Algebra in 6th grade - new selection process?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges 100% don't care about the advanced diploma. It's literally a sticker stuck on the normal diploma and is not awarded until graduation so it's not something even indicated on college applications. You can choose to have the grade expunged from a high school course taken in middle school for any grade any reason. One of my kids took Latin and did fine but hated it and we expunged it. I'd worry much more about my child not getting a strong algebra base for all the courses to come over worrying about them getting a high grade in what likely will end up being a watered down course. Half the AAP kids isn't a high enough bar for 7th grade Algebra so it's certainly going to be a mess a year earlier with less maturity and no preparation.

This is very bizarre. Walk me through the logic behind this one please. Your kid hated Latin so much that they couldn’t bear to see it on their transcript so you expunged it, despite doing fine in the class?

I'm not the poster who wrote that, but I can totally see this. You can do fine and still expunge the grade if you hated the subject and wouldn't take the next sequence. It's better than showing a year of Latin, perhaps an ok to mediocre grade, and then showing zero follow-through to the next class. Keep in mind the classes you choose in HS is supposed to tell your story. Sometimes the inconvenient truth is, you took a class and thought you'd like it and would continue but it turns out you hated it and would prefer it to "just go away" from your composite story.

I don't think any college is going to ding a kid for dropping a language after 7th grade and moving on to another language. I also don't think that a college is going to ding a kid for a B or an A- in a language class that they ended up dropping because they didn't like it. We also hear about colleges telling parents that they drop any grade for a HS class before 9th grade and that some colleges, like the UC's and Cal State California, only count classes from 10-12.

It is a parent's choice, so do what you are comfortable with, but it does strike me as an unusual choice. I doubt it matters because I don't think it will appear on the transcript at all and is different then taking Algebra 1, expunging the grade, then taking Geometry and not having an Algebra 1 grade on the transcript. That would look weird but I don't know that the Colleges care if the math grades from 9-12 grade, or 10-12 gade, are all A's.

If you've got an HS (or MS) kid, you'd know it is way less about what you (the parent) feel as appropriate or not and way more about how your kid feels and wants to process his/her HS career. They're running the show when it comes to their transcript, and their decision is usually the final decision. So it's great to opine and tell a parent how to process something, but that's not the marker for making a kid understand what is important to them.

That sounds wonderful in theory and can easily lead to all sorts of choices that impact important decisions down the line. I do believe that kids should have input into their educational path but there are areas that they absolutely do not have final say over. They are teens, they don't have the life experience to understand why some of their choices are problematic or what impact they might have. That is when we need to step in as parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents debating the value of an advanced diploma are overlooking that kids have their own preferences. Sometimes, the advanced diploma is less about how we—as parents—perceive its worth and more about the sense of accomplishment it gives them.

You really think the kids care about an advanced diploma? I mean, maybe some do, but I have yet to talk to someone graduating who announces "I completed the advanced diploma!" I have heard it from kids who completed the IB Diploma but never a non-IB kid. I suspect if you walk through the difference in the diplomas most kids would scoff at them just like parents do. Most kids who are going to college will complete all of the academic requirements for the advanced diploma. The ones who miss it are the ones who could careless about taking a sequenced elective that is not a foreign language. I don't know too many kids who would give up trying a new elective in favor o f taking a second elective in an area that they don't like because they want a gold star on a diploma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges 100% don't care about the advanced diploma. It's literally a sticker stuck on the normal diploma and is not awarded until graduation so it's not something even indicated on college applications. You can choose to have the grade expunged from a high school course taken in middle school for any grade any reason. One of my kids took Latin and did fine but hated it and we expunged it. I'd worry much more about my child not getting a strong algebra base for all the courses to come over worrying about them getting a high grade in what likely will end up being a watered down course. Half the AAP kids isn't a high enough bar for 7th grade Algebra so it's certainly going to be a mess a year earlier with less maturity and no preparation.

This is very bizarre. Walk me through the logic behind this one please. Your kid hated Latin so much that they couldn’t bear to see it on their transcript so you expunged it, despite doing fine in the class?

DP. It depends on what "fine" means. I'd expunge anything less than an A for a middle school foreign language class in a language that the kid will not continue taking. There's no upside whatsoever to keeping the grade on the transcript, and it would most likely pull down the overall high school GPA. I'd hate to punish a kid who wanted to try something new, but then found out that the language was a very bad fit for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We received an email today that our school is doing the pilot and my kid is selected.

Why they did not do this at once?

That’s wild. I wonder if it’s no longer restricted to certain schools and is being opened to all eligible 6th graders.

Should be an option for all AAP students. Another fcps failure.

