If your child took Algebra 1 in 6th grade..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a fact that parents and students need to consider wisely. Students are required to complete four years of math. Taking Alg 1 in 6th leads to Calculus in 10 and two more years of required math. Just because a kid is advanced, does not mean they are going to be wanting to take such advanced math later in HS. Additionally, not all HS have a big enough cohort to offer many classes beyond Calculus which could put them at having to take courses through MC.

Also, there will be some missed content when you jump straight into Alg1 and it will be up to the student to bridge these gaps/seek out additional help.

This is not to say a student shouldn’t take Alg1 in 6th, but to show that MCPS isn’t readily recommending it to folks because they a) know there is no need to accelerate so quickly except in rare circumstances, and 2) that what starts out looking great in 6th many times does not seem that way come 10th/11th/12th grade.

I'm a PP whose kid did Alg 1 in 6th. I don't know whether there were gaps, but my kid just breezed through it. We hadn't paid for a tutor or enrichment, but she told me after the fact that whenever she didn't understand something, she would just watch a Khan Academy video. She said that in an off-hand way, as if it wasn't even worth mentioning. Now she's in precalc in 9th grade, and it's not hard, but she told me that for the time in her life, she can't do something other than math in math class: usually she reads in every class, because she finishes her work early. She still does most of her math homework in class.

Yes, parents should know that high school requires math every year. After diff equations, we are planning on having her sign up for a class at UMD, because that's what another kid did in our circle. Or she can take an easier math class in MCPS. Or Montgomery College. There are options.

OP here. My kid does not do Kumon, Mathnasium and watched the free Khan Academy videos over the summer. She gets it just by watching those videos. And just like your DD, when retakes are given to other kids, she reads in class, finishes home work in class. She does nothing related to school at home while my other kid spends an hour every day doing homework. I feel she will have a shock when she goes to high school with a whole bunch of smart kids and her confidence is going to drop.

Yesterday, just for kicks, for 10 min, she and me watched some algebra videos with fractions and variables on both sides of equation and we had a challenge as to who can do it correctly (been 30 years since I did Algebra). It took a few tries and she was able to do it. I'm not sure when that is usually taught in 6th grade. But she gets it.

Its good to know that Math is required every year but there are options in high school if the kid is ahead. Curious about the UMD or MC classes - does it earn them college credit?

It depends what you mean by college credit.

My son is in college majoring in International Affairs, and his university allowed him to skip the introductory econ and history classes because of his APs in that topic, and go straight to the more in-depth coursework. However they will not count his high school classes as credit towards college graduation. Two different things!

As for the transition to high school, it might not be as hard as you think. I used to fear that, but after the first couple of weeks, when teachers put the fear of God in all the 9th graders, DD realized it wasn't that much work...

Thank you! I hope my kid can adapt easily too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child had a 5th grade spring map score of 253 (5th) and 6th fall of 245. At Frost the process (as explained to me at least) was that unless you had very special circumstances all 6th graders were placed in AIM. After a couple weeks teachers made recommendations as to which 6th graders would be good candidates to push to algebra and those students, with approval of parents, had their schedules adjusted. This was not communicated publicly at all but parents in know could put their finger on the scale a bit and AIM teacher if your child could be considered for acceleration. This wasn't a sure thing but at least made sure your child was on the radar. After the first couple weeks the math coordinator reached out and said that my child was on the bubble and they could go either way. They gave the usual warnings of "it could destroy their self esteem if they try and fail" but we decided to proceed anyway.

Its been a great confidence booster for them to be in this accelerated cohort even though there were some challenges as the gaps of skipped material emerged. The school did not make any accomodations or special effort to help head off these gaps and the burden was generally on the student to ask for help.

Is this a troll? Like, you think it's totally OK that "parents in the know could put their finger on the scale?" So much for equity etc.

