Automatically enrolled into Algebra 1 honors

[Anonymous]

We will opt out our daughter. She is not ready to take Algebra in grade 6.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in AAP 6th grade now, received the same e-mail for Auto-Enrollment.We will probably just Opt Out and do Pre-Algebra Honors in 7th instead.

We even supplement with Mathnasium. They are baffled at Mathnasium and said there is no way my kid is ready. Also, our current math teacher said it was abad idea.

The grade they receive is supposed to count towards the HS GPA. I just think I would want to risk it in 7th grade.

they are auto enrolling current 5th graders for algebra in 6th. it’s bonkers

How stupid. Parents should opt out en masse and end this nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in AAP 6th grade now, received the same e-mail for Auto-Enrollment.We will probably just Opt Out and do Pre-Algebra Honors in 7th instead.

We even supplement with Mathnasium. They are baffled at Mathnasium and said there is no way my kid is ready. Also, our current math teacher said it was abad idea.

The grade they receive is supposed to count towards the HS GPA. I just think I would want to risk it in 7th grade.

they are auto enrolling current 5th graders for algebra in 6th. it’s bonkers

How stupid. Parents should opt out en masse and end this nonsense.

That is not going to happen. Considering the success of Algebra I pilot at our school, this was the right move. Some kids who could have handled Algebra I pilot just fine couldn’t get in because they missed the cutoff by a few points. Similar students will now have an option to opt in. There were some kids who were automatically enrolled, but either immediately opted out or dropped off later. This option is still there.

I don’t get the outcry here. No one is forcing anybody to take Algebra I in the 6th or the 7th grade. It takes two clicks to opt out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in AAP 6th grade now, received the same e-mail for Auto-Enrollment.We will probably just Opt Out and do Pre-Algebra Honors in 7th instead.

We even supplement with Mathnasium. They are baffled at Mathnasium and said there is no way my kid is ready. Also, our current math teacher said it was abad idea.

The grade they receive is supposed to count towards the HS GPA. I just think I would want to risk it in 7th grade.

they are auto enrolling current 5th graders for algebra in 6th. it’s bonkers

How stupid. Parents should opt out en masse and end this nonsense.

That is not going to happen. Considering the success of Algebra I pilot at our school, this was the right move. Some kids who could have handled Algebra I pilot just fine couldn’t get in because they missed the cutoff by a few points. Similar students will now have an option to opt in. There were some kids who were automatically enrolled, but either immediately opted out or dropped off later. This option is still there.

I don’t get the outcry here. No one is forcing anybody to take Algebra I in the 6th or the 7th grade. It takes two clicks to opt out.

The success of this program won't be fully known until these kids take Algebra II and demonstrate they can handle it. I'll believe it when I see it.

[Anonymous]

Does it matter if a kid takes algebra 1 in grade 7 or grade 6 ?
Does it have an impact on college admissions and career?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does it matter if a kid takes algebra 1 in grade 7 or grade 6 ?
Does it have an impact on college admissions and career?

I think the more widespread question will be: Does it matter if a kid takes Algebra 1 in 7th grade or in 8th grade? If you opt out of 7th and wait until 8th, are you now on a non-advanced path, and have you lost your shot at getting into schools like UVA?

Also, if Algebra in 8th is going to be an expectation for everyone, then are we going to continue to have it be a high-school credit class? Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in AAP 6th grade now, received the same e-mail for Auto-Enrollment.We will probably just Opt Out and do Pre-Algebra Honors in 7th instead.

We even supplement with Mathnasium. They are baffled at Mathnasium and said there is no way my kid is ready. Also, our current math teacher said it was abad idea.

The grade they receive is supposed to count towards the HS GPA. I just think I would want to risk it in 7th grade.

they are auto enrolling current 5th graders for algebra in 6th. it’s bonkers

I was browing some middle school course selection sheets yesterday and both Franklin and Hughes show the base option for 7th graders as prealgebra next year, to take prealgebra (math 8?) SOL at the end of the course. Looks like they're just skipping a year of math for everybody.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are absolutely right, but they are doing the right thing now. Most AAP students are ready for Algebra I in 6th, but it is a good option to be able to opt out if there are any concerns.

This is insane. The AAP curriculum is 1 year ahead. A student being instructed by FCPS in math in an AAP class who hasn't been taught the whole curriculum by Kumon or Chinese Saturday school is not ready for Algebra 1 in 6th grade. In 6th grade, they learn 7th grade math. Some are then ready for Algebra 1 in 7th, some are not.

Agree. The only kids ready for algebra 1 in 6th are those whose parents have been sending them to enrichment after school and on wknds to learn it. The math-inclined kids who are strictly following FCPS curriculum are not ready and absolutely will have learning gaps.

