Can someone explain the "behind in math" thing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Avoiding the 15 month gap between Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 is a pretty compelling reason for summer geometry.

Counterpoint: relearning algebra (or any topic) is one of the best ways to really cement an understanding of that subject in your mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Avoiding the 15 month gap between Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 is a pretty compelling reason for summer geometry.

Counterpoint: relearning algebra (or any topic) is one of the best ways to really cement an understanding of that subject in your mind.

+1 Spaced repetition can be potent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Avoiding the 15 month gap between Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 is a pretty compelling reason for summer geometry.

Counterpoint: relearning algebra (or any topic) is one of the best ways to really cement an understanding of that subject in your mind.

The problem is that it often does not get either retaught or relearned.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I've seen numerous posts here that the kids coming out of privates in middle school are behind in math compared to their public school counterparts. But what does that mean? What level should graduating 8th graders be? Algebra 1? Geometry? Algebra 2?

I feel the issue is not that private schools are behind. Do they practice enough fundamental skills?

Obviously it depends on the private, but I think for the most part private schools focus on mastering fundamental skills vs. arms racing to complete calculus by high school.

I agree with this, but it also depends on the specific private. Obviously there are more math/science focused privates. And Catholic schools - very generally speaking - have a reputation in being weaker in math and stronger at English. Our private has a lot of repetition (Saxon Math in elementary) and focuses on mastery of fundamental math, not on speeding through to get to Algebra by 7th. A lot of public school kids around me are doing 2x/week tutoring in 2nd-5th to try to get into advanced math whenever it is offered at the public.

Saxon Math is one of the best curricula. Students who do that whole sequence end up with great conceptual understanding and great computational ability.

Which privates are using it?

nSaxon math is not the best, it's spiral is too tight and leads to students memorizing procedures rather than understanding the underlying concepts. It's also a ton of work - more than necessary for many kids.

Better would be math mammoth, Singapore math (dimensions or primary, but not primary 2022), and for honors students, beast academy/AoPS

People keep mentioning AoPS Beast Academy which is great for critical thinking puzzle math but I can’t see it helping you place into advanced math at school. A 4th grader who took Beast Math 3 and 4 won’t place better into advanced 5th grade math over a kid who simply studied common core Math 4 and 5.

PP here, I wasn't talking about math curricula for acceleration. If you want that, look at mathacademy.com

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS got into a Big 3 for high school from TPMS. He would have had to go down two levels in math if he attended (they wouldn’t let him skip to his level). We decided it wasn’t worth it. He’s in college now and having had higher level math in high school has made a huge difference for him.

+1 If you're serious about math, better to stay in public school. Most private schools don't have the numbers of students to offer more rigorous math pathways that public high schools do, like AP multivariable calculus. And of course, the public magnets offer the best education and the best cohort of academically rigorous classmates (for free).

AP MV Calculus?

The top privates tend to have post calc math.

[Anonymous]

This "behind in math" phenomenon is old news.

Most tops schools have MV Calculus and Linear Algebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The standard in private school is Algebra 1 in 8th. A few are accelerated to A1 in 7th, but almost none in 6th. Some public school systems are willing to accelerate much more routinely. I'm not sure what the point is -- anyone who needs post-calculus would benefit from taking a more in depth class in college.

The obsession with doing post calculus work in HS is silly—I’d argue that’s true even if your kid will likely be a math major (and you’d have to start thinking about that at a very young age which I also think is silly). You will get more in depth post calculus classes in college.

Agree and we have a neighbor at a top engineering program that makes kids repeat those classes (Multivariable calc etc) because it’s so they are so uneven across high schools.

My vote: Just wait and take in college when you aren’t in a school 35 hrs a week and in a million extra curriculars

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This "behind in math" phenomenon is old news.

Most tops schools have MV Calculus and Linear Algebra.

Which ones have MVC Linear Algebra every year?