Algebra 2 in 8th Grade

[Anonymous]

11th grade Multivariable. Not 1st. That would be a prodigy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our child is advanced in math because he was ready and needed something more than was offered. She doesn't take math class anywhere except school. We have no interest in TJ but did want her to be learning something in class instead of just sitting there. Why is that so hard to understand?

I am asking this sincerely - I hope you don't take it as snark.
But a generation ago (ie, when we were in middle school), there were plenty of brilliant math people. I went to a very small very rigorous school. We had one student who took Algebra I in 8th grade. She went to MIT and is truly an off-the-charts kind of person. Another group of us took Algebra I in 8th grade.
I don't remember ever "just sitting there" in school, and I don't remember there being an epidemic of kids who were just SO advanced that they simply needed algebra in 6th grade.
So what changed?

The parents are more competitive.

The realization that now our kids are competing with kids from Asia who are taking more advanced math classes earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our child is advanced in math because he was ready and needed something more than was offered. She doesn't take math class anywhere except school. We have no interest in TJ but did want her to be learning something in class instead of just sitting there. Why is that so hard to understand?

I am asking this sincerely - I hope you don't take it as snark.
But a generation ago (ie, when we were in middle school), there were plenty of brilliant math people. I went to a very small very rigorous school. We had one student who took Algebra I in 8th grade. She went to MIT and is truly an off-the-charts kind of person. Another group of us took Algebra I in 8th grade.
I don't remember ever "just sitting there" in school, and I don't remember there being an epidemic of kids who were just SO advanced that they simply needed algebra in 6th grade.
So what changed?

The parents are more competitive.

The realization that now our kids are competing with kids from Asia who are taking more advanced math classes earlier.

Being white is no excuse for poor performance. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our child is advanced in math because he was ready and needed something more than was offered. She doesn't take math class anywhere except school. We have no interest in TJ but did want her to be learning something in class instead of just sitting there. Why is that so hard to understand?

I am asking this sincerely - I hope you don't take it as snark.
But a generation ago (ie, when we were in middle school), there were plenty of brilliant math people. I went to a very small very rigorous school. We had one student who took Algebra I in 8th grade. She went to MIT and is truly an off-the-charts kind of person. Another group of us took Algebra I in 8th grade.
I don't remember ever "just sitting there" in school, and I don't remember there being an epidemic of kids who were just SO advanced that they simply needed algebra in 6th grade.
So what changed?

The parents are more competitive.

The realization that now our kids are competing with kids from Asia who are taking more advanced math classes earlier.

Being white is no excuse for poor performance. Sorry.

No. But it may be an excuse for having a different view of what constitutes poor performance, and what makes you a successful parent, and your kids successful human beings. My bet is that in 20 years my "poor performing" straight A 8th grade geometry student is doing as well or better as his peers whose parents made them take geometry between 7th and 8th. Because kids talk to each other when you are carpooling, and these kids did not spend 8 hours some summer days cramming geometry because they love math. They were forced too, and they hated it. And they are terrified of not getting into TJ. They talk about what their parents will do, and what others parents have done to kids that "failed". But not about this love of STEM and being challenged and how wonderful TJ would be to attend. It's sad.

DC has an Asian friend who is all about science, and is so smart, kind and driven. She does Science Olympiad because that is her thing and self studied for (and passed) an AP science exam to see if she could. And her parents let her, but don't push. If she doesn't get into TJ, that's a crime. But the rest of these kids-- they would be better off if TJ just didn't exist. What their parents are doing is awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Frost sends kids next door to Woodson

Not anymore. They have enough to fill a class AT Frost.

This was not the case last year. My current 9th grader took Algebra 2 at Woodson as an 8th grader.

If your child does not go to TJ, what is the plan for math during your DC's senior year?

Multivariable Calculus, Matrix algebra ... many other classes to choose from.

The point is to take AP Physics in junior year, which requires you to have a AP Calculus in 10th grade.

What I want to know is how parents get the school's approval to take two math classes in 7th grade (algebra and geometry)? We asked and the school said no, so we didn't bother. But some kids did get the approval. I wish the school would be more open and transparent about requirements to take two math classes at 7th grade.

Some issues here... before you try to force your poor kid into taking honors algebra and geometry together, the first year of middle school. Multi variable calculus & linear algebra are the two semesters of math after AP BC Calculus-- so you would take these in 11th if you took Calculus in 10th. You would then need to come up with an additional year of math after that for 12th grade. Also, in most places, AP Calculus BC is a co-requisite of AP physics, not a pre-requisite. So, you do not need to take Algebra II in 8th to take Physics your junior year. Also-- FCPS is very transparent-- they answer is no. They do not sign off on taking Algebra and Geometry concurrently in 7th. Some kids take Algebra early in 6th. Most take ruin the summer between 7th and 8th. Teachers at our MS Center very strongly discourage this because a good foundation in geometry is necessary for more advanced math, but are not able to stop parents from enrolling their kids in summer school.

Parents like the PP think this is what their kid needs to establish their TJ street cred. But, DC1's ES said at back to school night that TJ is pushing back against the trend to hyper accelerate math. They are getting too many kids who need remediation because they did geometry summer school, or started Algebra before they were ready. Kids who are interested in TJ should get a solid grounding in math fundamentals and Algebra I concepts, and this is much more important than Algebra II, or even Geometry. Interestingly, we also got the same message from DC2's TJ info session this year at Carson.

Apparently, the kids at Carson who were in Algebra II did not have better admissions chances than the Geometry students last year. It will be interesting to see if that holds this year. It maKe sense, since the TJ test is Algebra I and a little bit of Geometry only. It would be great to see TJ hold the line on this.