Don't blame the parents. Blame MCPS, who doesn't want to advance students, NOT because the kids have difficulties later on (which they will claim, obviously), but because it's too much of an administrative hassle. MCPS also has budget concerns and keeps squeezing the special programs, for kids with special needs. They also refuse to expand the number of magnet middle school seats, of which there are very few, and then act all put out when the CES kids ask for Alg 1 in 6th at their home middle school.

MCPS is just an unwieldy system and some parents learn a few ways to go around the stated policies to better suit their kid.

I learned, for ex, that kids don't "need" to follow the Bio, then Chem, then Phys pathway laid out on the presentation slides for high school, with prerequisites to take AP versions. Parents take that as gospel because that's what MCPS wants them to think, to make it easier administratively. My kid started with Honors Chem, then will take AP Chem, then AP Phys C (which requires Calculus, so thank goodness she took Alg 1 in 6th), then take AP Bio. Her school waived the Bio pre req given that Bio will be her last STEM class after a rigorous pathway.
Same for the history pathway that many kids take: AP Gov in 9th, AP US History in 10th, then AP World History in 11th. If you want to do it in a different order, you can.

I also learned that if kids take a foreign language (or possibly other topics) outside of MCPS, *IF* the organization is approved by MCPS, then those classes count as credits on the MCPS transcript. Only half-credits, though, so it might not matter to high achievers. But it could matter to someone who is struggling to graduate!

MCPS doesn't tell you all the things because it's so complex, the teacher or staff member doing the presentation at Back To School Night probably doesn't know all the things. Various people know different things, and it's hard to synthesize it for all parents.

My conclusion is that if you have any particular question about your child's path in MCPS, you have to keep asking different people (the teacher, the counselor, the Principal, DCUM, Central Office, the coordinator for that special subject, etc), because maybe you need to shake many trees before you get a full picture of what's possible and what's not possible. And don't let stupid DCUM trolls tell you that you're Tiger Parentish or overly obsessed or whatnot. Different kids need different things. If you don't ask around, or don't do your research, you won't know.

OP here. This. I would have believed everything the Math coordinator said if not for this forum.

[Anonymous]

What magnet school are you talking about? Are you at King or Eastern which are humanities magnets? Because TPMS and Clemente regularly have kids in Alg. 2 and they have a system for that.

[Anonymous]

Lots of tiger parents whose kids don't do "enrichment" but just happen to enjoy math games at home, lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a fact that parents and students need to consider wisely. Students are required to complete four years of math. Taking Alg 1 in 6th leads to Calculus in 10 and two more years of required math. Just because a kid is advanced, does not mean they are going to be wanting to take such advanced math later in HS. Additionally, not all HS have a big enough cohort to offer many classes beyond Calculus which could put them at having to take courses through MC.

Also, there will be some missed content when you jump straight into Alg1 and it will be up to the student to bridge these gaps/seek out additional help.

This is not to say a student shouldn’t take Alg1 in 6th, but to show that MCPS isn’t readily recommending it to folks because they a) know there is no need to accelerate so quickly except in rare circumstances, and 2) that what starts out looking great in 6th many times does not seem that way come 10th/11th/12th grade.

If they take high school credits in MS they still have to take 4 more years in high school? DDs aim is to go to Blair or Poolesville and without the Algebra 1 in 6th is it even possible?

Of course this is possible. If fact, the majority of kids coming into Poolesville took Alg 1 in 7th. They end up in the same class as the kids that already took Algebra 2. Let me said it again, everyone ends up in the same class.

Thank you. It's good to know that. What class do they end up in in Poolesville?

Tested into Functions, took Calc BC in 10th, then Linear Algebra / AP Stats in 11th and Discrete Math/MVC in 12th.

