Math Expectations for Rising 3rd Grade AAP Student

[Anonymous]

For parents with kids who have recently been through the program or teachers, I would like some help understanding math expectations. DC will be first year AAP student next year, rising third grader. If I understand correctly the curriculum is the same for all third graders except math. I was told kids take the fourth grade SOL in third and so on because AAP math is taught a year ahead. Does that mean DC is expected to have mastered third grade math concepts before school starts? Or is third and fourth grade math taught in one year at an expedited rate?
DC's math is solid but not a year ahead.

[Anonymous]

AAP students do NOT take the 4th grade SOL in third.

third grade - third grade SOL
fourth grade - fourth grade SOL
fifth grade - sixth grade SOL
sixth grade - seventh grade SOL

AAP students in third grade essentially due PRIMARILY 4th grade SOLs, and in 4th grade they do primarily 5th grade SOLs. They work from a text and curriculum that is a year above grade level, and the teachers work to fill in minor gaps that they may have missed by jumping ahead. They reason they wait until 5th grade to do the actual SOL is they know that some children struggle with the advanced curriculum in the beginning, but by 5th grade, they should be doing all math a year ahead.

Some schools will tell you that third grade is 3/4 SOLs and fourth grade is 4/5 sols and then by 5th grade they're all caught up, but that's not really true. The majority of the curriculum really is a year ahead. The best thing you can do for your child in preparation is practice their math facts, so they are ready to go!!!

I'm an AAP center teacher, so I'm positive this info is correct

[Anonymous]

I appreciate the previous poster's comments. But can someone chime in with empirical observations? My DD is heading into 3rd grade AAP but math is not her strongest suit. We are working through the 3rd grade math SOL book now. Any other recommendations for things to work on over the summer, math-wise?

[Anonymous]

My DD is a rising 5th grader in AAP. Math is not her best subject. Basically, they skip 3rd grade math. The biggest issue is learning the times tables.

If you work on that, and she gets it, she will be fine.

Oh, and in 3rd, they take the 3rd grade math SOL, in 4th, the 4th grade SOL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate the previous poster's comments. But can someone chime in with empirical observations? My DD is heading into 3rd grade AAP but math is not her strongest suit. We are working through the 3rd grade math SOL book now. Any other recommendations for things to work on over the summer, math-wise?

Multiplication tables and basic math facts.
Lots of high-speed addition, subtraction, and try to get to higher speed multiplication facts. If you can get to division even better, but a strong grounding in multiplication will set up your 3rd grade AAP student well for the school year.

I have a 6th grader and 3rd grader (both in AAP) and they play the 24 Game a great deal. It's a fun way to practice basic math facts.

[Anonymous]

OP here... thank you for you input. I have a much better idea of what to expect now.

I wish there wasn't such an emphasis on memorizing math facts. I understand it is important to know them but when I was in advanced studies as a kid they focused much more on the how and why than memorizing facts. There wasn't the constant pressure to know one concrete answer, instead we had to explain why answers made sense and apply them to everyday experiences. They also incorporated a lot of art and science into math. I developed a love and understanding of mathematical concepts that carried over into adulthood.
I could be wrong but it seems like back then teacher's saw gifted students as tomorrow's problem solvers and CEO's. There was a real emphasis on building confidence and encouraging thoughtful "out of the box" answers and unique ideas.

I hope I'm wrong but FFX AAP seems to be simply offering the curriculum at an accelerated rate. I wonder if that is going to foster the kind of growth these kids have the potential to achieve.

[Anonymous]

I wish there wasn't such an emphasis on memorizing math facts. I understand it is important to know them but when I was in advanced studies as a kid they focused much more on the how and why than memorizing facts. There wasn't the constant pressure to know one concrete answer, instead we had to explain why answers made sense and apply them to everyday experiences. They also incorporated a lot of art and science into math. I developed a love and understanding of mathematical concepts that carried over into adulthood.