So confidently stated and so wrong. There are kids who are ready without enrichment classes. Maybe not the majority but many, including kids I know well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are absolutely right, but they are doing the right thing now. Most AAP students are ready for Algebra I in 6th, but it is a good option to be able to opt out if there are any concerns.

This is insane. The AAP curriculum is 1 year ahead. A student being instructed by FCPS in math in an AAP class who hasn't been taught the whole curriculum by Kumon or Chinese Saturday school is not ready for Algebra 1 in 6th grade. In 6th grade, they learn 7th grade math. Some are then ready for Algebra 1 in 7th, some are not.

Agree. The only kids ready for algebra 1 in 6th are those whose parents have been sending them to enrichment after school and on wknds to learn it. The math-inclined kids who are strictly following FCPS curriculum are not ready and absolutely will have learning gaps.

So confidently stated and so wrong. There are kids who are ready without enrichment classes. Maybe not the majority but many, including kids I know well.

How do you have any idea whether these kids you “know well” will or will not have learning gaps down the road? FCPS is skipping an entire year of curriculum and hasn’t bothered to adjust the AAP math curriculum in 5th to cover what they’re now skipping in 6th to take algebra 1.

[Anonymous]

DP. Either you are unaware of what is actually happening at FCPS when it comes to math instruction or deliberately obtuse.

If you are not providing enrichment outside of the school, your student will have substantial gaps in their math foundation. There are exceptionally good teachers out there, but in a majority of cases, math material is not adequately covered. Fast forwarding those who are ready for Algebra I in 6th or 7th grade changes nothing in that sense.

If you feel that your child is not ready, then, by all means, opt out. Those who are opting in have been paying close attention to the instruction and making sure there are no gaps for years now.

FCPS has been watering down math due to the lack of proper instruction for years. For those students who thrived either through natural aptitude or outside enrichment despite of the lower expectations, this is a great move. They don’t need to be held back to play catch up with foundational skills that should have been taught early on.

The issue is with the way too slow and superficial math instruction in the earlier grades (no, showing a YouTube video and easy tests do not cut it for teaching math basics). If this is the way FCPS is going to remedy it all, I am all for it. They just need to keep going to increased expectations all the way to K. Then by 6th, you might get shocked with how many more kids will be ready for Algebra I in 6th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DP. Either you are unaware of what is actually happening at FCPS when it comes to math instruction or deliberately obtuse.

If you are not providing enrichment outside of the school, your student will have substantial gaps in their math foundation. There are exceptionally good teachers out there, but in a majority of cases, math material is not adequately covered. Fast forwarding those who are ready for Algebra I in 6th or 7th grade changes nothing in that sense.

If you feel that your child is not ready, then, by all means, opt out. Those who are opting in have been paying close attention to the instruction and making sure there are no gaps for years now.

FCPS has been watering down math due to the lack of proper instruction for years. For those students who thrived either through natural aptitude or outside enrichment despite of the lower expectations, this is a great move. They don’t need to be held back to play catch up with foundational skills that should have been taught early on.

The issue is with the way too slow and superficial math instruction in the earlier grades (no, showing a YouTube video and easy tests do not cut it for teaching math basics). If this is the way FCPS is going to remedy it all, I am all for it. They just need to keep going to increased expectations all the way to K. Then by 6th, you might get shocked with how many more kids will be ready for Algebra I in 6th.

Ok. But this thread is discussing FCPS auto-enrolling a large number of kids into Alg I with no thought into whether or not they are actually ready. Seems like opting IN would be the most logical choice here. But no. It's an opt OUT. This thread is more about FCPS tactics...not about whether or not some kids are ready or aren't ready for Alg 1 in 6th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are absolutely right, but they are doing the right thing now. Most AAP students are ready for Algebra I in 6th, but it is a good option to be able to opt out if there are any concerns.

This is insane. The AAP curriculum is 1 year ahead. A student being instructed by FCPS in math in an AAP class who hasn't been taught the whole curriculum by Kumon or Chinese Saturday school is not ready for Algebra 1 in 6th grade. In 6th grade, they learn 7th grade math. Some are then ready for Algebra 1 in 7th, some are not.

Agree. The only kids ready for algebra 1 in 6th are those whose parents have been sending them to enrichment after school and on wknds to learn it. The math-inclined kids who are strictly following FCPS curriculum are not ready and absolutely will have learning gaps.

So confidently stated and so wrong. There are kids who are ready without enrichment classes. Maybe not the majority but many, including kids I know well.

How? The FCPS math curriculum doesn't cover all the skills needed for Alg 1 by the end of 5th grade. If no one is teaching these kids outside of school, how do they have the basis for Alg 1?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DP. Either you are unaware of what is actually happening at FCPS when it comes to math instruction or deliberately obtuse.

