Retaking Algebra I in 9th grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting how many posters are advocating moving OP's DC forward even though she struggled in the class even with a tutor. Everyone seems more focused on pushing her along so she can take AP calculus than on the fact that she doesn't seem to have mastered the course at all. OP, I would consider having her repeat the course in 9th grade. You don't want her hating math or doing poorly in future math classes because she doesn't have the appropriate foundation before moving forward. Solid grades without AP calculus will look a lot better that terrible grades in all her math class, including AP calculus.

OP here: thank you so much for this advice. We had pretty much decided to do just this and your post confirmed it for us. The priority for us is mastery of the material. Having had an older child who took stats not calculus, we're not too concerned about this adversely affecting college admissions down the road. Perhaps she can take geometry next summer if the repeat of Algebra goes well. Anyway, thanks again!

You are setting the bar too low. You should set it a little bit higher unless your child is ok with NVCC. Hard work is sometimes necessary unless she just wants to forego college and do something that doesn't require college education. If she doesn't "master" the material in 9th grade then repeat it again in 10th grade because it doesn't matter how long it might take as long as she masters the material on her own schedule?

You clearly don't have a child of college age yet. Only in this area do parents like you insist that taking math on a "normal" schedule (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Stats or Precalc.) is somehow "setting the bar too low". Plenty of excellent colleges are just fine with this, as long as four years of high school math have been completed. Not every child is interested in being a STEM major.

"--- The hard, cruel fact of the math line-up is that YES you need to plow through the math courses as quick as you can because it is depth of coursework that colleges will look at by the end of junior year, especially if you apply early decision. This means you must take as much math, and at as many levels (honors, IB, AP) as your child can handle before applications go in EA or ED in November of senior year or even Jan. of Senior year. Our DS entered langley behind in math because his private didn't accelerate fast enough. The offerings at Langley (this is just off the top of my head) are Algebra I, & II (honors and AP); pre-calculus (same with honors and AP); Calculus; Computer Science; AP Calculus; AP statistics; Linear equations; Probability and STatistics; Trigonometry; and Matrix Algebra. There are more, I just can't remember them all. Almost all are offered on the AP or Honors track. I don't think this is fair or right, but the sad fact is that the colleges have pushed the first one or two years of college down on our nation's private and public schools, so you have to show advanced math courses taken (well) by the end of Junior year. We learned the hard way with first DC who applied to college with only having finished Calculus under his belt (jr. year) and then Computer Science (senior year). No. 2 child is taking pre-calculus this summer so will enter junior year taking Calculus and then more advanced math next summer and another advanced math course senior year. However, if your child is not heading towards college, disregard all the above and let them enjoy life. I don't agree with the current system, but the hard fact is that you must show advanced math coursework if you want to get into any good college or university."

Please... take a valium and relax. A child does NOT need to run the gauntlet of advanced math classes to get into a good college, unless they are bound and determined to be a STEM major. Many kids have zero interest in STEM and instead prefer the humanities. It is simply a myth that kids need to drive themselves into the ground taking math class after math class in order to somehow stand out to college admissions committees. What makes them stand out is an interest in something unusual, a love for learning, writing, languages, etc. It sounds like you are panicked for some reason and I feel so sorry for your kids who are clearly being micromanaged by you.

NP. You should read the 15:47 post as to the colleges one can expect with below average math sequence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting how many posters are advocating moving OP's DC forward even though she struggled in the class even with a tutor. Everyone seems more focused on pushing her along so she can take AP calculus than on the fact that she doesn't seem to have mastered the course at all. OP, I would consider having her repeat the course in 9th grade. You don't want her hating math or doing poorly in future math classes because she doesn't have the appropriate foundation before moving forward. Solid grades without AP calculus will look a lot better that terrible grades in all her math class, including AP calculus.

OP here: thank you so much for this advice. We had pretty much decided to do just this and your post confirmed it for us. The priority for us is mastery of the material. Having had an older child who took stats not calculus, we're not too concerned about this adversely affecting college admissions down the road. Perhaps she can take geometry next summer if the repeat of Algebra goes well. Anyway, thanks again!

You are setting the bar too low. You should set it a little bit higher unless your child is ok with NVCC. Hard work is sometimes necessary unless she just wants to forego college and do something that doesn't require college education. If she doesn't "master" the material in 9th grade then repeat it again in 10th grade because it doesn't matter how long it might take as long as she masters the material on her own schedule?

You clearly don't have a child of college age yet. Only in this area do parents like you insist that taking math on a "normal" schedule (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Stats or Precalc.) is somehow "setting the bar too low". Plenty of excellent colleges are just fine with this, as long as four years of high school math have been completed. Not every child is interested in being a STEM major.

