Center School, 90% of AAP Class Opted into Algebra 1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t Edmentum the platform used for students at risk of failing? Like credit recovery, not a real standalone course?

Yes

If you are at a school using the online curriculum, you need to know that it is exceedingly basic and your child is not getting an honors foundation. I would strongly recommend switching to the center for that reason alone if algebra in 6th is a priority. Else, I’d wait to take it until 7th when you can have a traditional experience of classroom learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of kids will likely be successful in this accelerated track. More kids are taking classes through AoPS, RSM, Curie, Chinese school, etc. than people might imagine. FCPS will use these kids as proof that their program is successful, when really FCPS hasn't done anything to prepare these kids for Algebra.

It's another case where FCPS will look better than it by rights ought to look, thanks to involved parents and supplementation.

This is the real answer. FCPS doesn't have a plan for preparing kids for Algebra if the kids aren't getting other enrichment. Algebra 1 in 6th grade is a race to nowhere.

[Anonymous]

Everything I've heard from teachers and friends who offer enrichment is that this is NOT a benefit for most students. In fact, it puts you at a disadvantage when SATs come around, as the material that they test for will not be fresh in your mind. If your child is not meant for advanced mathematical theories in their future employment, then this serves no purpose other than to throw a feather in your parental cap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So dumb. It is not that Algebra 1 in 6th grade will be hard. It is that Calculus in 10th grade will be hard. Or Algebra 2 in 8th. Or Precalc in 9th.

Funny enumeration of math courses you have there. DC who just finished calc in 10th, btw, and his peers all agree that actually Geometry in 7th was the hardest. I say that's because it was taught by a competent teacher and the other courses could have used a bit more rigor.

It is problematic that for many US students preuniversity training ends with calculus when other countries customarily include linear algebra, 3D vector geometry, stochastics (not "AP Stats"), and for instance proof techniques such as induction in their required curriculum.

I'd like to compare the FCPS curriculum with some well regarded international curriculums. Can you give me the name of one or more countries which do this?

[Anonymous]

Curious what is the end game for this.
I believe there are some outlier mathy genius kids, who might able to handle calculus BC in 9th/10th, but no it is NOT 90% of AAP center kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of kids will likely be successful in this accelerated track. More kids are taking classes through AoPS, RSM, Curie, Chinese school, etc. than people might imagine. FCPS will use these kids as proof that their program is successful, when really FCPS hasn't done anything to prepare these kids for Algebra.

It's another case where FCPS will look better than it by rights ought to look, thanks to involved parents and supplementation.

Or maybe FCPS just want to satisfy the tiger parents. With their constant complain of the “decline education, waterdown material, we are 50 years behind China… “
So here you go…. You can have it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So dumb. It is not that Algebra 1 in 6th grade will be hard. It is that Calculus in 10th grade will be hard. Or Algebra 2 in 8th. Or Precalc in 9th.

Funny enumeration of math courses you have there. DC who just finished calc in 10th, btw, and his peers all agree that actually Geometry in 7th was the hardest. I say that's because it was taught by a competent teacher and the other courses could have used a bit more rigor.

It is problematic that for many US students preuniversity training ends with calculus when other countries customarily include linear algebra, 3D vector geometry, stochastics (not "AP Stats"), and for instance proof techniques such as induction in their required curriculum.

I'd like to compare the FCPS curriculum with some well regarded international curriculums. Can you give me the name of one or more countries which do this?

DP. PP doesn't know what they are talking about unless they are referencing an exclusive boarding school or maybe some place in Asia. I looked up what Hong Kong International School offers as I know it is well regarded. They do offer advanced math topics, but they make it clear it's for those with aptitude in math, rather than required for everyone.

https://handbook.hkis.edu.hk/mathematics

Worldwide though, most schools top out at either AP Calculus or IB math at best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of kids will likely be successful in this accelerated track. More kids are taking classes through AoPS, RSM, Curie, Chinese school, etc. than people might imagine. FCPS will use these kids as proof that their program is successful, when really FCPS hasn't done anything to prepare these kids for Algebra.

It's another case where FCPS will look better than it by rights ought to look, thanks to involved parents and supplementation.

Or maybe FCPS just want to satisfy the tiger parents. With their constant complain of the “decline education, waterdown material, we are 50 years behind China… “
So here you go…. You can have it!