If you are not providing enrichment outside of the school, your student will have substantial gaps in their math foundation. There are exceptionally good teachers out there, but in a majority of cases, math material is not adequately covered. Fast forwarding those who are ready for Algebra I in 6th or 7th grade changes nothing in that sense.

If you feel that your child is not ready, then, by all means, opt out. Those who are opting in have been paying close attention to the instruction and making sure there are no gaps for years now.

FCPS has been watering down math due to the lack of proper instruction for years. For those students who thrived either through natural aptitude or outside enrichment despite of the lower expectations, this is a great move. They don’t need to be held back to play catch up with foundational skills that should have been taught early on.

The issue is with the way too slow and superficial math instruction in the earlier grades (no, showing a YouTube video and easy tests do not cut it for teaching math basics). If this is the way FCPS is going to remedy it all, I am all for it. They just need to keep going to increased expectations all the way to K. Then by 6th, you might get shocked with how many more kids will be ready for Algebra I in 6th.

Ok, so what you’re actually saying is that the students who are ready in 6th are receiving enrichment outside of school. Bc you were trying to argue that you know many who are ready w/o it, which is not the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP. Either you are unaware of what is actually happening at FCPS when it comes to math instruction or deliberately obtuse.

If you are not providing enrichment outside of the school, your student will have substantial gaps in their math foundation. There are exceptionally good teachers out there, but in a majority of cases, math material is not adequately covered. Fast forwarding those who are ready for Algebra I in 6th or 7th grade changes nothing in that sense.

If you feel that your child is not ready, then, by all means, opt out. Those who are opting in have been paying close attention to the instruction and making sure there are no gaps for years now.

FCPS has been watering down math due to the lack of proper instruction for years. For those students who thrived either through natural aptitude or outside enrichment despite of the lower expectations, this is a great move. They don’t need to be held back to play catch up with foundational skills that should have been taught early on.

The issue is with the way too slow and superficial math instruction in the earlier grades (no, showing a YouTube video and easy tests do not cut it for teaching math basics). If this is the way FCPS is going to remedy it all, I am all for it. They just need to keep going to increased expectations all the way to K. Then by 6th, you might get shocked with how many more kids will be ready for Algebra I in 6th.

Ok. But this thread is discussing FCPS auto-enrolling a large number of kids into Alg I with no thought into whether or not they are actually ready. Seems like opting IN would be the most logical choice here. But no. It's an opt OUT. This thread is more about FCPS tactics...not about whether or not some kids are ready or aren't ready for Alg 1 in 6th.

This. The default shouldn’t be Algebra 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP. Either you are unaware of what is actually happening at FCPS when it comes to math instruction or deliberately obtuse.

If you are not providing enrichment outside of the school, your student will have substantial gaps in their math foundation. There are exceptionally good teachers out there, but in a majority of cases, math material is not adequately covered. Fast forwarding those who are ready for Algebra I in 6th or 7th grade changes nothing in that sense.

If you feel that your child is not ready, then, by all means, opt out. Those who are opting in have been paying close attention to the instruction and making sure there are no gaps for years now.

FCPS has been watering down math due to the lack of proper instruction for years. For those students who thrived either through natural aptitude or outside enrichment despite of the lower expectations, this is a great move. They don’t need to be held back to play catch up with foundational skills that should have been taught early on.

The issue is with the way too slow and superficial math instruction in the earlier grades (no, showing a YouTube video and easy tests do not cut it for teaching math basics). If this is the way FCPS is going to remedy it all, I am all for it. They just need to keep going to increased expectations all the way to K. Then by 6th, you might get shocked with how many more kids will be ready for Algebra I in 6th.

Ok, so what you’re actually saying is that the students who are ready in 6th are receiving enrichment outside of school. Bc you were trying to argue that you know many who are ready w/o it, which is not the case.

I am the PP you responded to, but I think you are also responding to someone else who claimed there are many students who did not have any outside enrichment and are now ready for Algebra I. I am not the same poster.

From my small sample size, I don’t know a single family, AAP or not, that does not do at least some sort of math enrichment. Extent varies, depending on the aptitude and interests of a child. Regardless of the aptitude and at the very minimum, most families provide extra worksheets. The need for this is generic across all grades, AAP or not.

If your child is not ready, that is perfectly fine. My children have very different abilities. I would never push them into an area of weakness or try to accelerate too much if they need a little bit more time to gain stronger foundational skills. If someone opted them in into a program that is too accelerated, I would be appreciative and then politely decline.

Having to make two clicks to opt out should not cause you to be outraged.