Can a sixth grader take algebra 1?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I regret taking Algebra 1 in sixth grade (a ver long time ago) because even though I easily tested into the class, I didn’t have the soft skills and executive functioning to succeed in a high school class yet and I started out my high school transcript with a B.

Thank you for sharing the experience. Your situation is different from other students. Now a days, students have exposure to many social events and media that they are doing much better socially and academically as well as extracurricular activities. They are not living in 19th century.

How is this responsive to the post it quotes? In my opinion, this is the biggest risk of letting your sixth grader take Algebra 1. Even if they are ready for the math, they may not be ready for the homework load or the pressure to get a good grade since it will show on their high school transcript. On the other hand, if they've got adequate executive functioning skills and they'd be bored out of their mind in another class, then Algebra 1 is a great option and by no means hold them back.

You clearly aren't with MCPS as there is very very little homework, which is bad as they don't get practice but homework in MS is good to prepare them for high school and college. The question is not should a child take Algebra in 6th, its can they take algebra in 6th? And, the answer is yes, they can but its school dependent. MCPS is also offering free tutoring if they need extra help.

This is about MCPS not your personal opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some schools really discourage it, some welcome it. Your kid can take a placement test. I had to do all sorts of things so that my kid could get into that track, coming from a CES and compacted math, with a 280 on her MAP-M. That plus an advanced orchestra class keeps her not entirely miserable in her home school.

This is what happens when MCPS does a stupid lottery for magnets: gifted kids end up not having anything to do at their level at their home school. At what point my kid wrote “I want to kill myself” in her notebook.

Why create discriminatory environment by providing opportunities for some kids and not all kids?

Welcome to mcps, this is basically their motto.

Time to move to other counties where they care about all children's bright future

Which is where exactly?

There are plenty of places to consider if people can afford to move. Fairfax, Loudoun, Howard, Frederick, Caroll county

LOL. Thanks for the jokes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I regret taking Algebra 1 in sixth grade (a ver long time ago) because even though I easily tested into the class, I didn’t have the soft skills and executive functioning to succeed in a high school class yet and I started out my high school transcript with a B.

Thank you for sharing the experience. Your situation is different from other students. Now a days, students have exposure to many social events and media that they are doing much better socially and academically as well as extracurricular activities. They are not living in 19th century.

How is this responsive to the post it quotes? In my opinion, this is the biggest risk of letting your sixth grader take Algebra 1. Even if they are ready for the math, they may not be ready for the homework load or the pressure to get a good grade since it will show on their high school transcript. On the other hand, if they've got adequate executive functioning skills and they'd be bored out of their mind in another class, then Algebra 1 is a great option and by no means hold them back.

You clearly aren't with MCPS as there is very very little homework, which is bad as they don't get practice but homework in MS is good to prepare them for high school and college. The question is not should a child take Algebra in 6th, its can they take algebra in 6th? And, the answer is yes, they can but its school dependent. MCPS is also offering free tutoring if they need extra help.

This is about MCPS not your personal opinion.

Yes, at MCPS the schools where there are a lot of tiger moms offer Algebra in 6th because they're vocal and demand it. Most schools won't do this since they know they're doing the child a real disservice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC, arising sixth grader found out today that her classmate is registered to take Algebra 1 as a rising sixth grader. My DC and the classmate were in the same elementary school math program and class last school year (compacted math). So can my child also take algebra 1 and if so how to talk with the counselor to make the change (she is currently registered for AIM6)?

They only allow this at a few affluent schools. Usually it requires exceeding a specific mapm score. A kid with a much higher score at a different MS doesn't even have this option.

It's common in the wealthy schools where the tigers demand this. One of my children was scoring in the 290s on their map-m in the 5th and high 280s in 6th who was at a regular DCC school did not get this option.

