My 7th grader was asked to a lower level in math

[Anonymous]

Sounds like math is generally a hard subject for him and I’m guessing he won’t end up in a college track with a math focus bc shouldn’t we go into a line of education/work that plays on our strengths? So this seems fine to me.

I was dropped from honors math in middle school - it made no sense for me as I’m generally an average math student, and at some point working hard wasn’t enough. I stayed in honors track for ELA bc that’s where my gifts were.

[Anonymous]

I really hate the idea that if a kid isn’t in honors math in middle school, they aren’t meant to pursue it in the future. As a kid who ran out of math in high school and went to mit, now that I am an adult, I think the us streams kids too early. There are many studies showing that kids of all abilities learn more effectively in mixed ability classes. Placing kids in lower math classes goes against what we have learned about growth mindset. I think there are plenty of kids who are dropped or not chosen for honors middle school math are unfairly discouraged and steered away from pursuing it later. Just my two cents.

[Anonymous]

This thread is bonkers. All this math acceleration is not actually making anyone better at math (nor a sign that they were good at math to begin with). My kid did Algebra in 7th, Geometry in 8th, etc—As all along the way—but is shockingly incapable at foundational math concepts that really should’ve been reinforced strongly in 6th and 7th. They’re just moving along a conveyor belt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

If dropping out of honors means he ends up a year or two behind by high school (in FCPS, the top 15-20% will be taking algebra II as freshman, the majority will be taking geometry and the non-honors in 7th will be taking algebra) he would never have a change to get into that a major that competitive

True. OP’s son isn’t getting into MIT or a top 25 college. He also is unlikely to go into a STEM career, but it is possible. There are many pathways to success. I get that it is disappointing as a parent, OP. I would feel the same. But you have to support him where he is, right now. Not where you want him to be. Maybe have him take a math class over the summer so he can at least be in Alg I when he enters 8th grade.

Yep. He’ll probably be living in a van down by the river. Without a STEM career his future looks bleak. Oh how will he go on. The tragedy!

Either the post above mine is trying to be funny like me or it’s one of the stupidest know nothing people around. Can people honestly be this ignorant? This stupid? I guess so reading some of these comments.

[Anonymous]

There some posters on this thread who don't realize how the college admissions landscape has changed, and who don't understand that there are certain cut-off points in life that you don't want to miss.

So then these posters resort to name-calling and pushing logic to the extreme, pretending we're saying that OP's kid is going to end up on the street. Of course he's not.

But generally, yes, students need to be in advanced tracks by middle school to give themselves the best chance of success in high school, which ramps up rigor and workload significantly. This should NOT come as a surprise. It's why there are so many tracks in middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is bonkers. All this math acceleration is not actually making anyone better at math (nor a sign that they were good at math to begin with). My kid did Algebra in 7th, Geometry in 8th, etc—As all along the way—but is shockingly incapable at foundational math concepts that really should’ve been reinforced strongly in 6th and 7th. They’re just moving along a conveyor belt.

+1

I know Calculus students who can’t do simple math. Also, epic amounts of cheating. I’m sure all the striver moms are like “not my kid!” But it’s rampant.

—HS Humanities teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It isn’t insane. Alg I before high school is one of the strongest predictors of college success.

Living in the DC area is so unbearable.

OP, your kid will do fine. He's a hard worker and that is something to celebrate!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is bonkers. All this math acceleration is not actually making anyone better at math (nor a sign that they were good at math to begin with). My kid did Algebra in 7th, Geometry in 8th, etc—As all along the way—but is shockingly incapable at foundational math concepts that really should’ve been reinforced strongly in 6th and 7th. They’re just moving along a conveyor belt.

Could not agree more. It feels like an arms race without any value behind it.

[Anonymous]

Most of the kids in his old class are tutored! Just fyi

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
There some posters on this thread who don't realize how the college admissions landscape has changed, and who don't understand that there are certain cut-off points in life that you don't want to miss.

So then these posters resort to name-calling and pushing logic to the extreme, pretending we're saying that OP's kid is going to end up on the street. Of course he's not.

But generally, yes, students need to be in advanced tracks by middle school to give themselves the best chance of success in high school, which ramps up rigor and workload significantly. This should NOT come as a surprise. It's why there are so many tracks in middle school.

Yes, it has changed, it’s bonkers. If OP’s kid is a white male he isn’t going to a top 25 anyway, it’s not the math keeping him out and if you have a white male son, it won’t get him in either.

[Anonymous]

The college bubble is bursting anyway.

[Anonymous]

I could have written this post, am having same issue with my 7th grade DS. It is making me sad but trying to just support him and make sure he has any additional support he needs. Thinking of you, OP, I know it sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

If dropping out of honors means he ends up a year or two behind by high school (in FCPS, the top 15-20% will be taking algebra II as freshman, the majority will be taking geometry and the non-honors in 7th will be taking algebra) he would never have a change to get into that a major that competitive

True. OP’s son isn’t getting into MIT or a top 25 college. He also is unlikely to go into a STEM career, but it is possible. There are many pathways to success. I get that it is disappointing as a parent, OP. I would feel the same. But you have to support him where he is, right now. Not where you want him to be. Maybe have him take a math class over the summer so he can at least be in Alg I when he enters 8th grade.

You two are insane.

It isn’t insane. Alg I before high school is one of the strongest predictors of college success.

Yeah but how much of that is because a kid who does well in advanced track math is already a kid with innate gifts/skills/aptitude? Who will likely be more successful in college anyway ?

I was the pp who was pulled from advanced math as a middle schooler. Both of my kids are in advanced track and test in the 90-97th percentile consistently in math. They don’t struggle at all in these classes bc their dad blessed them with his math genetics lol. Our public schools aren’t great, but they just “get” math in a way I never did.

[Anonymous]

Did OP say somewhere that her DS wants to be an engineer?

So maybe he's not going to end up at MIT for engineering. He could easily go to a T25 down the road.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids in his old class are tutored! Just fyi

Maybe the kids doing Alg I in 6th or 7th grade. But regular honors 7th grade math is the equivalent of pre-algebra. Most of the kids in this are not getting tutored