Algebra in 6th grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know of 4 kids that are taking math 5/6 in 4th grade at a HGC, so those children are on track for Algebra in 6th grade. It is possible, but maybe not right for your child.

It is not possible. ALL kids will take IM in 6th grade. My child goes to middle school for math in 5th grade now, get straight A's and I was still told they have to take IM. Parents with kids taking it this year says it is ridiculously easy. I agree not all kids should move fast and they do teach terribly across the board, but for kids that excel and do camps and home classes and truly are ready should not be denied. They are indeed being denied.

Unless you're in the central office making the decision, I don't see how you can possibly know what every single sixth-grader in Montgomery County public schools will do for math.

I have talked to multiple parents at multiple schools and it is not offered. It is mentioned at preview nights that IM is the highest they can start. There are kids in Magnet that must take IM, that could probably pass Algebra Honors with their eyes closed. Unless I hear that a 6th grader in another school is offered Algebra 1 from 2014 onwards, I don't believe it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know of 4 kids that are taking math 5/6 in 4th grade at a HGC, so those children are on track for Algebra in 6th grade. It is possible, but maybe not right for your child.

It is not possible. ALL kids will take IM in 6th grade. My child goes to middle school for math in 5th grade now, get straight A's and I was still told they have to take IM. Parents with kids taking it this year says it is ridiculously easy. I agree not all kids should move fast and they do teach terribly across the board, but for kids that excel and do camps and home classes and truly are ready should not be denied. They are indeed being denied.

Unless you're in the central office making the decision, I don't see how you can possibly know what every single sixth-grader in Montgomery County public schools will do for math.

I have talked to multiple parents at multiple schools and it is not offered. It is mentioned at preview nights that IM is the highest they can start. There are kids in Magnet that must take IM, that could probably pass Algebra Honors with their eyes closed. Unless I hear that a 6th grader in another school is offered Algebra 1 from 2014 onwards, I don't believe it.

There is one 6th grader that I know of in my DC's Algebra 1 class. my DC says this child is very smart (they did a math competition together).

I would like to remind parents who are lamenting the the lack of acceleration that students in MD are required to take math all 4 years of high school, so compacted math students will be required to take 2 AP math courses in high school and the regular, algebra 1 in 8th grade students will have to take 1 AP math class. And as a pp mentioned earlier, if your kid is super into math they can always take math classes in the summer to move ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What makes you think that it's not based on actual ability? Just because your son wasn't given the option does not mean that other parents have pushed. Despite high MAP-M test scores and other indicators it may be recommended for some and not others. That is the teachers call.

Because it is not mentioned as an option. It's secret. Let's take my son out of it. I will tell you there are kids in his class that are crazy good at math that are in 4/5. I find it hard to believe that this unmentioned option is available without a fight.



No, of course it's not mentioned as an option. It's not an option for most students EVEN the most wonderful math students.

[Anonymous]

So what is that supposed to mean? I think the students in 5/6 compacted maybe managed to get accelerated in their home schools. Uniform criteria are not applied.

In any case you are missing the point. A fair and even process needs to be applied. And it should not be a secret. Do you actually know something about the process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What makes you think that it's not based on actual ability? Just because your son wasn't given the option does not mean that other parents have pushed. Despite high MAP-M test scores and other indicators it may be recommended for some and not others. That is the teachers call.

Because it is not mentioned as an option. It's secret. Let's take my son out of it. I will tell you there are kids in his class that are crazy good at math that are in 4/5. I find it hard to believe that this unmentioned option is available without a fight.

No, of course it's not mentioned as an option. It's not an option for most students EVEN the most wonderful math students.

What is your point then? There are a select few deemed worthy?

[Anonymous]

They are just trying to prevent what happened with the old system. Too many people assumed that their child was advanced enough for the top offering and it didn't work well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are just trying to prevent what happened with the old system. Too many people assumed that their child was advanced enough for the top offering and it didn't work well.

Agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
No, of course it's not mentioned as an option. It's not an option for most students EVEN the most wonderful math students.

If I thought that it was in the best interests of my child to be in Algebra in 6th grade, I would start by marshal my reasons* and evidence and asking for a conference with the teacher who teaches my child math.

