Algebra in 6th grade - new selection process?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can the kids who qualify go to the MS eg Longfellow or do they have to do it at the elementary school?

It’s a massive logistical challenge with that many kids. When it was 1 or 2 they could squeeze them into an existing section. With 50-100 kids per middle school pyramid qualifying (our pyramid’s center has 48, presumably the non center schools have in the pyramid have 5-10 each too) that’s 3+ sections of classes for 6th graders. The only real time it can happen is first block due to travel time, so they’d have to find 3 algebra teachers to do it which means hiring at least 1 additional part time math teacher to pick up those lost sections.

Now those kids essentially have 2 math teachers, because the elementary school teachers aren’t being paid less just because some of their kids left, so it costs more. More in staffing, more in transportation.

Middle schools are all on block, so it’s an every other day math rotation. What do they do on days they don’t have middle school math? Do we have to hire another teacher to monitor them doing their algebra homework and filling in pre algebra gaps? Or are they going to be in their normal 6th grade class reading a book?

Are they riding the middle school bus every other day? Are they meeting at the elementary school and being bussed to the middle school?

It’s not impossible but it requires a lot more than 2 weeks notice. Thus is something that should be shared now for implementation next year.

Actually I just realized you are asking if your personal child could be placed at the middle school instead of the elementary.

FCPS will say no. The only reason they allow you to attend other schools is if the course/program is inaccessible at your school. If algebra is at the elementary, they won’t pay to staff a middle school spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the notification finished or there will be still some in the coming weeks?

our school teacher said the notification would be emailed in the next week. I guess it depends on the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the posts here are trashing the new pilot program and with the same breath bragging about their own kids being completely capable to take this course, but can’t since their school has not been selected.

The pilot was announced the week that Teachers reported to school. There was no advanced warning early in the summer so that 6th grade teachers, who have a specific ES credential, could prepare to teach a high school level course, which requires a different credential. There was no warning to parents that they would have a decision to make and time to think through their choice.

Parents were/are worried about kids being put into Algebra 1 H in 7th grade when they would not have meet the old standard and they knew about that at the end of the school year. Sixth grade Algebra was dropped a week before school started, leaving schools unable to answer questions that parents had. They have given parents 2 weeks to decide if their 6th grader should be in a high school class.

Some of us, my kid is an 8th grader so we are not involved, would have been fine in Algebra in 6th grade, had it been an option. We know because of how he was doing on math competitions in 3-5th grade and what he was learning in his math competition class. He is the RSM/AoPS kid that one poster was discussing in her kids 7th graders Algebra 1H class. Our school didn’t even think about recommending Algebra 1 for 6th graders and we choose not to ask, we didn’t want him going to the MS. So yes, there are parents who know their kid would be fine in the class.

But there are parents in this topic that are worried about it, for good reason. It is a big leap and a wrong choice could mean trying to convince your 11/12 year old that it is ok to have to move to a different math class because they are struggling with a class meant for kids 3 years older. It isn’t an easy choice. There are kids ready but ready isn’t fully measured by a test metric and the parents know that.

So yea, FCPS should have given teachers, schools, and parents more time to prepare for this and make an informed choice. That is the issue, that this feels like it is thrown together at the last minute. That is not going to help the pilot succeed, teachers who had little time to prepare for a class that is going to be challenging in its pace and material.

Thank you for the summary and also (of course as this is a standard on DCUM) for mentioning that YOUR kid would be FINE with algebra in 6th grade.

Yes, he scored in the 95th percentile on the AMC 8 as a 6th grader, he would have been fine in Algebra in 6th grade. Does it bother you that there are parents who recognize that their kids are strong in certain areas? And yes, I am a bit envious. It would have been great for DS to have this opportunity.

One of the common topic of discussion on this forum has been how unfair it is that FCPS did not have a uniform policy for kids who are ahead in math to take Algebra in 6th grade. A handful of schools allowed it, the vast majority didn’t. It was annoying. I am happy that FCPS is finally doing something about it. I wish they had given teachers and parents more then 2 weeks notice. I don’t think the time frame is enough for the pilot to get off to a good start, and that is a shame.