Did you stand up and ask for opportunity for your child's bright future? I guess not. Do not expect other parents to follow your don't care attitude

No need to since my child is in the magnet where they go into greater depth. But I do find it odd that only schools in Potomac offer these advanced classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC, arising sixth grader found out today that her classmate is registered to take Algebra 1 as a rising sixth grader. My DC and the classmate were in the same elementary school math program and class last school year (compacted math). So can my child also take algebra 1 and if so how to talk with the counselor to make the change (she is currently registered for AIM6)?

They only allow this at a few affluent schools. Usually it requires exceeding a specific mapm score. A kid with a much higher score at a different MS doesn't even have this option.

It's common in the wealthy schools where the tigers demand this. One of my children was scoring in the 290s on their map-m in the 5th and high 280s in 6th who was at a regular DCC school did not get this option.

Did you stand up and ask for opportunity for your child's bright future? I guess not. Do not expect other parents to follow your don't care attitude

No need to since my child is in the magnet where they go into greater depth. But I do find it odd that only schools in Potomac offer these advanced classes.

Algebra is offered downcountry. Not just potomac

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I regret taking Algebra 1 in sixth grade (a ver long time ago) because even though I easily tested into the class, I didn’t have the soft skills and executive functioning to succeed in a high school class yet and I started out my high school transcript with a B.

Thank you for sharing the experience. Your situation is different from other students. Now a days, students have exposure to many social events and media that they are doing much better socially and academically as well as extracurricular activities. They are not living in 19th century.

How is this responsive to the post it quotes? In my opinion, this is the biggest risk of letting your sixth grader take Algebra 1. Even if they are ready for the math, they may not be ready for the homework load or the pressure to get a good grade since it will show on their high school transcript. On the other hand, if they've got adequate executive functioning skills and they'd be bored out of their mind in another class, then Algebra 1 is a great option and by no means hold them back.

You clearly aren't with MCPS as there is very very little homework, which is bad as they don't get practice but homework in MS is good to prepare them for high school and college. The question is not should a child take Algebra in 6th, its can they take algebra in 6th? And, the answer is yes, they can but its school dependent. MCPS is also offering free tutoring if they need extra help.

This is about MCPS not your personal opinion.

Yes, at MCPS the schools where there are a lot of tiger moms offer Algebra in 6th because they're vocal and demand it. Most schools won't do this since they know they're doing the child a real disservice.

Its not a disservice. My child is doing well on this track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some schools really discourage it, some welcome it. Your kid can take a placement test. I had to do all sorts of things so that my kid could get into that track, coming from a CES and compacted math, with a 280 on her MAP-M. That plus an advanced orchestra class keeps her not entirely miserable in her home school.

This is what happens when MCPS does a stupid lottery for magnets: gifted kids end up not having anything to do at their level at their home school. At what point my kid wrote “I want to kill myself” in her notebook.

If your child wants to die because they didn't get picked in a random lottery then you have a much more serious thing to worry about. I think you should be talking about that with a counselor.

NP. She never said that. Why can't you recognize that different kids have different needs? I truly believe the vast majority of gifted kids can have their needs met at their home school but there are others - social needs, their temperament, life goals or other reasons - cannot and it can be really devastating for them. I don't think it's always correlated with level of giftedness. I know a PG kid who was quite happy at the neighborhood school and I know a child who is "only" highly gifted who is miserable at that same school.

To the PP with the distressed child - I am really sorry and hope she finds a better place for her.

I'm the poster with the child who wrote that note. She's doing better now. It was not because she wasn't picked for the lottery - it was because in that moment she had nothing in life to look forward to or challenge herself with, and she was really sad that she was wasting nearly her whole day in school where it was all mortally slow and repetitive. She has since found two non-academic competitive activities she can do outside of school where it doesn't matter that she's younger than the rest, moving up is all skill-based! In her downtime she has discovered that she can write short stories and even sell her writings online... ha! Her clients don't know she's a middle schooler.