*the reasons would not include "My child's life will be ruined without three AP math classes in high school".

[Anonymous]

Its not about what's in the best interest of the child. Its what education reformers think is in the best interest of all the children to level the playing field.

If children who are intellectually advantaged are allowed to progress at a pace appropriate for them then they will continue to gain ground over children that are not intellectually disadvantaged. The intellectually disadvantaged child will never have a chance to catch up unless the other child is held back.

Along those lines public educators don't define their goal as providing the best education or appropriate education for a child to reach their potential. Public educators define their goal based on getting a large demographic to a base standard. If the intellectually advantaged kids are already there, job is done. Its a waste of time and resources from their perspective to do anything for those children. Expending any effort to bus or change class assignments for those children who are ready to work at a more appropriate level doesn't do anything for the school staff. Keeping those kids parked in classes where they require no instruction and deliver high test scores does benefit the school staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its not about what's in the best interest of the child. Its what education reformers think is in the best interest of all the children to level the playing field.

If children who are intellectually advantaged are allowed to progress at a pace appropriate for them then they will continue to gain ground over children that are not intellectually disadvantaged. The intellectually disadvantaged child will never have a chance to catch up unless the other child is held back.

Along those lines public educators don't define their goal as providing the best education or appropriate education for a child to reach their potential. Public educators define their goal based on getting a large demographic to a base standard. If the intellectually advantaged kids are already there, job is done. Its a waste of time and resources from their perspective to do anything for those children. Expending any effort to bus or change class assignments for those children who are ready to work at a more appropriate level doesn't do anything for the school staff. Keeping those kids parked in classes where they require no instruction and deliver high test scores does benefit the school staff.

Well, you are free to opine about what you think public educators think, of course. I would prefer to advocate for my own child and see where that gets me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No, of course it's not mentioned as an option. It's not an option for most students EVEN the most wonderful math students.

If I thought that it was in the best interests of my child to be in Algebra in 6th grade, I would start by marshal my reasons* and evidence and asking for a conference with the teacher who teaches my child math.

*the reasons would not include "My child's life will be ruined without three AP math classes in high school".

OP here. This is exactly my concern - I don't want to "ruin" HS by setting my child up for that much advanced math later on. Is it really necessary? I'm not sure, which is why I asked this question.
And for all you skeptics out there - yes, it's being offered to my child under 2.0, without a fight, and without any pressure on our part whatsoever.

[Anonymous]

NP here. I will start by saying that I am fine with my child doing algebra in 7th grade. What I don't like here is being lied to. School says explicitly that compact 4/5is the highest option. My child has MAP M scores in the 260s,perfect score on the CoGAT quantitative, and SCAT at 97% for 2 grades up. So.something is amiss here.

[Anonymous]

NP here. I will start by saying that I am fine with my child doing algebra in 7th grade. What I don't like here is being lied to. School says explicitly that compact 4/5is the highest option. My child has MAP M scores in the 260s,perfect score on the CoGAT quantitative, and SCAT at 97% for 2 grades up. So.something is amiss here.

LOL I assure you that you have been lied to many times by MCPS staff, you just didn't catch it. I don't get too upset about these things but I find it highly amusingly how often our principal and her support staff just blatantly lie about things even to large groups especially when it comes to things like GT and acceleration -topics that MCPS is very uncomfortable addressing. Fibbing is widely accepted and expected in MCPS culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. I will start by saying that I am fine with my child doing algebra in 7th grade. What I don't like here is being lied to. School says explicitly that compact 4/5is the highest option. My child has MAP M scores in the 260s,perfect score on the CoGAT quantitative, and SCAT at 97% for 2 grades up. So.something is amiss here.

It is the highest standard option. However, MCPS evidently (and reasonably) makes exceptions. What was the lie? Did you ask somebody whether your child could take algebra in sixth grade, and they answered that no, MCPS doesn't allow that anymore?

[Anonymous]

To the PP with the child with a perfect CoGat- is your child going to a MS Magnet next year? Surely they can provide Algebra in 6th. If not, then I don't understand how some non magnet middle schools are offering Algebra in 6th.