This topic has nothing to do with you, nobody is asking about your kid and yet you feel the need to continuously brag about your kid. Nobody cares, that’s what it is. This program is for FCPS elementary 6th graders. Please move on to a topic that actually relates to you.

[Anonymous]

This is a bad, bad idea.

This is a high school course and developmentally set to someone who is 13-14. My kid is 11. Yes, they could understand the concepts, but the organizational side of all of this would be a mess.

We are sticking with Math 7. He can look into Alg. next year. I would personally prefer 8th grade fwiw. We are in an IB school and this maps the program anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a bad, bad idea.

This is a high school course and developmentally set to someone who is 13-14. My kid is 11. Yes, they could understand the concepts, but the organizational side of all of this would be a mess.

We are sticking with Math 7. He can look into Alg. next year. I would personally prefer 8th grade fwiw. We are in an IB school and this maps the program anyway.

The good news is that you have a choice. You can place your child where you think they belong. There are kids who can handle the material and the organizational side of things. This option needs to exist for them. FCPS needed to find a way to standardize Algebra in 6th grade. I think they are doing it in a haphazard manner that is rushed, and that is problematic, but I support the pilot because it is bringing long needed standardization for a class that was only available for a select few whose Principals were willing to make it work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a bad, bad idea.

This is a high school course and developmentally set to someone who is 13-14. My kid is 11. Yes, they could understand the concepts, but the organizational side of all of this would be a mess.

We are sticking with Math 7. He can look into Alg. next year. I would personally prefer 8th grade fwiw. We are in an IB school and this maps the program anyway.

If result of this is IB goes away though, all for it bc even taking algebra in 7, IB schools are not set up to handle that acceleration. Yes a student can take dual enrollment courses, if take algebra in 6, those kids will finish their IB math in 10th grade and to get full diploma cannot take test on that math until 2 years later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a bad, bad idea.

This is a high school course and developmentally set to someone who is 13-14. My kid is 11. Yes, they could understand the concepts, but the organizational side of all of this would be a mess.

We are sticking with Math 7. He can look into Alg. next year. I would personally prefer 8th grade fwiw. We are in an IB school and this maps the program anyway.

If result of this is IB goes away though, all for it bc even taking algebra in 7, IB schools are not set up to handle that acceleration. Yes a student can take dual enrollment courses, if take algebra in 6, those kids will finish their IB math in 10th grade and to get full diploma cannot take test on that math until 2 years later.

I would love if a by-product of this is IB going away but I have a strong bias.

We are planning on pupil placing out of IB because we have a kid strong in Math and the IB curriculum is not a good fit for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone think FCPS just took number of kids applying to TJ who are in Algebra 2 in 8th and worked backwards- so the 500 who will take Alg 1 now in 6th will just be same that would have taken Geometry in summer between 7th and 8th. So end of day, FCPS will declare a math victory, but in reality by 8th grade there will be same number of kids in Alg 2 were before and will be the same kids would have been anyway?

I think discouraging Geometry in summer is part of the thinking here, but no way in hell would I have forced that onto my kid (or even permitted it if they had asked, it's not a healthy way for 99.99% of kids to spend time in the summer IMO). So no, I don't think it will be the same number taking Alg 2 in 8th that it would have been. If this program wasn't available we'd just have taken Alg in 7th and Geometry in 8th, which was our expectation as of a couple weeks ago. Keeping an open mind about this program but not 100% sold yet that skipping 7th/8th grade math is going to work. I'd have felt better about it if last year in 5th they had accelerated a bit more and did some of the 7th/8th pre-algebra concepts. Kid said math was a bit slow / not challenging last year, so I think there was definitely some space for that. Hopefully this year's 5th graders and beyond have that opportunity for increased preparation (assuming the Alg in 6th program holds).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone think FCPS just took number of kids applying to TJ who are in Algebra 2 in 8th and worked backwards- so the 500 who will take Alg 1 now in 6th will just be same that would have taken Geometry in summer between 7th and 8th. So end of day, FCPS will declare a math victory, but in reality by 8th grade there will be same number of kids in Alg 2 were before and will be the same kids would have been anyway?