"--- The hard, cruel fact of the math line-up is that YES you need to plow through the math courses as quick as you can because it is depth of coursework that colleges will look at by the end of junior year, especially if you apply early decision. This means you must take as much math, and at as many levels (honors, IB, AP) as your child can handle before applications go in EA or ED in November of senior year or even Jan. of Senior year. Our DS entered langley behind in math because his private didn't accelerate fast enough. The offerings at Langley (this is just off the top of my head) are Algebra I, & II (honors and AP); pre-calculus (same with honors and AP); Calculus; Computer Science; AP Calculus; AP statistics; Linear equations; Probability and STatistics; Trigonometry; and Matrix Algebra. There are more, I just can't remember them all. Almost all are offered on the AP or Honors track. I don't think this is fair or right, but the sad fact is that the colleges have pushed the first one or two years of college down on our nation's private and public schools, so you have to show advanced math courses taken (well) by the end of Junior year. We learned the hard way with first DC who applied to college with only having finished Calculus under his belt (jr. year) and then Computer Science (senior year). No. 2 child is taking pre-calculus this summer so will enter junior year taking Calculus and then more advanced math next summer and another advanced math course senior year. However, if your child is not heading towards college, disregard all the above and let them enjoy life. I don't agree with the current system, but the hard fact is that you must show advanced math coursework if you want to get into any good college or university."

Please... take a valium and relax. A child does NOT need to run the gauntlet of advanced math classes to get into a good college, unless they are bound and determined to be a STEM major. Many kids have zero interest in STEM and instead prefer the humanities. It is simply a myth that kids need to drive themselves into the ground taking math class after math class in order to somehow stand out to college admissions committees. What makes them stand out is an interest in something unusual, a love for learning, writing, languages, etc. It sounds like you are panicked for some reason and I feel so sorry for your kids who are clearly being micromanaged by you.

NP. You should read the 15:47 post as to the colleges one can expect with below average math sequence.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting how many posters are advocating moving OP's DC forward even though she struggled in the class even with a tutor. Everyone seems more focused on pushing her along so she can take AP calculus than on the fact that she doesn't seem to have mastered the course at all. OP, I would consider having her repeat the course in 9th grade. You don't want her hating math or doing poorly in future math classes because she doesn't have the appropriate foundation before moving forward. Solid grades without AP calculus will look a lot better that terrible grades in all her math class, including AP calculus.

OP here: thank you so much for this advice. We had pretty much decided to do just this and your post confirmed it for us. The priority for us is mastery of the material. Having had an older child who took stats not calculus, we're not too concerned about this adversely affecting college admissions down the road. Perhaps she can take geometry next summer if the repeat of Algebra goes well. Anyway, thanks again!

You are setting the bar too low. You should set it a little bit higher unless your child is ok with NVCC. Hard work is sometimes necessary unless she just wants to forego college and do something that doesn't require college education. If she doesn't "master" the material in 9th grade then repeat it again in 10th grade because it doesn't matter how long it might take as long as she masters the material on her own schedule?

You clearly don't have a child of college age yet. Only in this area do parents like you insist that taking math on a "normal" schedule (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Stats or Precalc.) is somehow "setting the bar too low". Plenty of excellent colleges are just fine with this, as long as four years of high school math have been completed. Not every child is interested in being a STEM major.

"--- The hard, cruel fact of the math line-up is that YES you need to plow through the math courses as quick as you can because it is depth of coursework that colleges will look at by the end of junior year, especially if you apply early decision. This means you must take as much math, and at as many levels (honors, IB, AP) as your child can handle before applications go in EA or ED in November of senior year or even Jan. of Senior year. Our DS entered langley behind in math because his private didn't accelerate fast enough. The offerings at Langley (this is just off the top of my head) are Algebra I, & II (honors and AP); pre-calculus (same with honors and AP); Calculus; Computer Science; AP Calculus; AP statistics; Linear equations; Probability and STatistics; Trigonometry; and Matrix Algebra. There are more, I just can't remember them all. Almost all are offered on the AP or Honors track. I don't think this is fair or right, but the sad fact is that the colleges have pushed the first one or two years of college down on our nation's private and public schools, so you have to show advanced math courses taken (well) by the end of Junior year. We learned the hard way with first DC who applied to college with only having finished Calculus under his belt (jr. year) and then Computer Science (senior year). No. 2 child is taking pre-calculus this summer so will enter junior year taking Calculus and then more advanced math next summer and another advanced math course senior year. However, if your child is not heading towards college, disregard all the above and let them enjoy life. I don't agree with the current system, but the hard fact is that you must show advanced math coursework if you want to get into any good college or university."

this is bad advice but consistent with what parents do at Langley.