How can you take Calculus in 10th without talking Algebra II in 8th?

8th: algebra II
9th: pre-cal
10th: AP Calculus AB
11th: AP Calculus BC
12th: multi varable ...

I do know kids taking both in 7th grade. I guess if you can present a compelling case, it is allowed. I was just interested in learning what.

Kids taking Hn Pre Calculus in 9th are likely going to go directly to AP Calc BC and not take AP Calc AB to remain 3 years ahead. That puts Multi variable in 11th and 12th TBD. Seems ridiculous to push so hard to be so far ahead. Often these parents are the same ones who complain about their poor 9th grader having juniors and seniors in their class yet it is an 11th or 12th grade class traditionally.

[Anonymous]

Here's the thing - there are some kids to whom this acceleration is meaningful. My DS wanted to take online geometry between 7-8. I thought it would be a disaster and tried to talk him out of it. He's dis-organized, had sports practice/camps lined up as well as vacation. He insisted. I signed him up fully prepared to unenroll. He managed to get an A and a perfect SOL. I still don't know how he did it other than a genuine interest/desire in math.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know if Rocky Run offers Alegbra II?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Algebra 2 in 8th grade is actually not that advanced. A student who takes Algebra 2 in 8th grade is above average, but not necessarily college material.

Many kids who take Algebra 2 in 9th grade get into great colleges. Clearly you have no clue about who is or isn't college material.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure RR offers Algebra 2. Carson MS has 2 classes of students. There were @10 advanced kids who took Algebra in 6th grade who took Geometry in 7th and were slated for Algebra 2 in 8th grade. But then over the summer about 40 kids spent there summer taking Geometry (yes they are all trying to get into TJ so their parents put them into this over the summer) so now there are 2 full classes at Carson. Rocky Run also sends a ton of kids to TJ so I'm sure they have Algebra 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Algebra 2 in 8th grade is actually not that advanced. A student who takes Algebra 2 in 8th grade is above average, but not necessarily college material.

Are you high? Algebra in the 8th grade is advanced. Algebra 2 in the eighth grade means you are three years ahead of "normal". Most TJ kids take Algebra II in the 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

My son is currently a 9th grader at TJ. We came from Arlington Public Schools. In 6th grade, he was enrolled in 7th Grade Math for 6th Graders, but in the first week the school asked if we wanted to consider enrolling him in Algebra I Intensified. We did this, and it was a challenge for him, but he ended the year with an A. As a 7th grader, he moved into Geometry Intensified, which he found easier than Algebra I. As an 8th grader, he took Algebra II/Trig via an on-line class. This wasn't great for him, as he felt like he didn't get a great understanding of the material, though he did end up with a A. At TJ, after taking the diagnostic test, he is going to take TJ Math 3, which I think generally corresponds to Algebra II.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Algebra 2 in 8th grade is actually not that advanced. A student who takes Algebra 2 in 8th grade is above average, but not necessarily college material.

Are you high? Algebra in the 8th grade is advanced. Algebra 2 in the eighth grade means you are three years ahead of "normal". Most TJ kids take Algebra II in the 9th grade.

A kid taking Algebra I for the first time in 9th grade is not necessarily an "average" math student. And a kid taking Algebra in 6th grade is not necessarily a math whiz.

Many kids take Algebra in 8th, Geometry in 9th and Algebra II in tenth and so on and so forth. Others might begin that sequence earlier or later.

Regardless, it's the ones who take those courses and actually understand and retain the material that are going to do well in future math courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
A kid taking Algebra I for the first time in 9th grade is not necessarily an "average" math student. And a kid taking Algebra in 6th grade is not necessarily a math whiz.

Sometimes, really smart kids get stuck on a track that leads to Algebra 1 in ninth grade through no fault of their own. That happens a lot at small religious schools, crappy hippie-ass Montessori or Waldorf schools that don't teach worth a damn (been there, done that), and schools in poor areas that don't send a lot of kids to four-year colleges (or any college at all).

Having said that, Any kid taking Algebra 1 in sixth grade is either several standard deviations above the mean or has parents who fell off into the farthest reaches of the deep end of the tiger-mom pool.

Anonymous wrote:
Algebra 2 in 8th grade is actually not that advanced. A student who takes Algebra 2 in 8th grade is above average, but not necessarily college material.

What's wrong with you? Seriously...were you dropped on your head and doomed to spending the rest of your life in the Land of Alternative Facts?

[Anonymous]

So if my 6th grade DD qualifies for algebra 1 next year (not a sure thing by any stretch), are you really telling me that some of her peers will do geometry in the summer to get to algebra 2 in 8th grade? Coz that's just nuts. Can't believe the schools allow it. She has some classmates that are doing algebra 1 in 6th grade but those kids are in a special category, math-wise. The rest of the kids in her class aren't really significantly different than her and I cannot see any good reason to allow her to do online summer geometry. Wtf?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So if my 6th grade DD qualifies for algebra 1 next year (not a sure thing by any stretch), are you really telling me that some of her peers will do geometry in the summer to get to algebra 2 in 8th grade? Coz that's just nuts. Can't believe the schools allow it. She has some classmates that are doing algebra 1 in 6th grade but those kids are in a special category, math-wise. The rest of the kids in her class aren't really significantly different than her and I cannot see any good reason to allow her to do online summer geometry. Wtf?

yep. I feel really sorry for some of these kids. It seems like the parents have an agenda and the kid has to keep up with it. Hearing from some of the fcag parents makes me feel like I do not belong in this area (or at least this organization) at all. Too freakin intense.