I think discouraging Geometry in summer is part of the thinking here, but no way in hell would I have forced that onto my kid (or even permitted it if they had asked, it's not a healthy way for 99.99% of kids to spend time in the summer IMO). So no, I don't think it will be the same number taking Alg 2 in 8th that it would have been. If this program wasn't available we'd just have taken Alg in 7th and Geometry in 8th, which was our expectation as of a couple weeks ago. Keeping an open mind about this program but not 100% sold yet that skipping 7th/8th grade math is going to work. I'd have felt better about it if last year in 5th they had accelerated a bit more and did some of the 7th/8th pre-algebra concepts. Kid said math was a bit slow / not challenging last year, so I think there was definitely some space for that. Hopefully this year's 5th graders and beyond have that opportunity for increased preparation (assuming the Alg in 6th program holds).

We're in the same boat. Would never have accelerated over the summer (6 weeks isn't enough I don't think, and we don't do extra enrichment classes). But my kid loves math and is excited about the opportunity. His teacher last year was great at giving him extra work that deepened his thinking, but he would have had space to learn some of the pre-algebra concepts in 5th. I am a little nervous about how much they'll be skipping vs accelerating. We're also at a school offering it virtually and I hate virtual learning - so much digital work isn't great for math even in less-intense environments. Just not sure what we'll do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone think FCPS just took number of kids applying to TJ who are in Algebra 2 in 8th and worked backwards- so the 500 who will take Alg 1 now in 6th will just be same that would have taken Geometry in summer between 7th and 8th. So end of day, FCPS will declare a math victory, but in reality by 8th grade there will be same number of kids in Alg 2 were before and will be the same kids would have been anyway?

I think discouraging Geometry in summer is part of the thinking here, but no way in hell would I have forced that onto my kid (or even permitted it if they had asked, it's not a healthy way for 99.99% of kids to spend time in the summer IMO). So no, I don't think it will be the same number taking Alg 2 in 8th that it would have been. If this program wasn't available we'd just have taken Alg in 7th and Geometry in 8th, which was our expectation as of a couple weeks ago. Keeping an open mind about this program but not 100% sold yet that skipping 7th/8th grade math is going to work. I'd have felt better about it if last year in 5th they had accelerated a bit more and did some of the 7th/8th pre-algebra concepts. Kid said math was a bit slow / not challenging last year, so I think there was definitely some space for that. Hopefully this year's 5th graders and beyond have that opportunity for increased preparation (assuming the Alg in 6th program holds).

We're in the same boat. Would never have accelerated over the summer (6 weeks isn't enough I don't think, and we don't do extra enrichment classes). But my kid loves math and is excited about the opportunity. His teacher last year was great at giving him extra work that deepened his thinking, but he would have had space to learn some of the pre-algebra concepts in 5th. I am a little nervous about how much they'll be skipping vs accelerating. We're also at a school offering it virtually and I hate virtual learning - so much digital work isn't great for math even in less-intense environments. Just not sure what we'll do.

While not ideal, RSM has an Algebra class that you could enroll your child in if you think they need more explanation or time to learn the material. AoPS has the books but the in person class might be useful.

Again, not ideal, but an option.

[Anonymous]

There are 60+ 6th graders approved to take algebra 1 from our center. There were 9 last year. This is insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are 60+ 6th graders approved to take algebra 1 from our center. There were 9 last year. This is insane.

Is this Haycock?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are 60+ 6th graders approved to take algebra 1 from our center. There were 9 last year. This is insane.

Is this Haycock?

Yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are 60+ 6th graders approved to take algebra 1 from our center. There were 9 last year. This is insane.

Is this Haycock?

Yes

Wonder how many will opt out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are 60+ 6th graders approved to take algebra 1 from our center. There were 9 last year. This is insane.

Is this Haycock?

Yes

Wonder how many will opt out.

Probably fewer then you think.