Came from Clemente magnet. This was a few years ago but they did not have an Alg 2 class then and no clear math to Alg 1 in 6th grade. There were definitely some kids doing it but seemed to be kids squeaky wheels versus test scores. And like I said, those kids got bused to HS for year for math and then all the kids end up in same class at Poolesville. I'd say not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child had a 5th grade spring map score of 253 (5th) and 6th fall of 245. At Frost the process (as explained to me at least) was that unless you had very special circumstances all 6th graders were placed in AIM. After a couple weeks teachers made recommendations as to which 6th graders would be good candidates to push to algebra and those students, with approval of parents, had their schedules adjusted. This was not communicated publicly at all but parents in know could put their finger on the scale a bit and AIM teacher if your child could be considered for acceleration. This wasn't a sure thing but at least made sure your child was on the radar. After the first couple weeks the math coordinator reached out and said that my child was on the bubble and they could go either way. They gave the usual warnings of "it could destroy their self esteem if they try and fail" but we decided to proceed anyway.

Its been a great confidence booster for them to be in this accelerated cohort even though there were some challenges as the gaps of skipped material emerged. The school did not make any accomodations or special effort to help head off these gaps and the burden was generally on the student to ask for help.

Is this a troll? Like, you think it's totally OK that "parents in the know could put their finger on the scale?" So much for equity etc.

Don't blame the parents. Blame MCPS, who doesn't want to advance students, NOT because the kids have difficulties later on (which they will claim, obviously), but because it's too much of an administrative hassle. MCPS also has budget concerns and keeps squeezing the special programs, for kids with special needs. They also refuse to expand the number of magnet middle school seats, of which there are very few, and then act all put out when the CES kids ask for Alg 1 in 6th at their home middle school.

MCPS is just an unwieldy system and some parents learn a few ways to go around the stated policies to better suit their kid.

I learned, for ex, that kids don't "need" to follow the Bio, then Chem, then Phys pathway laid out on the presentation slides for high school, with prerequisites to take AP versions. Parents take that as gospel because that's what MCPS wants them to think, to make it easier administratively. My kid started with Honors Chem, then will take AP Chem, then AP Phys C (which requires Calculus, so thank goodness she took Alg 1 in 6th), then take AP Bio. Her school waived the Bio pre req given that Bio will be her last STEM class after a rigorous pathway.
Same for the history pathway that many kids take: AP Gov in 9th, AP US History in 10th, then AP World History in 11th. If you want to do it in a different order, you can.

I also learned that if kids take a foreign language (or possibly other topics) outside of MCPS, *IF* the organization is approved by MCPS, then those classes count as credits on the MCPS transcript. Only half-credits, though, so it might not matter to high achievers. But it could matter to someone who is struggling to graduate!

MCPS doesn't tell you all the things because it's so complex, the teacher or staff member doing the presentation at Back To School Night probably doesn't know all the things. Various people know different things, and it's hard to synthesize it for all parents.

My conclusion is that if you have any particular question about your child's path in MCPS, you have to keep asking different people (the teacher, the counselor, the Principal, DCUM, Central Office, the coordinator for that special subject, etc), because maybe you need to shake many trees before you get a full picture of what's possible and what's not possible. And don't let stupid DCUM trolls tell you that you're Tiger Parentish or overly obsessed or whatnot. Different kids need different things. If you don't ask around, or don't do your research, you won't know.

Yes kids have different needs but that easy to say when you’re only responsible for your kids. You say it’s an unwieldy system but somehow expect they to make thousands of accommodations. Below is what the math Ms/HS math pathways potentially look like. Can you imagine all the questions teachers, counselors, central office get about this when you have some kids who are taking AOPs or Russian School of Math as outside activities and then some kids who aren’t but are still bright and want to be competitive and some kids who are on-level and some kids who are behind. It’s public school with 160k students. Some of it needs to be a standardized plan. Particularly when they have to report data to state and federal levels.
Like in your scenario, not they have to keep track of an array of students who didn’t take the Life Science exam because they chose not to take Bio 9th grade. Administrative hassles are just that, a burden of time and money on the system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What magnet school are you talking about? Are you at King or Eastern which are humanities magnets? Because TPMS and Clemente regularly have kids in Alg. 2 and they have a system for that.

