, then Honors College at UMD is a great choice, arguably better for STEM kids anyway. The Functions track is for kids who love competition math. It gives them the tools to get really good at competition math, and to win math competitions. It was not designed for kids who study 4 hours per night and pull out B+ / A- by 0.5 percent. |