[Anonymous]

Yes, anyone who takes Algebra in 9th grade will end up at NVCC or not going to college at all.

Not true. I know a recent HS grad accepted to engineering at a top 20 public w/only pre-calc. (yes, I know, not elite, but it's a fine school) Another neighbor's son into college w/only Algebra 2 (middle of the road public - ranked higher than George Mason)

[Anonymous]

NP. You should read the 15:47 post as to the colleges one can expect with below average math sequence.

I was the 15:47 poster. The choice of college had NOTHING to do with math sequence. It had EVERYTHING to do with what my DS wanted. He was looking for a smaller school with a decent sports program - he was determined to play at the college level, but he did NOT want a D1 school. He did not apply to any of the colleges or universities you would probably choose for your DC (notice I stated that YOU would choose) because they did not offer the type of sports program he was seeking. The school he attended was right for him - very small and very competitive in the sport he played. He excelled academically and athletically and is now doing quite well professionally.
(By the way, WE - the parents - encouraged him to apply to GMU - close to home, more affordable - but it just wasn’t what HE wanted.)
If your child takes courses that are right for him/her, and does well in those courses, s/he will be accepted at a plethora of colleges and universities. I would also advise that you let your DC be the person who decides WHICH colleges are right for him/her, and within the family budget. Not every child likes or thrives at the large universities. Or, the IVY league colleges. That is what is great about this country - so many choices for so many different students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

NP. You should read the 15:47 post as to the colleges one can expect with below average math sequence.

I was the 15:47 poster. The choice of college had NOTHING to do with math sequence. It had EVERYTHING to do with what my DS wanted. He was looking for a smaller school with a decent sports program - he was determined to play at the college level, but he did NOT want a D1 school. He did not apply to any of the colleges or universities you would probably choose for your DC (notice I stated that YOU would choose) because they did not offer the type of sports program he was seeking. The school he attended was right for him - very small and very competitive in the sport he played. He excelled academically and athletically and is now doing quite well professionally.
(By the way, WE - the parents - encouraged him to apply to GMU - close to home, more affordable - but it just wasn’t what HE wanted.)
If your child takes courses that are right for him/her, and does well in those courses, s/he will be accepted at a plethora of colleges and universities. I would also advise that you let your DC be the person who decides WHICH colleges are right for him/her, and within the family budget. Not every child likes or thrives at the large universities. Or, the IVY league colleges. That is what is great about this country - so many choices for so many different students.

Good for your so and good for you. The crazies are out in full force in this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NP. You should read the 15:47 post as to the colleges one can expect with below average math sequence.

I was the 15:47 poster. The choice of college had NOTHING to do with math sequence. It had EVERYTHING to do with what my DS wanted. He was looking for a smaller school with a decent sports program - he was determined to play at the college level, but he did NOT want a D1 school. He did not apply to any of the colleges or universities you would probably choose for your DC (notice I stated that YOU would choose) because they did not offer the type of sports program he was seeking. The school he attended was right for him - very small and very competitive in the sport he played. He excelled academically and athletically and is now doing quite well professionally.
(By the way, WE - the parents - encouraged him to apply to GMU - close to home, more affordable - but it just wasn’t what HE wanted.)
If your child takes courses that are right for him/her, and does well in those courses, s/he will be accepted at a plethora of colleges and universities. I would also advise that you let your DC be the person who decides WHICH colleges are right for him/her, and within the family budget. Not every child likes or thrives at the large universities. Or, the IVY league colleges. That is what is great about this country - so many choices for so many different students.

Good for your so and good for you. The crazies are out in full force in this thread.

Yes - they should go back and re-read the suicide threads here. How soon those are forgotten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NP. You should read the 15:47 post as to the colleges one can expect with below average math sequence.

I was the 15:47 poster. The choice of college had NOTHING to do with math sequence. It had EVERYTHING to do with what my DS wanted. He was looking for a smaller school with a decent sports program - he was determined to play at the college level, but he did NOT want a D1 school. He did not apply to any of the colleges or universities you would probably choose for your DC (notice I stated that YOU would choose) because they did not offer the type of sports program he was seeking. The school he attended was right for him - very small and very competitive in the sport he played. He excelled academically and athletically and is now doing quite well professionally.
(By the way, WE - the parents - encouraged him to apply to GMU - close to home, more affordable - but it just wasn’t what HE wanted.)
If your child takes courses that are right for him/her, and does well in those courses, s/he will be accepted at a plethora of colleges and universities. I would also advise that you let your DC be the person who decides WHICH colleges are right for him/her, and within the family budget. Not every child likes or thrives at the large universities. Or, the IVY league colleges. That is what is great about this country - so many choices for so many different students.