They already require them to pass the IAAT in 6th to qualify for Algebra in 7th and many kids even in AAP don’t get the required score. I don’t think a lot of 6th graders are ready. My oldest took Algebra 1 HN in 8th and even that was a struggle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We received an email today that our school is doing the pilot and my kid is selected.

Why they did not do this at once?

That’s wild. I wonder if it’s no longer restricted to certain schools and is being opened to all eligible 6th graders.

Should be an option for all AAP students. Another fcps failure.

They already require them to pass the IAAT in 6th to qualify for Algebra in 7th and many kids even in AAP don’t get the required score. I don’t think a lot of 6th graders are ready. My oldest took Algebra 1 HN in 8th and even that was a struggle.

I agree but the selection process is a load of crap. Students should have had to taken IAAT to place into algebra in 6th as well. Why was the bar lower for entry here? And that too on an iready test of all things. SOL standard is fine but needed to be coupled with a real assessment. We’ve had teachers say the iready is not that important out loud, but now we are basing algebra for 11 year olds on this? It’s a complete joke of a system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We received an email today that our school is doing the pilot and my kid is selected.

Why they did not do this at once?

That’s wild. I wonder if it’s no longer restricted to certain schools and is being opened to all eligible 6th graders.

Should be an option for all AAP students. Another fcps failure.

They already require them to pass the IAAT in 6th to qualify for Algebra in 7th and many kids even in AAP don’t get the required score. I don’t think a lot of 6th graders are ready. My oldest took Algebra 1 HN in 8th and even that was a struggle.

Not any more. A1H in 6th grade requires a high enough iReady score in Math and passing advanced on the SOL. The IAAT is no longer being used to determine A1H participation for sixth or seventh graders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We received an email today that our school is doing the pilot and my kid is selected.

Why they did not do this at once?

That’s wild. I wonder if it’s no longer restricted to certain schools and is being opened to all eligible 6th graders.

Should be an option for all AAP students. Another fcps failure.

They already require them to pass the IAAT in 6th to qualify for Algebra in 7th and many kids even in AAP don’t get the required score. I don’t think a lot of 6th graders are ready. My oldest took Algebra 1 HN in 8th and even that was a struggle.

I agree but the selection process is a load of crap. Students should have had to taken IAAT to place into algebra in 6th as well. Why was the bar lower for entry here? And that too on an iready test of all things. SOL standard is fine but needed to be coupled with a real assessment. We’ve had teachers say the iready is not that important out loud, but now we are basing algebra for 11 year olds on this? It’s a complete joke of a system.

I agree that the process is ridiculous. Parents can choose not to have their kids take A1H in sixth grade. If you have any concerns, don't have your child take the class. We already have people reporting that the teachers think that there are too many kids being placed in the class. I would hope that teachers are reaching out to parents if they are worried about some kids being in the class and sharing their concerns so parents can make an informed decision.

[Anonymous]

My kid came home saying he took another algebra assessment test (40 questions, on paper) this week. I'm hopeful this will come home so I can see what they want them to know, but I'm guessing it will be held as top secret so they can use it every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We received an email today that our school is doing the pilot and my kid is selected.

Why they did not do this at once?

That’s wild. I wonder if it’s no longer restricted to certain schools and is being opened to all eligible 6th graders.

Should be an option for all AAP students. Another fcps failure.

They already require them to pass the IAAT in 6th to qualify for Algebra in 7th and many kids even in AAP don’t get the required score. I don’t think a lot of 6th graders are ready. My oldest took Algebra 1 HN in 8th and even that was a struggle.

I agree but the selection process is a load of crap. Students should have had to taken IAAT to place into algebra in 6th as well. Why was the bar lower for entry here? And that too on an iready test of all things. SOL standard is fine but needed to be coupled with a real assessment. We’ve had teachers say the iready is not that important out loud, but now we are basing algebra for 11 year olds on this? It’s a complete joke of a system.

I agree that the process is ridiculous. Parents can choose not to have their kids take A1H in sixth grade. If you have any concerns, don't have your child take the class. We already have people reporting that the teachers think that there are too many kids being placed in the class. I would hope that teachers are reaching out to parents if they are worried about some kids being in the class and sharing their concerns so parents can make an informed decision.

The alternative at our school is not appealing which is why majority student are staying in Algebra. They are not making good accommodation for regular aap kid. If they did many my friend and I would move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We received an email today that our school is doing the pilot and my kid is selected.

Why they did not do this at once?

That’s wild. I wonder if it’s no longer restricted to certain schools and is being opened to all eligible 6th graders.

Should be an option for all AAP students. Another fcps failure.

They already require them to pass the IAAT in 6th to qualify for Algebra in 7th and many kids even in AAP don’t get the required score. I don’t think a lot of 6th graders are ready. My oldest took Algebra 1 HN in 8th and even that was a struggle.

