Summer Math Acceleration Program at Deal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a great idea.

If only they did this also during the actual school year.

Your post makes no sense. They do teach math during the year.

I think the point is why should kids be accelerated over the summer? What purpose does it serve? Is it a way to keep hyper competitive parents in DCPS vs going to the suburbs?

Why not? Some people are good at math and are happy to do more. It serves the purpose of being prepared for more advanced courses in high school and a shot at a good college program. That seems like a good thing to me. What do you think?

I don't think acceleration over the summer serves any purpose. Taking Algebra earlier than 7th grade makes absolutely no sense in my view. That sequence sets you up for taking a class beyond Calculus in high school which is plenty for non-STEM majors and for actual STEM majors the recommendation is almost always to take the real college level Calculus class to ensure a solid foundation and not skip ahead in the math sequence.

The acceleration allows 7th graders to take algebra. That’s the most accelerated route available (although a few 7th graders double up on algebra 1 and geometry, but that’s very unusual).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a great idea.

If only they did this also during the actual school year.

Your post makes no sense. They do teach math during the year.

Your thinking skills are very poor. Yes, they teach math: no, they don't accelerate or differenciate during the year.

They do. Far more than private schools!

Where?

In DCPS, as a policy, they don't.

They do for math. There are two levels of math available in 6th grade (math 6 and math 7); three levels available in 7th (math 7, math 8, algebra 1); and three levels available in 8th (math 8, algebra 1, and geometry). A few kids even take algebra 1 and geometry in 7th and algebra 2 in 8th.

[Anonymous]

Mine just followed along with Khan Academy to take Math 8 over the summer. My other child opted out - both were already advanced one year. They are trying to discourage the online option but if your teacher contacts you to tell your child is eligible in May sometime - you can find out more. There's a test when school starts back that they have to pass.

Worth it for my child as they finally got at least one class where everyone wanted to be there. I could also see it being good if you don't get into Math 7 in 6th grade. I don't think it's necessary to be 2 or 3 years ahead - but 1 helps a lot in just avoiding the behavior problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine just followed along with Khan Academy to take Math 8 over the summer. My other child opted out - both were already advanced one year. They are trying to discourage the online option but if your teacher contacts you to tell your child is eligible in May sometime - you can find out more. There's a test when school starts back that they have to pass.

Worth it for my child as they finally got at least one class where everyone wanted to be there. I could also see it being good if you don't get into Math 7 in 6th grade. I don't think it's necessary to be 2 or 3 years ahead - but 1 helps a lot in just avoiding the behavior problems.

This!
My DD is going to do the SMAP to avoid all the disruption.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a great idea.

If only they did this also during the actual school year.

Your post makes no sense. They do teach math during the year.

I think the point is why should kids be accelerated over the summer? What purpose does it serve? Is it a way to keep hyper competitive parents in DCPS vs going to the suburbs?

Why not? Some people are good at math and are happy to do more. It serves the purpose of being prepared for more advanced courses in high school and a shot at a good college program. That seems like a good thing to me. What do you think?

I don't think acceleration over the summer serves any purpose. Taking Algebra earlier than 7th grade makes absolutely no sense in my view. That sequence sets you up for taking a class beyond Calculus in high school which is plenty for non-STEM majors and for actual STEM majors the recommendation is almost always to take the real college level Calculus class to ensure a solid foundation and not skip ahead in the math sequence.

The OP is talking about the path required to allow you to take Algebra in 7th, not earlier. But I agree that when you look at the high school sequence and at what is expected and required in college, acceleration beyond that makes little sense. We let DC1 take Algebra in 7th, but we will not do the same for DC2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a great idea.

If only they did this also during the actual school year.

Your post makes no sense. They do teach math during the year.

I think the point is why should kids be accelerated over the summer? What purpose does it serve? Is it a way to keep hyper competitive parents in DCPS vs going to the suburbs?

Why not? Some people are good at math and are happy to do more. It serves the purpose of being prepared for more advanced courses in high school and a shot at a good college program. That seems like a good thing to me. What do you think?

