Algebra 1 in 5th grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son took Algebra in 4th, online version at the local community college, and kept taking online classes at this institution up to calculus this coming fall.

Content wise, there are many places where one could take online classes, like some previous posters mentioned AOPS, RSM, and many others. Community college might work if he needs some kind of credit, but in our district it is recommended that the student take the AP version of the class even if they took it at the community college, which in our experience were lighter in content and easy on grading.

Taking accelerated classes at the middle school didn’t work for us. At some point the school determined he should be in 6 grade math, but it was too easy for him, next year he was placed in 8th grade math (not honors) but they started with a review of decimal arithmetic that was pointless for him, and had weird scheduling of missing 15 mind of his previous class, arriving late at the next one etc. in the end the math teacher recommended he takes the online classes.

It’s really important to make sure he understands the content in depth, whatever he does at school, I’d recommend he supplements with other programs like AOPS etc.

How did you enroll him in 4th grade? What was the name of the course he took, and how did you know he was ready to take it?

I used a high school enrollment form, and nobody objected that it said 4th grade on it. There are plenty of algebra readiness test if that’s what you’re looking for, in his case he completed AOPS Prealgebra which was more than enough preparation.

Does he also get middle school math credit for it, or does he also have to attend math at the middle school? If it's the former, how did you get the middle school to excuse math and what does he do during math period? Does he supplement with RSM/AoPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son took Algebra in 4th, online version at the local community college, and kept taking online classes at this institution up to calculus this coming fall.

Content wise, there are many places where one could take online classes, like some previous posters mentioned AOPS, RSM, and many others. Community college might work if he needs some kind of credit, but in our district it is recommended that the student take the AP version of the class even if they took it at the community college, which in our experience were lighter in content and easy on grading.

Taking accelerated classes at the middle school didn’t work for us. At some point the school determined he should be in 6 grade math, but it was too easy for him, next year he was placed in 8th grade math (not honors) but they started with a review of decimal arithmetic that was pointless for him, and had weird scheduling of missing 15 mind of his previous class, arriving late at the next one etc. in the end the math teacher recommended he takes the online classes.

It’s really important to make sure he understands the content in depth, whatever he does at school, I’d recommend he supplements with other programs like AOPS etc.

How did you enroll him in 4th grade? What was the name of the course he took, and how did you know he was ready to take it?

I used a high school enrollment form, and nobody objected that it said 4th grade on it. There are plenty of algebra readiness test if that’s what you’re looking for, in his case he completed AOPS Prealgebra which was more than enough preparation.

Does he also get middle school math credit for it, or does he also have to attend math at the middle school? If it's the former, how did you get the middle school to excuse math and what does he do during math period? Does he supplement with RSM/AoPS?

MS doesn’t really have credits, most classes don’t count towards a HS GPA and no one looks at the MS GPA. The “MS GPA” is only important for kids applying to TJ, otherwise it really isn’t a thing. The only classes with credits in MS are the HS classes and those are HS credits. Taking a HS class fills the requirement for that particular subject.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. He was tested by the county at the beginning of 1st. That year he was in a 3rd grade AAP math class. During Kindergarten, he was pulled out twice a week and the AART was using material 3 and 4 years ahead.

May I ask what school this is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. He was tested by the county at the beginning of 1st. That year he was in a 3rd grade AAP math class. During Kindergarten, he was pulled out twice a week and the AART was using material 3 and 4 years ahead.

May I ask what school this is?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. He was tested by the county at the beginning of 1st. That year he was in a 3rd grade AAP math class. During Kindergarten, he was pulled out twice a week and the AART was using material 3 and 4 years ahead.

May I ask what school this is?

Not OP. You can see which schools have had 3rd graders taking the 6th grade SOL by using the vdoe sol report tool. It also might be informative to see which schools had 5th graders taking the 7th grade math SOL. That should give you a good idea as to which schools are willing to accelerate kids when warranted, and which schools absolutely will not.
https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/apex_captcha/home.do?apexTypeId=306

[Anonymous]

I have not run the numbers but I would guess that there are less then 10 a year. You would want to run it going back 10 years to see if you can spot a trend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have not run the numbers but I would guess that there are less then 10 a year. You would want to run it going back 10 years to see if you can spot a trend.

Yep. I think the data on 5th graders taking the 7th grade SOL is more informative. FCPS has benchmarks and a process for kids to be eligible for Algebra in 6th grade. If a mid to high SES AAP center has had no kids on this track for the last 5 years, it's a pretty good sign that the principal is unwilling to accelerate anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son took Algebra in 4th, online version at the local community college, and kept taking online classes at this institution up to calculus this coming fall.

Content wise, there are many places where one could take online classes, like some previous posters mentioned AOPS, RSM, and many others. Community college might work if he needs some kind of credit, but in our district it is recommended that the student take the AP version of the class even if they took it at the community college, which in our experience were lighter in content and easy on grading.

