Benefits of taking Algebra 1 in 6th grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So my DC’s school is trying to convince parents NOT to enroll their 5th grade AAP kids in A1H next year when in 6th grade. They are gently trying to convey that if your kid does not have at least a 500 on the 6th grade math SOL and at least a 245 on the MAP, then they should not enroll in A1H next year as 6th graders. I guess the school had a lot more kids sign up for A1H than they expected or think wise. LOL. Rich/tiger parents make me laugh.

I wonder just how low some of the scores for the kids being pushed into A1H as sixth graders are. What are parents thinking enrolling a kid with a MAP score in the 80th or 70th (or even lower) percentile? Do they think they will just tutor their kids to success? Poor kids.

There are kids getting advanced math with 70th percentile or liwery map scores????

Lower not whatever autocorrected

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So my DC’s school is trying to convince parents NOT to enroll their 5th grade AAP kids in A1H next year when in 6th grade. They are gently trying to convey that if your kid does not have at least a 500 on the 6th grade math SOL and at least a 245 on the MAP, then they should not enroll in A1H next year as 6th graders. I guess the school had a lot more kids sign up for A1H than they expected or think wise. LOL. Rich/tiger parents make me laugh.

I wonder just how low some of the scores for the kids being pushed into A1H as sixth graders are. What are parents thinking enrolling a kid with a MAP score in the 80th or 70th (or even lower) percentile? Do they think they will just tutor their kids to success? Poor kids.

There are kids getting advanced math with 70th percentile or liwery map scores????

Yes. Some of them are also Level 4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve spoken to teachers and administrators at multiple schools, and they all said algebra in 6th is a bad idea for all but a very few kids. This included teachers who teach advanced math at various levels. It’s really unclear where this push is coming from.

It's very clear where it's coming from, though. Dr Reid has made it her stated goal that Algebra 1 by 8th should be the norm at FCPS. But if that's the norm, then AAP kids taking it in 7th are only a year ahead, not the intended two years ahead of the norm. So, clearly, the only right answer is to push all the AAP kids into Algebra 1 in 6th grade regardless of their readiness so that they'll be two years ahead of the new normal. Who cares if is developmentally appropriate for them or if there is any evidence whatsoever that they are ready for it? That's not the priority. The priority is a system that looks good on the outside so long as you don't poke it very hard.

It looks great on Resume bullet point for Dr Reid. Got 10% (or some such number) of kids to Algebra 1 in 6th from 0.02%.

Kids? Who cares!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a thread on this topic on the FCPS Discussion Facebook group. It seems like most of the parents on that site are opting out of 6th grade A1H for a variety of reasons. I don't see anyone posting that they are optin in. So if you are looking for aa place to balance out the opting in is amazing theme that you tend to find on this site, look there.

I have no problem with A1H in 6th grade for the right kids. But those kids need to take the IAAT and score in the 91rst percentile, have strong math grades and need ot be in the 99th percentile on the MAP test. Honestly, the same criteria should exist for 7h grade A1H.

The counties goal is supposed to be more kids taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade. Why they are pushing for kids to take Algebra 1 earlier and lowering the bar in order to enroll more kids in Algebra 1 early is beyond me. They needed a better process for the kids who are ready for A1H in 6th grade but the answer to that is not allow everyone to enroll. It makes no sense.

Where is this group on fb? I can’t find it. I totally agree there should be testing guidelines to indicate readiness (IAAT, MAP, pass advanced SOL).

[Anonymous]

Search for FCPS Discussion and it should pop up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So my DC’s school is trying to convince parents NOT to enroll their 5th grade AAP kids in A1H next year when in 6th grade. They are gently trying to convey that if your kid does not have at least a 500 on the 6th grade math SOL and at least a 245 on the MAP, then they should not enroll in A1H next year as 6th graders. I guess the school had a lot more kids sign up for A1H than they expected or think wise. LOL. Rich/tiger parents make me laugh.

I wonder just how low some of the scores for the kids being pushed into A1H as sixth graders are. What are parents thinking enrolling a kid with a MAP score in the 80th or 70th (or even lower) percentile? Do they think they will just tutor their kids to success? Poor kids.

There are kids getting advanced math with 70th percentile or liwery map scores????

Yes. Some of them are also Level 4.

Ha! The are so many kids getting higher scores with no tutoring and without the extra curriculum. So crazy!

[Anonymous]

So how many rising 6th grader do we think have scores above 245 on the MAP and a pass advance on the SOL?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So how many rising 6th grader do we think have scores above 245 on the MAP and a pass advance on the SOL?

Who knows. We haven’t gotten the SOL back yet but my kid had over 245 on MAP in February and I’m still not enrolling her in A1H in 6th. I’m sure she can handle it but I see no point in this level of acceleration and where it puts her in HS. Very easy decision.

[Anonymous]

My kid got his math SOL back. He got 600, but we will not let him take Alg 1 next year.

[Anonymous]

Where are these schools where parents aren’t enrolling high scoring students in A1H? At my DC’s school nearly all the kids are enrolling. I have no idea what their scores are, but they can’t all be high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where are these schools where parents aren’t enrolling high scoring students in A1H? At my DC’s school nearly all the kids are enrolling. I have no idea what their scores are, but they can’t all be high.

Me. I'm one of those parents who isn't enrolling my rising 6th grader in Algebra next year. We're in the West Po pyramid. Our ES indicated that there will not be enough Algebra students in 6th grade next year to allow for an in-person teacher, so it would be taught virtually. And I have no desire to relive the virtual school experience we had from Covid Kindergarten.

Also, I think 2 years ahead in math is enough. I'm not convinced that it's developmentally appropriate for 11 year olds to learn formal algebra.

If my kid loved math, and showed an interest in higher level learning algebra, sure, we'd give it a try. But this kid is not all that interested, so what's the rush?

I do hope that those that take it in 6th grade have a great experience, though!

[Anonymous]

It’s all about bragging rights

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So how many rising 6th grader do we think have scores above 245 on the MAP and a pass advance on the SOL?

Who knows. We haven’t gotten the SOL back yet but my kid had over 245 on MAP in February and I’m still not enrolling her in A1H in 6th. I’m sure she can handle it but I see no point in this level of acceleration and where it puts her in HS. Very easy decision.

same. my 5th grader (and 4th grader) were over 245 for the winter map. both pass advance on SOL. we won’t be enrolling them in 6th algebra

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where are these schools where parents aren’t enrolling high scoring students in A1H? At my DC’s school nearly all the kids are enrolling. I have no idea what their scores are, but they can’t all be high.

what pyramid are you in. we are in langley and i know a lot who arent

[Anonymous]

McLean pyramid. Everyone is doing it here.