I don't think acceleration over the summer serves any purpose. Taking Algebra earlier than 7th grade makes absolutely no sense in my view. That sequence sets you up for taking a class beyond Calculus in high school which is plenty for non-STEM majors and for actual STEM majors the recommendation is almost always to take the real college level Calculus class to ensure a solid foundation and not skip ahead in the math sequence.

The OP is talking about the path required to allow you to take Algebra in 7th, not earlier. But I agree that when you look at the high school sequence and at what is expected and required in college, acceleration beyond that makes little sense. We let DC1 take Algebra in 7th, but we will not do the same for DC2.

What if DC2 is really good at math, really enjoys it and is bored stiff in Math 8 or Math 7? Why not let them run? There are plenty of other courses in high school if a student has room on her schedule.

[Anonymous]

My kid loved it. I tried to talk her out of it, thinking it would be stressful, but it was the best thing for her--big boost in confidence, and met some great friends. If your kid doesn't test in but wants the challenge, it's worth talking with their current math teacher to see if it might be a fit after all. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid loved it. I tried to talk her out of it, thinking it would be stressful, but it was the best thing for her--big boost in confidence, and met some great friends. If your kid doesn't test in but wants the challenge, it's worth talking with their current math teacher to see if it might be a fit after all. Good luck!

My son was invited and this is good to hear. We've never thought of him as a "math kid" at all but he's been bored with 7th grade math and tells us that he wants to take the summer classes. This is surprising to us because he's never really shown an academic interest before (he's all about sports, all the time). We're actually fairly anti-acceleration (would prefer classes take their time rather than rush through material) but we also want to support him in what he wants to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a great idea.

If only they did this also during the actual school year.

Your post makes no sense. They do teach math during the year.

I think the point is why should kids be accelerated over the summer? What purpose does it serve? Is it a way to keep hyper competitive parents in DCPS vs going to the suburbs?

Why not? Some people are good at math and are happy to do more. It serves the purpose of being prepared for more advanced courses in high school and a shot at a good college program. That seems like a good thing to me. What do you think?

I don't think acceleration over the summer serves any purpose. Taking Algebra earlier than 7th grade makes absolutely no sense in my view. That sequence sets you up for taking a class beyond Calculus in high school which is plenty for non-STEM majors and for actual STEM majors the recommendation is almost always to take the real college level Calculus class to ensure a solid foundation and not skip ahead in the math sequence.

The OP is talking about the path required to allow you to take Algebra in 7th, not earlier. But I agree that when you look at the high school sequence and at what is expected and required in college, acceleration beyond that makes little sense. We let DC1 take Algebra in 7th, but we will not do the same for DC2.

What if DC2 is really good at math, really enjoys it and is bored stiff in Math 8 or Math 7? Why not let them run? There are plenty of other courses in high school if a student has room on her schedule.

Colleges want to see four years of math while in high school, so you can't substitute another course. You have to find some kind of math class. So before you accelerate too far ahead, make sure you look down the road at the offerings in your high school.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know which four weeks in July that the Deal summer math acceleration camp might be held? Or maybe which four weeks it was held in 2019 as a predictor?

[Anonymous]

2 years ago it started July 2nd. Given when the 4th is this year and when school gets out, I would GUESS it is going to start the 6th

[Anonymous]

Thanks -- did anyone attend this past summer (2019) and remember the dates?

[Anonymous]

Check this link for dates - this was in the most recent newsletter: https://www.smore.com/e89cq-smac-at-deal?ref=email-content#w-5779469738

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check this link for dates - this was in the most recent newsletter: https://www.smore.com/e89cq-smac-at-deal?ref=email-content#w-5779469738

Thank you so much! This is what I was trying to find. How do they manage to take kids through a year of math instruction (presumably 50 minutes a day for 180 days or about 150 hours) in just 56 hours?

[Anonymous]

I would guess it’s just more efficient since the hours are condensed and kids are fully focused on one subject.