Taking accelerated classes at the middle school didn’t work for us. At some point the school determined he should be in 6 grade math, but it was too easy for him, next year he was placed in 8th grade math (not honors) but they started with a review of decimal arithmetic that was pointless for him, and had weird scheduling of missing 15 mind of his previous class, arriving late at the next one etc. in the end the math teacher recommended he takes the online classes.

It’s really important to make sure he understands the content in depth, whatever he does at school, I’d recommend he supplements with other programs like AOPS etc.

How did you enroll him in 4th grade? What was the name of the course he took, and how did you know he was ready to take it?

I used a high school enrollment form, and nobody objected that it said 4th grade on it. There are plenty of algebra readiness test if that’s what you’re looking for, in his case he completed AOPS Prealgebra which was more than enough preparation.

Does he also get middle school math credit for it, or does he also have to attend math at the middle school? If it's the former, how did you get the middle school to excuse math and what does he do during math period? Does he supplement with RSM/AoPS?

MS doesn’t really have credits, most classes don’t count towards a HS GPA and no one looks at the MS GPA. The “MS GPA” is only important for kids applying to TJ, otherwise it really isn’t a thing. The only classes with credits in MS are the HS classes and those are HS credits. Taking a HS class fills the requirement for that particular subject.

But who's awarding the HS credit for college classes, given that he hasn't attended the HS yet?

[Anonymous]

Also, I thought remedial college classes like beginning algebra weren't eligible for dual enrollment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, I thought remedial college classes like beginning algebra weren't eligible for dual enrollment

It's not dual enrollment because it's not credit towards a college degree. It's the same as if you went to a private middle school for algebra and then switched to public high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, I thought remedial college classes like beginning algebra weren't eligible for dual enrollment

It's not dual enrollment because it's not credit towards a college degree. It's the same as if you went to a private middle school for algebra and then switched to public high school.

But OP's child is still in middle school. If you took algebra in 5th grade at a private school and went to public for 6th, the public school has no obligation to accept the credit.

And if you are a current public middle school student and go to a private class after school (be that a private school, AoPS, RSM, or a college class taken privately), your public middle school has no obligation to excuse your from their math classes.

[Anonymous]

Schools can give a math assessment to place a student. A school might decide that a student does not know the material well enough and have a child retake a class. At Public schools parents can say no and insist on taking the next class. Privates will required the kid retake if they say so if you want to attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Next year I will have an eighth-grader taking Alg I H… I would be concerned socially about a 5th grader in a class with her and her friends. Maybe some can handle it, and maybe some schools have enough younger kids to make a separate section.

It has never been a problem for my kid. The older kids don't pick on the ones who are much younger. They just ignore them.

Also, OP could have her child take the FCPS online honors algebra class.

I think the issue is the things the older kids are talking about

Not the AAP kids.

Oh lord! My DD is an AAP middle schooler. She and her classmates are indistinguishable from non-AAP kids behaviorally, in terms of how they talk, what they talk about, what music they listen to, etc. Most of it would be grossly inappropriate for a 5th grader.

OP, no one will pick on your little one. They will in fact be protective/admiring and probably call him Young Sheldon. However, he will be exposed to typical middle school language and behavior, which IMO he’s too young for. A friend’s child who took Algebra I in 6th did fine in the class work, but struggled with other kids’ behavior and teachers’ classroom management style. Which is apparently not much different if you do the coursework online (her second child who took the same route took online classes to avoid this and can into the same issues).

Can you give an example of things 8th graders talk about or music they listen that would be grossly inappropriate?

There is a lot of cursing. Usage of language among friends that would be considered bullying if it were directed towards others. Kids hook up and talk about it, not just the relationships but what they do. There will be a lot of exposure to TikTok, Insta and other social media platforms that a 5th grader is likely not exposed to. Rap and R&B are popular. I don’t know what exact listen to, but popular artists include Cardi B, 21Savage, Drake, Ken Carson, Lil Uzi, etc.

None of this “grossly inappropriate“ exposure is happening in my 7th grader’s algebra 1H class, and he is in the 1st period class that also pulls in all the super-advanced 6th graders. They’re doing Algebra — not watching TikTok’s, talking about hook-ups, blasting rap music, and cursing at each other across the room. The younger kids show up for class, do their work, and then go back to elementary school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. He was tested by the county at the beginning of 1st. That year he was in a 3rd grade AAP math class. During Kindergarten, he was pulled out twice a week and the AART was using material 3 and 4 years ahead.

Could you share what school? I'm envious that you have had this experience. Do others have similar experiences where their school AART is so supportive? I have not had that experience. DC is in 2nd grade and has learned long multiplication and division and about fractions, decimals, but this is all at home. In school, even with LII services, DC is just idling.

[Anonymous]

DD did Algebra I in 5th grade, Geometry in 6th, Algebra 2 in 7th, and PreCalc in 8th.

We slowed the roll down in HS. Did Calc AB freshmen year, Calc BC sophomore year, Multivariable/Linear in junior year and AP Stats senior year. Don’t regret slowing down in HS. DD is happy we did too.