Rising 8th grader - Summer Geometry honors

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ and don’t forget, it’s worse for the kid to take outside classes instead of fruitfully spending their time in school, because they will go to school anyway.

I’d feel worse for kids taking math outside of school.

Doesn't mean they have to retake the same class, especially if they took outside classes somewhere accredited like AoPS. There's no reason schools can't accept it for credit or at least placement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ and don’t forget, it’s worse for the kid to take outside classes instead of fruitfully spending their time in school, because they will go to school anyway.

I’d feel worse for kids taking math outside of school.

Doesn't mean they have to retake the same class, especially if they took outside classes somewhere accredited like AoPS. There's no reason schools can't accept it for credit or at least placement.

As far as I know they don’t accept that credit. Maybe things have changed. Kids will still go to school though. Those 8 hrs/day will still be spent there. It’s better if they are advancing during those 8 hrs and do other fulfilling activities outside of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ and don’t forget, it’s worse for the kid to take outside classes instead of fruitfully spending their time in school, because they will go to school anyway.

I’d feel worse for kids taking math outside of school.

Doesn't mean they have to retake the same class, especially if they took outside classes somewhere accredited like AoPS. There's no reason schools can't accept it for credit or at least placement.

As far as I know they don’t accept that credit. Maybe things have changed. Kids will still go to school though. Those 8 hrs/day will still be spent there. It’s better if they are advancing during those 8 hrs and do other fulfilling activities outside of school.

School merely scratches the surface of mathematics. AOPS teaches so much more in the "same" class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ and don’t forget, it’s worse for the kid to take outside classes instead of fruitfully spending their time in school, because they will go to school anyway.

I’d feel worse for kids taking math outside of school.

Doesn't mean they have to retake the same class, especially if they took outside classes somewhere accredited like AoPS. There's no reason schools can't accept it for credit or at least placement.

As far as I know they don’t accept that credit. Maybe things have changed. Kids will still go to school though. Those 8 hrs/day will still be spent there. It’s better if they are advancing during those 8 hrs and do other fulfilling activities outside of school.

This anti-education attitude is why the US economy is faltering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those kids and more specifically, their parents are trying to get a leg up to get into TJ. TJ admissions has caught on and won't admit all of them. Most of them would do better by just taking geometry in 8th grade. Then they struggle to do the same in HS. There are very few math geniuses but everyone wants to look like one. It's a race to nowhere.

Your argument doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t take a math genius to take Algebra 2 in 8th. The math geniuses are not taking Algebra 2 in 8th, they’re probably taking linear algebra or differential equations or something even higher.

No, that is my point but these families think they need to separate themselves from the rest of the pack anyway by accelerating as much as they can even though they are not math geniuses.

are you a psychic or a sorcerer/ess to know how "families think"? or assessment warlock/witch running around town figuring out kids "are not math geniuses"?

This is called parent on parent grudge, where a parent compares themselves and their kid to others, driven by insecurity, and concludes other parents had to be doing something bad, and other kids can no way be a fast learner than theirs, and starts generalizing crap.

Some of us work in the schools or attend related activities, and know the students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those kids and more specifically, their parents are trying to get a leg up to get into TJ. TJ admissions has caught on and won't admit all of them. Most of them would do better by just taking geometry in 8th grade. Then they struggle to do the same in HS. There are very few math geniuses but everyone wants to look like one. It's a race to nowhere.

Your argument doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t take a math genius to take Algebra 2 in 8th. The math geniuses are not taking Algebra 2 in 8th, they’re probably taking linear algebra or differential equations or something even higher.

No, that is my point but these families think they need to separate themselves from the rest of the pack anyway by accelerating as much as they can even though they are not math geniuses.

are you a psychic or a sorcerer/ess to know how "families think"? or assessment warlock/witch running around town figuring out kids "are not math geniuses"?

This is called parent on parent grudge, where a parent compares themselves and their kid to others, driven by insecurity, and concludes other parents had to be doing something bad, and other kids can no way be a fast learner than theirs, and starts generalizing crap.

Some of us work in the schools or attend related activities, and know the students.

Really? I'm definitely an assessment warlock. Got my degree in divination from a Top Ten wizarding school. I can't mention which one though, it might give away my identity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those kids and more specifically, their parents are trying to get a leg up to get into TJ. TJ admissions has caught on and won't admit all of them. Most of them would do better by just taking geometry in 8th grade. Then they struggle to do the same in HS. There are very few math geniuses but everyone wants to look like one. It's a race to nowhere.

Your argument doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t take a math genius to take Algebra 2 in 8th. The math geniuses are not taking Algebra 2 in 8th, they’re probably taking linear algebra or differential equations or something even higher.

Splitting hairs about "genius" misses the point.

TJ takes 500 of 25000 students per year: 2%.

That's substantially more than the number of students taking Algebra 2 in 8th and doing well in it. A lot of students (parents) push into that level and don't do well.