At my daughter's AAP school they use "Everyday Math". Everyday Math is about as non-route learning as you can get so it should be along the lines of what you want.

Personally, I wished that they spent more time doing it the old fashioned way. After you learn the 3rd or 4th way to do something it starts to get confusing. Do a few Google searches and you will find that many parrents really hate the everyday math program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Personally, I wished that they spent more time doing it the old fashioned way. After you learn the 3rd or 4th way to do something it starts to get confusing. Do a few Google searches and you will find that many parrents really hate the everyday math program.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate the previous poster's comments. But can someone chime in with empirical observations? My DD is heading into 3rd grade AAP but math is not her strongest suit. We are working through the 3rd grade math SOL book now. Any other recommendations for things to work on over the summer, math-wise?

Multiplication tables and basic math facts.
Lots of high-speed addition, subtraction, and try to get to higher speed multiplication facts. If you can get to division even better, but a strong grounding in multiplication will set up your 3rd grade AAP student well for the school year.

I have a 6th grader and 3rd grader (both in AAP) and they play the 24 Game a great deal. It's a fun way to practice basic math facts.

Thank you. Out of curiosity, are you using the 24 Game with cards, or are you using an app?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:]
I hope I'm wrong but FFX AAP seems to be simply offering the curriculum at an accelerated rate. I wonder if that is going to foster the kind of growth these kids have the potential to achieve.

That is true in math, but in other areas, they tend to use the same curriculum, but go in to greater depth. Learning is more project focused rather than memorization focused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here... thank you for you input. I have a much better idea of what to expect now.

I wish there wasn't such an emphasis on memorizing math facts. I understand it is important to know them but when I was in advanced studies as a kid they focused much more on the how and why than memorizing facts. There wasn't the constant pressure to know one concrete answer, instead we had to explain why answers made sense and apply them to everyday experiences. They also incorporated a lot of art and science into math. I developed a love and understanding of mathematical concepts that carried over into adulthood.
I could be wrong but it seems like back then teacher's saw gifted students as tomorrow's problem solvers and CEO's. There was a real emphasis on building confidence and encouraging thoughtful "out of the box" answers and unique ideas.

I hope I'm wrong but FFX AAP seems to be simply offering the curriculum at an accelerated rate. I wonder if that is going to foster the kind of growth these kids have the potential to achieve.

I don't disagree, but I find this is the minority opinion of parents.

[Anonymous]

You have to have a strong foundation first (times tables, math facts, etc) THEN they should move into the thinking outside of the box math classes.

Math is math.

If they can't nail there basic math facts they have no business moving on to out of the box instruction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:]
I hope I'm wrong but FFX AAP seems to be simply offering the curriculum at an accelerated rate. I wonder if that is going to foster the kind of growth these kids have the potential to achieve.

That is true in math, but in other areas, they tend to use the same curriculum, but go in to greater depth. Learning is more project focused rather than memorization focused.

That's good to hear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have to have a strong foundation first (times tables, math facts, etc) THEN they should move into the thinking outside of the box math classes.

Math is math.

If they can't nail there basic math facts they have no business moving on to out of the box instruction.

I see your point. I didn't mean having kids with a shaky math foundation moving on to broader instruction. I meant the students with high ability and all the basics but not every fact memorized to answer in a second or less. But I understand where your coming from.

[Anonymous]

10:33 Is that really what Everyday Math is about or is it just a small portion of the curriculum? Learning four or more ways of doing something and achieving the same answer? I agree that math should be more project focused, concrete, and thinking oriented but agree that after learning a couple of methods of answering a problem your brain starts to tune out additional methods. I think the goal of learning this way is so children can see that the same answer can be achieved through different methods and to help them think of solutions when they aren't sure which method to pursue in answering a problem. If they did a couple times a year I would be fine with it, but don't really want my children to be confused by having them be presented with multiple options for solving basic math facts.