I agree but the selection process is a load of crap. Students should have had to taken IAAT to place into algebra in 6th as well. Why was the bar lower for entry here? And that too on an iready test of all things. SOL standard is fine but needed to be coupled with a real assessment. We’ve had teachers say the iready is not that important out loud, but now we are basing algebra for 11 year olds on this? It’s a complete joke of a system.

I agree that the process is ridiculous. Parents can choose not to have their kids take A1H in sixth grade. If you have any concerns, don't have your child take the class. We already have people reporting that the teachers think that there are too many kids being placed in the class. I would hope that teachers are reaching out to parents if they are worried about some kids being in the class and sharing their concerns so parents can make an informed decision.

The alternative at our school is not appealing which is why majority student are staying in Algebra. They are not making good accommodation for regular aap kid. If they did many my friend and I would move.

Math 7 isn't appealing? Or you just don't like the Math 7 teacher?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We received an email today that our school is doing the pilot and my kid is selected.

Why they did not do this at once?

That’s wild. I wonder if it’s no longer restricted to certain schools and is being opened to all eligible 6th graders.

Should be an option for all AAP students. Another fcps failure.

They already require them to pass the IAAT in 6th to qualify for Algebra in 7th and many kids even in AAP don’t get the required score. I don’t think a lot of 6th graders are ready. My oldest took Algebra 1 HN in 8th and even that was a struggle.

I agree but the selection process is a load of crap. Students should have had to taken IAAT to place into algebra in 6th as well. Why was the bar lower for entry here? And that too on an iready test of all things. SOL standard is fine but needed to be coupled with a real assessment. We’ve had teachers say the iready is not that important out loud, but now we are basing algebra for 11 year olds on this? It’s a complete joke of a system.

I agree that the process is ridiculous. Parents can choose not to have their kids take A1H in sixth grade. If you have any concerns, don't have your child take the class. We already have people reporting that the teachers think that there are too many kids being placed in the class. I would hope that teachers are reaching out to parents if they are worried about some kids being in the class and sharing their concerns so parents can make an informed decision.

The alternative at our school is not appealing which is why majority student are staying in Algebra. They are not making good accommodation for regular aap kid. If they did many my friend and I would move.

Math 7 isn't appealing? Or you just don't like the Math 7 teacher?

The teacher is not good and other students are unhappy in the class. We can always expunge the algebra grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We received an email today that our school is doing the pilot and my kid is selected.

Why they did not do this at once?

That’s wild. I wonder if it’s no longer restricted to certain schools and is being opened to all eligible 6th graders.

Should be an option for all AAP students. Another fcps failure.

They already require them to pass the IAAT in 6th to qualify for Algebra in 7th and many kids even in AAP don’t get the required score. I don’t think a lot of 6th graders are ready. My oldest took Algebra 1 HN in 8th and even that was a struggle.

I agree but the selection process is a load of crap. Students should have had to taken IAAT to place into algebra in 6th as well. Why was the bar lower for entry here? And that too on an iready test of all things. SOL standard is fine but needed to be coupled with a real assessment. We’ve had teachers say the iready is not that important out loud, but now we are basing algebra for 11 year olds on this? It’s a complete joke of a system.

I agree that the process is ridiculous. Parents can choose not to have their kids take A1H in sixth grade. If you have any concerns, don't have your child take the class. We already have people reporting that the teachers think that there are too many kids being placed in the class. I would hope that teachers are reaching out to parents if they are worried about some kids being in the class and sharing their concerns so parents can make an informed decision.

The alternative at our school is not appealing which is why majority student are staying in Algebra. They are not making good accommodation for regular aap kid. If they did many my friend and I would move.

Math 7 isn't appealing? Or you just don't like the Math 7 teacher?

The teacher is not good and other students are unhappy in the class. We can always expunge the algebra grade.

If your kid ends up struggling so much in 6th grade A1H that they end up getting a grade bad enough to expunge, you’re going to destroy their confidence in their ability in that subject. This is a really terrible plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We received an email today that our school is doing the pilot and my kid is selected.

Why they did not do this at once?

That’s wild. I wonder if it’s no longer restricted to certain schools and is being opened to all eligible 6th graders.

Should be an option for all AAP students. Another fcps failure.

They already require them to pass the IAAT in 6th to qualify for Algebra in 7th and many kids even in AAP don’t get the required score. I don’t think a lot of 6th graders are ready. My oldest took Algebra 1 HN in 8th and even that was a struggle.