Good for your son and good for you. The crazies are out in full force in this thread.

Yes - they should go back and re-read the suicide threads here. How soon those are forgotten.

People around here are very good at compartmentalizing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting how many posters are advocating moving OP's DC forward even though she struggled in the class even with a tutor. Everyone seems more focused on pushing her along so she can take AP calculus than on the fact that she doesn't seem to have mastered the course at all. OP, I would consider having her repeat the course in 9th grade. You don't want her hating math or doing poorly in future math classes because she doesn't have the appropriate foundation before moving forward. Solid grades without AP calculus will look a lot better that terrible grades in all her math class, including AP calculus.

OP here: thank you so much for this advice. We had pretty much decided to do just this and your post confirmed it for us. The priority for us is mastery of the material. Having had an older child who took stats not calculus, we're not too concerned about this adversely affecting college admissions down the road. Perhaps she can take geometry next summer if the repeat of Algebra goes well. Anyway, thanks again!

You are setting the bar too low. You should set it a little bit higher unless your child is ok with NVCC. Hard work is sometimes necessary unless she just wants to forego college and do something that doesn't require college education. If she doesn't "master" the material in 9th grade then repeat it again in 10th grade because it doesn't matter how long it might take as long as she masters the material on her own schedule?

You clearly don't have a child of college age yet. Only in this area do parents like you insist that taking math on a "normal" schedule (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Stats or Precalc.) is somehow "setting the bar too low". Plenty of excellent colleges are just fine with this, as long as four years of high school math have been completed. Not every child is interested in being a STEM major.

"--- The hard, cruel fact of the math line-up is that YES you need to plow through the math courses as quick as you can because it is depth of coursework that colleges will look at by the end of junior year, especially if you apply early decision. This means you must take as much math, and at as many levels (honors, IB, AP) as your child can handle before applications go in EA or ED in November of senior year or even Jan. of Senior year. Our DS entered langley behind in math because his private didn't accelerate fast enough. The offerings at Langley (this is just off the top of my head) are Algebra I, & II (honors and AP); pre-calculus (same with honors and AP); Calculus; Computer Science; AP Calculus; AP statistics; Linear equations; Probability and STatistics; Trigonometry; and Matrix Algebra. There are more, I just can't remember them all. Almost all are offered on the AP or Honors track. I don't think this is fair or right, but the sad fact is that the colleges have pushed the first one or two years of college down on our nation's private and public schools, so you have to show advanced math courses taken (well) by the end of Junior year. We learned the hard way with first DC who applied to college with only having finished Calculus under his belt (jr. year) and then Computer Science (senior year). No. 2 child is taking pre-calculus this summer so will enter junior year taking Calculus and then more advanced math next summer and another advanced math course senior year. However, if your child is not heading towards college, disregard all the above and let them enjoy life. I don't agree with the current system, but the hard fact is that you must show advanced math coursework if you want to get into any good college or university."

Please... take a valium and relax. A child does NOT need to run the gauntlet of advanced math classes to get into a good college, unless they are bound and determined to be a STEM major. Many kids have zero interest in STEM and instead prefer the humanities. It is simply a myth that kids need to drive themselves into the ground taking math class after math class in order to somehow stand out to college admissions committees. What makes them stand out is an interest in something unusual, a love for learning, writing, languages, etc. It sounds like you are panicked for some reason and I feel so sorry for your kids who are clearly being micromanaged by you.

NP. You should read the 15:47 post as to the colleges one can expect with below average math sequence.

I have absolutely no problem with those colleges. Do you have a point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

NP. You should read the 15:47 post as to the colleges one can expect with below average math sequence.

I was the 15:47 poster. The choice of college had NOTHING to do with math sequence. It had EVERYTHING to do with what my DS wanted. He was looking for a smaller school with a decent sports program - he was determined to play at the college level, but he did NOT want a D1 school. He did not apply to any of the colleges or universities you would probably choose for your DC (notice I stated that YOU would choose) because they did not offer the type of sports program he was seeking. The school he attended was right for him - very small and very competitive in the sport he played. He excelled academically and athletically and is now doing quite well professionally.
(By the way, WE - the parents - encouraged him to apply to GMU - close to home, more affordable - but it just wasn’t what HE wanted.)
If your child takes courses that are right for him/her, and does well in those courses, s/he will be accepted at a plethora of colleges and universities. I would also advise that you let your DC be the person who decides WHICH colleges are right for him/her, and within the family budget. Not every child likes or thrives at the large universities. Or, the IVY league colleges. That is what is great about this country - so many choices for so many different students.

+1000