Nah

This is just for a bullet point on Reid's resume. A career bureaucrat who cares nothing about students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So dumb. It is not that Algebra 1 in 6th grade will be hard. It is that Calculus in 10th grade will be hard. Or Algebra 2 in 8th. Or Precalc in 9th.

Funny enumeration of math courses you have there. DC who just finished calc in 10th, btw, and his peers all agree that actually Geometry in 7th was the hardest. I say that's because it was taught by a competent teacher and the other courses could have used a bit more rigor.

It is problematic that for many US students preuniversity training ends with calculus when other countries customarily include linear algebra, 3D vector geometry, stochastics (not "AP Stats"), and for instance proof techniques such as induction in their required curriculum.

I'd like to compare the FCPS curriculum with some well regarded international curriculums. Can you give me the name of one or more countries which do this?

DP. PP doesn't know what they are talking about unless they are referencing an exclusive boarding school or maybe some place in Asia. I looked up what Hong Kong International School offers as I know it is well regarded. They do offer advanced math topics, but they make it clear it's for those with aptitude in math, rather than required for everyone.

https://handbook.hkis.edu.hk/mathematics

Worldwide though, most schools top out at either AP Calculus or IB math at best.

shhhh You're ruining their inferiority complex that drives them to hyper accelerate their kids as much as possible in the name of keeping up with Singapore. They don't want that. They want to have a justification for pushing their kids into faster math and doing whatever they need to do to support that.

There are kids ready for A1H in 6th grade but not the numbers that took it this year or will be taking it next year. But when you suggest to a parent that their kid who is good at math but doesn't love math is fine in AAP math and not A1H they think you are insulting their kids intelligence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So dumb. It is not that Algebra 1 in 6th grade will be hard. It is that Calculus in 10th grade will be hard. Or Algebra 2 in 8th. Or Precalc in 9th.

Funny enumeration of math courses you have there. DC who just finished calc in 10th, btw, and his peers all agree that actually Geometry in 7th was the hardest. I say that's because it was taught by a competent teacher and the other courses could have used a bit more rigor.

It is problematic that for many US students preuniversity training ends with calculus when other countries customarily include linear algebra, 3D vector geometry, stochastics (not "AP Stats"), and for instance proof techniques such as induction in their required curriculum.

I'd like to compare the FCPS curriculum with some well regarded international curriculums. Can you give me the name of one or more countries which do this?

Look at the A-Level Maths curriculum, or look at the Leistungskurs Mathe that's part of the Bavarian Abitur.

[Anonymous]

Curious, would you say a 5th grader, who is about top 10% in AMC8 without prep, ready for Algebra 1 in 6th grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious, would you say a 5th grader, who is about top 10% in AMC8 without prep, ready for Algebra 1 in 6th grade?

Yes, they are ready. Here is the question, are they doing the AMC 8 because they want to or because you tell them to?

To me, the biggest issue is how much the kid actually likes math and wants to do math. Because they are being signed up up for two years of post calculus math at the age of 10.

My kid loved math competitions and asked to participate in the the AMC 8 in 5th grade. He has friends who could do A1H in 6th grade but who think that extra math is an awful idea. They could but they don’t want to. He had friends perfectly capable of taking A1H in 7th grade wait until 8th grade because they don’t love math and the math beyond Calculus was not something that they would want to do.

So ability matters but actual interest matters more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you share which center school you're at? We are at Churchill and this is making me wonder what the % breakdown is there. How did you get that number at your school?

We are a 5th grade AAP family at Churchill too. I am sure some parents selected to do Algebra I next year. However, every parent I spoke directly (10+) says they are not doing Algebra I next year.

On another note, I saw a parent of a 6th grader this week at school and they said their child is repeating Algebra I next year in 7th because their child does not feel ready to go to the next math class. The kid is a good student.

[Anonymous]

According to the internet, you are ready for Algebra 1 with 238 MAP and Pre-Calculus with 255 MAP.

So I don't see what is crazy about these kids taking Algebra 1 in 6th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:According to the internet, you are ready for Algebra 1 with 238 MAP and Pre-Calculus with 255 MAP.

So I don't see what is crazy about these kids taking Algebra 1 in 6th.

If I remember correctly, that threshold was around 50% probability of passing the course with a C or higher. Maybe we should aim a bit higher with students who are accelerating? My 4th grader scored 240 on the most recent spring MAP and he is nowhere near ready for Algebra.