One of the three whole school magnets which some folks here don't consider a magnet. But it will give her the opportunity to apply to Wheaton, Blair and Poolesville.

Now that I think about it, besides the interesting electives, this school is pretty much like our home school. What good is a magnet if it cannot offer a good Math pathway when a non magnet school like Frost can? I checked MLK humanities magnet and they don't offer it either. At least they pride themselves to be an IB middle years program and not a STEM magnet school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of tiger parents whose kids don't do "enrichment" but just happen to enjoy math games at home, lol.

Op here. My kid did Khan Academy during the summer because she was bored. If she did Kumon or Mathnasium, pretty sure her scores would be even higher. I am asking her to do IXL now.

She is playing Roblox not Math games every day. Are you either the counselor or Math teacher from her school? I emailed today saying she plays games at home and you specifically mention games. If you are from her school, maybe you guys should offer a better Math pathway considering the school is a magnet school. If Frost can do it, why not this magnet school? Educational offerings should not be just for a wealthier school.

I'd rather be a tiger mom than one who doesn't care what her kid is doing

[Anonymous]

Who takes Algebra I in 6th grade? Doogie Howser? School has really gotten insane since I was in school in the 1990s. If you were on an accelerated path you took Algebra I in 8th instead of 9th so you could take Calculus your senior year in high school. This is what I did, and I have a Ph.D. in science! Things must be tough on kids today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who takes Algebra I in 6th grade? Doogie Howser? School has really gotten insane since I was in school in the 1990s. If you were on an accelerated path you took Algebra I in 8th instead of 9th so you could take Calculus your senior year in high school. This is what I did, and I have a Ph.D. in science! Things must be tough on kids today.

This is still the expectation from college/university. No one is expected to be taking multiple levels above Calc1. This is the race created by parents trying to make their kid stand out and now folks think it’s a requirement to be competitive when in fact it’s not.

Meanwhile, some colleges have started giving advance standing instead of credit which could be worthwhile in some circumstances, but for many it’s just a race to nowhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who takes Algebra I in 6th grade? Doogie Howser? School has really gotten insane since I was in school in the 1990s. If you were on an accelerated path you took Algebra I in 8th instead of 9th so you could take Calculus your senior year in high school. This is what I did, and I have a Ph.D. in science! Things must be tough on kids today.

Its pretty normal. About 25-50 kids at our MS took it. Kids choose it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who takes Algebra I in 6th grade? Doogie Howser? School has really gotten insane since I was in school in the 1990s. If you were on an accelerated path you took Algebra I in 8th instead of 9th so you could take Calculus your senior year in high school. This is what I did, and I have a Ph.D. in science! Things must be tough on kids today.

It’s pretty normal. About 25-50 kids at our MS took it. Kids choose it.

How many of this kids flame out in math in HS? My kid in pre calc now and sounds like lots of these 10th graders in there are struggling

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who takes Algebra I in 6th grade? Doogie Howser? School has really gotten insane since I was in school in the 1990s. If you were on an accelerated path you took Algebra I in 8th instead of 9th so you could take Calculus your senior year in high school. This is what I did, and I have a Ph.D. in science! Things must be tough on kids today.

It’s pretty normal. About 25-50 kids at our MS took it. Kids choose it.

How many of this kids flame out in math in HS? My kid in pre calc now and sounds like lots of these 10th graders in there are struggling

The curriculum and no textbooks is a problem, not the grade level. They barely review the material. We had to get a tutor as the teacher was not strong and just random handout.

[Anonymous]

If your kid took algebra as a sixth grader, they have anxiety in high school guaranteed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid took algebra as a sixth grader, they have anxiety in high school guaranteed.

Don't talk of what you don't understand. My kid was born with anxiety. Do I need to hold her back just because of her condition? She'd get even more antsy! Being in AP and advanced classes at least keeps her mind distracted.