Thank you for defending children who are atypical. You are correct that IQ does not correlate with happiness in school. It also depends on temperament. We never had her tested, so who knows what IQ she's at.

[Anonymous]

14:45 again.

I want to note, talking to other parents, that it does NOT appear that wealthy clusters allow students to take Algebra 1 in 6th grade more easily than others. We are in the BCC cluster, and we had to fight for it. Perhaps it's different in the WJ and WW clusters.

As some posters suggested, I believe the BCC cluster is concerned about academic pressure on students, which, if that's really their thinking, shows how ignorant they are about some children's needs. Some parents have told me their non-wealthy school cluster was delighted to welcome a 6th grader into their Algebra classes - perhaps because they don't have as many who are asking for it, and view intellectual drive as a positive thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some schools really discourage it, some welcome it. Your kid can take a placement test. I had to do all sorts of things so that my kid could get into that track, coming from a CES and compacted math, with a 280 on her MAP-M. That plus an advanced orchestra class keeps her not entirely miserable in her home school.

This is what happens when MCPS does a stupid lottery for magnets: gifted kids end up not having anything to do at their level at their home school. At what point my kid wrote “I want to kill myself” in her notebook.

If your child wants to die because they didn't get picked in a random lottery then you have a much more serious thing to worry about. I think you should be talking about that with a counselor.

NP. She never said that. Why can't you recognize that different kids have different needs? I truly believe the vast majority of gifted kids can have their needs met at their home school but there are others - social needs, their temperament, life goals or other reasons - cannot and it can be really devastating for them. I don't think it's always correlated with level of giftedness. I know a PG kid who was quite happy at the neighborhood school and I know a child who is "only" highly gifted who is miserable at that same school.

To the PP with the distressed child - I am really sorry and hope she finds a better place for her.

I'm the poster with the child who wrote that note. She's doing better now. It was not because she wasn't picked for the lottery - it was because in that moment she had nothing in life to look forward to or challenge herself with, and she was really sad that she was wasting nearly her whole day in school where it was all mortally slow and repetitive. She has since found two non-academic competitive activities she can do outside of school where it doesn't matter that she's younger than the rest, moving up is all skill-based! In her downtime she has discovered that she can write short stories and even sell her writings online... ha! Her clients don't know she's a middle schooler.

Thank you for defending children who are atypical. You are correct that IQ does not correlate with happiness in school. It also depends on temperament. We never had her tested, so who knows what IQ she's at.

Seriously? Your child has mental health issues. Get them evaluated and a therapist. Yes, it sucks to be excluded, many of our kids who should be in it aren't. But, they will be just fine and MCPS has offered free tutoring for a year now so no reason why you could not have supplemented with the free tutoring like some of us did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:14:45 again.

I want to note, talking to other parents, that it does NOT appear that wealthy clusters allow students to take Algebra 1 in 6th grade more easily than others. We are in the BCC cluster, and we had to fight for it. Perhaps it's different in the WJ and WW clusters.

As some posters suggested, I believe the BCC cluster is concerned about academic pressure on students, which, if that's really their thinking, shows how ignorant they are about some children's needs. Some parents have told me their non-wealthy school cluster was delighted to welcome a 6th grader into their Algebra classes - perhaps because they don't have as many who are asking for it, and view intellectual drive as a positive thing.

That appears to be incorrect. Schools like Cold Spring have an IM class in school, and Frost MS simply invites any kid with a map-m score of 250+ to take Algebra in 6th. At our MS they don't care how high your score is you still can't take Algebra in 6th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:14:45 again.

I want to note, talking to other parents, that it does NOT appear that wealthy clusters allow students to take Algebra 1 in 6th grade more easily than others. We are in the BCC cluster, and we had to fight for it. Perhaps it's different in the WJ and WW clusters.