Not sure what you're basing that on. Generally at least three quarters of kids taking Algebra 2 in 8th grade score pass advanced on their SOL and virtually all pass. They are the highest performing of all SOL cohorts.

One quarter of them aren't higher performing than the students who pass advanced in 9th
grade.

I don't believe a student should be taking Alg 2 an extra year early if they aren't passing advanced. That's not a good foundation for 4 more years of math after Algebra 2.

Whats the value in "advancing" faster by skipping learning some of the material?

I don't know if this site is legit, but if it's an accurate SOL test, I'd expect a top student, taking Honors Algebra 2 in 8th, who is on track for post-MVCalc(!) in high school, to get nearly 100% on these questions, which are basic exercise, not hard multi-step problems.

I'd expect an Honors Algebra 1 student to solve most of them (But I don't know what the "pass advanced" cutoff is)

https://www.solpass.org/released_sol_tests/Algebra2SOL2015.pdf?section=study-2

Pass advanced cutoff is 500, someone posted in another thread that this is likely 45/50.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those kids and more specifically, their parents are trying to get a leg up to get into TJ. TJ admissions has caught on and won't admit all of them. Most of them would do better by just taking geometry in 8th grade. Then they struggle to do the same in HS. There are very few math geniuses but everyone wants to look like one. It's a race to nowhere.

Your argument doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t take a math genius to take Algebra 2 in 8th. The math geniuses are not taking Algebra 2 in 8th, they’re probably taking linear algebra or differential equations or something even higher.

Splitting hairs about "genius" misses the point.

TJ takes 500 of 25000 students per year: 2%.

That's substantially more than the number of students taking Algebra 2 in 8th and doing well in it. A lot of students (parents) push into that level and don't do well.

Not sure what you're basing that on. Generally at least three quarters of kids taking Algebra 2 in 8th grade score pass advanced on their SOL and virtually all pass. They are the highest performing of all SOL cohorts.

One quarter of them aren't higher performing than the students who pass advanced in 9th
grade.

I don't believe a student should be taking Alg 2 an extra year early if they aren't passing advanced. That's not a good foundation for 4 more years of math after Algebra 2.

Whats the value in "advancing" faster by skipping learning some of the material?

At least 75% score pass advanced. Last year (2021-22), 87% of FCPS 8th graders taking Algebra 2 scored pass advanced. (Carson 89%, Cooper 100%, Jackson 92%, Longfellow 83%, Rocky Run 91%).

The 75% was from 2020-21 and thus affected by covid/virtual learning. In order to ensure coverage of algebra concepts, some teachers skipped the statistics sections during covid. That wouldn't affect kids moving on to precalc and calc but would affect their SOL score. For 2018-19 pre-covid, 90% scored pass advanced.

Not just that year. The statistics section was lowering scores for a lot of kids who got As in Algebra 2. Some of the teachers don't cover that portion, and stick to the traditional algebra 2 topics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those kids and more specifically, their parents are trying to get a leg up to get into TJ. TJ admissions has caught on and won't admit all of them. Most of them would do better by just taking geometry in 8th grade. Then they struggle to do the same in HS. There are very few math geniuses but everyone wants to look like one. It's a race to nowhere.

Your argument doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t take a math genius to take Algebra 2 in 8th. The math geniuses are not taking Algebra 2 in 8th, they’re probably taking linear algebra or differential equations or something even higher.

Splitting hairs about "genius" misses the point.

TJ takes 500 of 25000 students per year: 2%.

That's substantially more than the number of students taking Algebra 2 in 8th and doing well in it. A lot of students (parents) push into that level and don't do well.

Not sure what you're basing that on. Generally at least three quarters of kids taking Algebra 2 in 8th grade score pass advanced on their SOL and virtually all pass. They are the highest performing of all SOL cohorts.

One quarter of them aren't higher performing than the students who pass advanced in 9th
grade.

I don't believe a student should be taking Alg 2 an extra year early if they aren't passing advanced. That's not a good foundation for 4 more years of math after Algebra 2.

Whats the value in "advancing" faster by skipping learning some of the material?

At least 75% score pass advanced. Last year (2021-22), 87% of FCPS 8th graders taking Algebra 2 scored pass advanced. (Carson 89%, Cooper 100%, Jackson 92%, Longfellow 83%, Rocky Run 91%).

The 75% was from 2020-21 and thus affected by covid/virtual learning. In order to ensure coverage of algebra concepts, some teachers skipped the statistics sections during covid. That wouldn't affect kids moving on to precalc and calc but would affect their SOL score. For 2018-19 pre-covid, 90% scored pass advanced.

Not just that year. The statistics section was lowering scores for a lot of kids who got As in Algebra 2. Some of the teachers don't cover that portion, and stick to the traditional algebra 2 topics.

Makes sense. Focus on Algebra 2 concepts and make sure kids are solid in the skills they need for precalculus and calculus. Accelerated kids have space in their schedule to take AP Stats later where they can get a better introduction to statistics than they would from the limited coverage in Algebra 2 anyhow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ and don’t forget, it’s worse for the kid to take outside classes instead of fruitfully spending their time in school, because they will go to school anyway.