I agree but the selection process is a load of crap. Students should have had to taken IAAT to place into algebra in 6th as well. Why was the bar lower for entry here? And that too on an iready test of all things. SOL standard is fine but needed to be coupled with a real assessment. We’ve had teachers say the iready is not that important out loud, but now we are basing algebra for 11 year olds on this? It’s a complete joke of a system.

I agree that the process is ridiculous. Parents can choose not to have their kids take A1H in sixth grade. If you have any concerns, don't have your child take the class. We already have people reporting that the teachers think that there are too many kids being placed in the class. I would hope that teachers are reaching out to parents if they are worried about some kids being in the class and sharing their concerns so parents can make an informed decision.

The alternative at our school is not appealing which is why majority student are staying in Algebra. They are not making good accommodation for regular aap kid. If they did many my friend and I would move.

Math 7 isn't appealing? Or you just don't like the Math 7 teacher?

The teacher is not good and other students are unhappy in the class. We can always expunge the algebra grade.

If your kid ends up struggling so much in 6th grade A1H that they end up getting a grade bad enough to expunge, you’re going to destroy their confidence in their ability in that subject. This is a really terrible plan.

What is confidence? I tell my kid he fat and stupid all the time. Help build strong mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We received an email today that our school is doing the pilot and my kid is selected.

Why they did not do this at once?

That’s wild. I wonder if it’s no longer restricted to certain schools and is being opened to all eligible 6th graders.

Should be an option for all AAP students. Another fcps failure.

They already require them to pass the IAAT in 6th to qualify for Algebra in 7th and many kids even in AAP don’t get the required score. I don’t think a lot of 6th graders are ready. My oldest took Algebra 1 HN in 8th and even that was a struggle.

I agree but the selection process is a load of crap. Students should have had to taken IAAT to place into algebra in 6th as well. Why was the bar lower for entry here? And that too on an iready test of all things. SOL standard is fine but needed to be coupled with a real assessment. We’ve had teachers say the iready is not that important out loud, but now we are basing algebra for 11 year olds on this? It’s a complete joke of a system.

I agree that the process is ridiculous. Parents can choose not to have their kids take A1H in sixth grade. If you have any concerns, don't have your child take the class. We already have people reporting that the teachers think that there are too many kids being placed in the class. I would hope that teachers are reaching out to parents if they are worried about some kids being in the class and sharing their concerns so parents can make an informed decision.

The alternative at our school is not appealing which is why majority student are staying in Algebra. They are not making good accommodation for regular aap kid. If they did many my friend and I would move.

Math 7 isn't appealing? Or you just don't like the Math 7 teacher?

The teacher is not good and other students are unhappy in the class. We can always expunge the algebra grade.

If your kid ends up struggling so much in 6th grade A1H that they end up getting a grade bad enough to expunge, you’re going to destroy their confidence in their ability in that subject. This is a really terrible plan.

News flash: Most kids know they’ll expunge. They are treating this as a training ground for the real deal next year. With the safety net in place, why wouldn’t they?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We received an email today that our school is doing the pilot and my kid is selected.

Why they did not do this at once?

That’s wild. I wonder if it’s no longer restricted to certain schools and is being opened to all eligible 6th graders.

Should be an option for all AAP students. Another fcps failure.

They already require them to pass the IAAT in 6th to qualify for Algebra in 7th and many kids even in AAP don’t get the required score. I don’t think a lot of 6th graders are ready. My oldest took Algebra 1 HN in 8th and even that was a struggle.

I agree but the selection process is a load of crap. Students should have had to taken IAAT to place into algebra in 6th as well. Why was the bar lower for entry here? And that too on an iready test of all things. SOL standard is fine but needed to be coupled with a real assessment. We’ve had teachers say the iready is not that important out loud, but now we are basing algebra for 11 year olds on this? It’s a complete joke of a system.

I agree that the process is ridiculous. Parents can choose not to have their kids take A1H in sixth grade. If you have any concerns, don't have your child take the class. We already have people reporting that the teachers think that there are too many kids being placed in the class. I would hope that teachers are reaching out to parents if they are worried about some kids being in the class and sharing their concerns so parents can make an informed decision.

The alternative at our school is not appealing which is why majority student are staying in Algebra. They are not making good accommodation for regular aap kid. If they did many my friend and I would move.

Math 7 isn't appealing? Or you just don't like the Math 7 teacher?

The teacher is not good and other students are unhappy in the class. We can always expunge the algebra grade.

If your kid ends up struggling so much in 6th grade A1H that they end up getting a grade bad enough to expunge, you’re going to destroy their confidence in their ability in that subject. This is a really terrible plan.

News flash: Most kids know they’ll expunge. They are treating this as a training ground for the real deal next year. With the safety net in place, why wouldn’t they?

Easy: because the pre-Algebra foundation they're skipping is actually super helpful for higher level math.