Is she interested in Algebra in 7th? I don't think all schools allow this but some allow you to appeal 7th math placement. |
Is this free? Don't you have to pay for this? |
This. No retests allowed but if she does well on the Sol, you can ask the middle school to put here in Algebra 1 honors. |
PP, don't do the bolded bit. Honestly, the 91% cutoff is still way too low for Algebra, and it should be more like 96%. Your DD may be disappointed, but she would be better served in M7H next year. |
Your DS should definitely take the Honors Algebra next year. If he's going to take AoPS Algebra next year, then he will have no trouble with FCPS Honors Algebra I. Yes, you are most likely correct that strong engineering programs will not accept the Multivariable Calc or Linear Algebra credits. Still, those classes in college are generally very challenging, and getting early exposure to the concepts will make the college classes much easier than going in without prior background. My take is that if your kid is genuinely ready for the more advanced class, there's no downside in taking it. Unfortunately, there isn't a great way to determine whether your kid is genuinely ready or whether he qualified by FCPS metrics without being ready. |
I did this. My kid got an A but admittedly worked hard. The whole class worked hard. Very difficult teacher and high expectations. |
I am the PP you are responding to, and that’s exactly how my thinking is evolving. We looked last night at the curriculum for Math 7 H vs Algebra I, and he has already covered a lot of the topics in Algebra I through AoPS, so together with the IAAT I would say he is ready. One conversation with the HS math department away from making it a final decision. To the PP who asked if you have to pay for AoPS - yes, one math class costs ~$1,500/year. Best investment you can make if the kid’s focus is math/engineering. I spend more than that on year-round swimming, sadly. |
Can I ask what AoPS stands for? Thanks |
Is AoPS free or do you have to pay for it? How is he taking it? |
Is it a self directed course? Do it when you have time? or is it structured, meet every X at Y? |
Of course your kid is ready but it’s bc you’re force feeding extra math on him. His understanding isn’t organic. |
AoPS stands for Art of Problem Solving Academy. They have an online school as well as local schools in several areas (there are at least 2 in the DC area - Vienna and Gaithersburg.) Someone upthread posted the Vienna local school site.
https://artofproblemsolving.com/ I don't have experience with the online portion, but the local schools offer classes that meet once a week, for 1 hr 45 mins, plus access to their online materials (homework, challenges). They have interesting contests that are intended to incent student to practice continuously. DS takes 1 math class per year. Cost is ca. $1500 for the year. Their program for grades 2-5 is amazing and unique, they created their own materials that are structured like a comic strip. The depth is pretty serious, to do well the kid would need to focus and do some amount (maybe 15 mins) every day to make a really sustainable progress. I have degrees in math and have taught math at the graduate level, I don't have a degree in education, but have researched math programs extensively and this is by far the top program I have seen. It is a different concept from Kumon, Mathnasium, etc. |
I am not force feeding anything. It was clear early on he was sleepwalking though math at school. To use your analogy, if he could eat 5 bowls of pasta but I was offering him a cup of Cheerios only, I'd be starving him. I have met him where his abilities are, and his understanding is solid. I don't have to sit with him and explain math, or solve his problems for him, though on occasion I do show him different methods of solving a certain problem. I am not sure what you think is "organic" understanding of math - throwing the kid in the woods and having them derive math from first principles? |
NP here. Organic understanding of something is overrated. Kids who are above grade level in language arts and reading most likely had parents who read to them every night and made their kids read a lot. They aren't necessarily displaying some special level of innate ability. DD is likely to make it on the highest level middle school orchestra. She doesn't have an organic understanding of music or native ability better than anyone else. She's just taking private lessons and is more advanced than other kids who aren't. PP's kid took a class that makes him ready for Algebra..............which means he's ready for Algebra. It doesn't matter why he's ready for Algebra. It just matters that he is ready. |