I’d feel worse for kids taking math outside of school.

Doesn't mean they have to retake the same class, especially if they took outside classes somewhere accredited like AoPS. There's no reason schools can't accept it for credit or at least placement.

As far as I know they don’t accept that credit. Maybe things have changed. Kids will still go to school though. Those 8 hrs/day will still be spent there. It’s better if they are advancing during those 8 hrs and do other fulfilling activities outside of school.

School merely scratches the surface of mathematics. AOPS teaches so much more in the "same" class.

People are free to deep dive into any topic. You’re advocating for private institutions. Maybe you’re one of the people who wants schools to keep kids behind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ and don’t forget, it’s worse for the kid to take outside classes instead of fruitfully spending their time in school, because they will go to school anyway.

I’d feel worse for kids taking math outside of school.

Doesn't mean they have to retake the same class, especially if they took outside classes somewhere accredited like AoPS. There's no reason schools can't accept it for credit or at least placement.

As far as I know they don’t accept that credit. Maybe things have changed. Kids will still go to school though. Those 8 hrs/day will still be spent there. It’s better if they are advancing during those 8 hrs and do other fulfilling activities outside of school.

This anti-education attitude is why the US economy is faltering.

Which anti education attitude are you talking about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ and don’t forget, it’s worse for the kid to take outside classes instead of fruitfully spending their time in school, because they will go to school anyway.

I’d feel worse for kids taking math outside of school.

Doesn't mean they have to retake the same class, especially if they took outside classes somewhere accredited like AoPS. There's no reason schools can't accept it for credit or at least placement.

As far as I know they don’t accept that credit. Maybe things have changed. Kids will still go to school though. Those 8 hrs/day will still be spent there. It’s better if they are advancing during those 8 hrs and do other fulfilling activities outside of school.

School merely scratches the surface of mathematics. AOPS teaches so much more in the "same" class.

People are free to deep dive into any topic. You’re advocating for private institutions. Maybe you’re one of the people who wants schools to keep kids behind.

Huh? Do you think I enjoy spending money and time to pick up the school's slack?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ and don’t forget, it’s worse for the kid to take outside classes instead of fruitfully spending their time in school, because they will go to school anyway.

I’d feel worse for kids taking math outside of school.

Doesn't mean they have to retake the same class, especially if they took outside classes somewhere accredited like AoPS. There's no reason schools can't accept it for credit or at least placement.

As far as I know they don’t accept that credit. Maybe things have changed. Kids will still go to school though. Those 8 hrs/day will still be spent there. It’s better if they are advancing during those 8 hrs and do other fulfilling activities outside of school.

This anti-education attitude is why the US economy is faltering.

Which anti education attitude are you talking about?

Discouraging people from learning outside of officially designated learning hours, as quoted above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those kids and more specifically, their parents are trying to get a leg up to get into TJ. TJ admissions has caught on and won't admit all of them. Most of them would do better by just taking geometry in 8th grade. Then they struggle to do the same in HS. There are very few math geniuses but everyone wants to look like one. It's a race to nowhere.

Your argument doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t take a math genius to take Algebra 2 in 8th. The math geniuses are not taking Algebra 2 in 8th, they’re probably taking linear algebra or differential equations or something even higher.

No, that is my point but these families think they need to separate themselves from the rest of the pack anyway by accelerating as much as they can even though they are not math geniuses.

are you a psychic or a sorcerer/ess to know how "families think"? or assessment warlock/witch running around town figuring out kids "are not math geniuses"?

This is called parent on parent grudge, where a parent compares themselves and their kid to others, driven by insecurity, and concludes other parents had to be doing something bad, and other kids can no way be a fast learner than theirs, and starts generalizing crap.

You don't need to be a psychic to know that families know that their students will be compared to the other students in their high school for college admissions. They want them to "stand out".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ and don’t forget, it’s worse for the kid to take outside classes instead of fruitfully spending their time in school, because they will go to school anyway.

I’d feel worse for kids taking math outside of school.

Doesn't mean they have to retake the same class, especially if they took outside classes somewhere accredited like AoPS. There's no reason schools can't accept it for credit or at least placement.

As far as I know they don’t accept that credit. Maybe things have changed. Kids will still go to school though. Those 8 hrs/day will still be spent there. It’s better if they are advancing during those 8 hrs and do other fulfilling activities outside of school.

This anti-education attitude is why the US economy is faltering.

Which anti education attitude are you talking about?

Discouraging people from learning outside of officially designated learning hours, as quoted above.

I wasn’t discouraging them. They can learn wherever they want. I was saying that holding kids back in the public schools forces the parents to either leave the kids behind and have other non academic activities or put them in more school after the 8th our.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t prefer to work after work. I’d think it’s the same for most people.

It’s like you goofing around at work and working to catch up in the evening.