As some posters suggested, I believe the BCC cluster is concerned about academic pressure on students, which, if that's really their thinking, shows how ignorant they are about some children's needs. Some parents have told me their non-wealthy school cluster was delighted to welcome a 6th grader into their Algebra classes - perhaps because they don't have as many who are asking for it, and view intellectual drive as a positive thing.

BCC is a "wealthy" cluster. And, yes, down county has plenty of kids who take Algebra. Your post is pretty obnoxious to DCC students thinking our kids aren't as capable or smart as BCC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some schools really discourage it, some welcome it. Your kid can take a placement test. I had to do all sorts of things so that my kid could get into that track, coming from a CES and compacted math, with a 280 on her MAP-M. That plus an advanced orchestra class keeps her not entirely miserable in her home school.

This is what happens when MCPS does a stupid lottery for magnets: gifted kids end up not having anything to do at their level at their home school. At what point my kid wrote “I want to kill myself” in her notebook.

Why create discriminatory environment by providing opportunities for some kids and not all kids?

Welcome to mcps, this is basically their motto.

Time to move to other counties where they care about all children's bright future

Which is where exactly?

There are plenty of places to consider if people can afford to move. Fairfax, Loudoun, Howard, Frederick, Caroll county

LOL. Thanks for the jokes

Loudoun now will not even let your brightest 6th grader take pre-algebra let alone algebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CES prepared the kids with pre-algebra. Why not give them exposure to Algebra and let them explore the world of mathematics? Why do you want to hold them back because average joes cannot catch up?

Not all kids are offered CES who are smart. What makes you think the other kids haven't had exposure? Parents can work with their kids, which we did. We also did a summer prep class knowing that our child skipped pre-algebra to make sure they were ready.

CES is unrelated to math instruction. CES certainly didn’t teach pre algebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:14:45 again.

I want to note, talking to other parents, that it does NOT appear that wealthy clusters allow students to take Algebra 1 in 6th grade more easily than others. We are in the BCC cluster, and we had to fight for it. Perhaps it's different in the WJ and WW clusters.

As some posters suggested, I believe the BCC cluster is concerned about academic pressure on students, which, if that's really their thinking, shows how ignorant they are about some children's needs. Some parents have told me their non-wealthy school cluster was delighted to welcome a 6th grader into their Algebra classes - perhaps because they don't have as many who are asking for it, and view intellectual drive as a positive thing.

BCC is a "wealthy" cluster. And, yes, down county has plenty of kids who take Algebra. Your post is pretty obnoxious to DCC students thinking our kids aren't as capable or smart as BCC.

You'll just have to stop looking for offense where none is intended. I am only relaying what other parents in those clusters have told me and don't have time to cater to feelings of insecurity. I lived for years in downtown Silver Spring before moving to Bethesda for work, and really couldn't care less if you mistakenly think I denigrate various populations. I am certainly including BCC in the wealthy clusters.

Yes, you nearly always need to ask for the class. Sometimes you need to tell them that other schools have placement tests, so they should do it too. And sometimes your kid has nearly everything right on the test, and the math coordinator finds an excuse not to let them into the class. It's USEFUL for us to compare notes, without hard feelings, because the entity we are struggling against is not you or me, it's MCPS, who thinks fit to allow regional academic supervisors to make decisions for their clusters that then create a problem of unequal access.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that everyone is required to take math all 4 years in his regardless of the level. I know families where algebra in 6th seemed like a good idea but by the time they were a junior and thinking about pursuing a journalism or another non tech major...MV Calc was not how they wanted to spend Jr or Sr year. They ended up slowing it down taking Calc ab and then calc bc and then ap stats.

This is true even for a science major. My kid was "good at math" but not a math genius, and by the end of HS (he's a rising senior) he is having to take incredibly complex math, which he isn't really that interested in or good at. It's not even especially applicable to his intended bio major. He would be better off if he were taking BC calc this year instead. I really regret the acceleration. It fed his ego at the time but it has been a PITA in late HS. It's not like you get to be done math and get to take something fun instead.