Summer Math Acceleration Program at Deal
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Anonymous
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I guess it makes sense that the math camp would be more efficient with motivated kids and only one area to work on continuously.
Another concern I have is with my kid getting too far ahead in math. Does it make scheduling other classes more complicated in future years, including in high school? |
Anonymous
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I understand the desire to equip kids with strong math skills -- it would be great to set them up for going to college for engineering. But is it really necessary to take Algebra and Geometry in middle school?
I also wonder if four weeks of nonstop math is the best thing for a 12 year old. |
Anonymous
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They are not learning a year's worth of math in 4 weeks. There is a tremendous amount of overlap in middle-school math. They are learning ~2 years of content in 1 year + 1 summer, which is not that hard for the students who are at ease with the material.
Had children go through when it was the norm (no summer program) and one going through this year in 7th grade. The older children had no trouble with schedules (in both public and private). Being able to take Calculus in 11th grade opens things up (Physics w/ Calc in 11th, AP Stats or AP Comp Sci in 12th). The summer thing wasn't that stressful for DC. It is not that big of a deal (no pun intended) either way, but if your DC is comfortable in math they will do fine. I'm not a big fan of the double-acceleration which leads to Calculus in 10th, but most of those I know who have done it have no regrets. |
Anonymous
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This year (7th grade) there are about 40-50 kids (out of 550+) who are in Algebra I. Most of these kids did the summer math program. These kids are on track to take Calculus in 11th grade.
DCPS (Wilson) has the math programming to handle this. Out of the 40-50, about 5-10 are also taking geometry concurrently. This is what is referred to by previous poster as "double acceleration". These kids are on track to Calculus in 10th grade. As I understand it, these kids will run out of DCPS math to take. Most will end up having to take math at a local college in 12th grade. My kid is in the Algebra class this year and it's a fairly serious and intense class. He breezed through math 7 in sixth grade but is having to work hard in Algebra. He estimates that a good half the class are getting B's in the Algebra class. Those who are doing well in the class are real "math brained kids"---the ones who do math club, etc---not the ones who are just "really smart" in a more generic way (if this makes sense). In retrospect I probably would not have had his take this class. I'm not sure what the rush was and I'm not sure every kid who does well in math 7 is cut out to take calculus in 11th grade. |
Anonymous
When my child did it 2 years ago the school mixed the 7th graders in with 8th grade Algebra I students. It is not surprising that half the class is getting Bs, they are not all as math oriented. My child is not a real “math brained” kid in that DC is more of a humanities/arts kid that happens to be good at math. DC received As in Algebra I, geometry and so far in Algebra II. I only add this to say it can be a good experience for many if they are up for the challenge even if they do not have plans for a STEM future. |
Anonymous
this year the grades are not mixed. it is 7th graders who were moved ahead who are getting Bs. |
Anonymous
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If you do it, you should strongly consider a math tutor or Kumon type supplementing for a year or so. There are gaps and they will show up later. Use a tutor who can find the gaps.
In Moco and VA, where exceleration is a big thing, most kids are in Kumon type programs and supplement in math. That is less of a thing in DC, but for kids who accelerate, you should do something to make sure there are no gaps in the pre-algebra basics tha tother schools and programs drill, drill, drill. It may not show up in Algebra or precalc, but it will show up on the PSAT and SAT, and if your kid is not strong in something basic, like factoring (random example), it could throw an unexpected monkey wrench into a more complex calculus problem, where that factorng is one step that was a 'given.' |
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Anonymous
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Our kid just got invited to the Deal Math 8 summer math acceleration camp (she wasn't invited at the mid-year point but apparently did well on the end of year test they gave last Friday).
I was surprised at the dates -- in past years the camp was four weeks during July, but now the camp is planned for June 15-July 9. It means only a week off before starting the camp. Have others who have gone found that they assign homework or is it just instruction from 9 am -12 noon and the kids can enjoy the afternoons off? I'm also not sure it is the best idea to accelerate at all. Our kid is already a year ahead -- is it smart to cram all of Math 8 into four 3-day weeks (48 hours of instruction at most), versus at least 135 hours over 180 school days that they would get over the course of next school year? |
Anonymous
My kid did it last year. There is a significant amount of homework via Khan and worksheets as well. Probably 6-8 hours a week in addition to the school hours. Your kid has to be prepared to do math in the class and then on their own. The other thing to consider is that Algebra at Deal isn't an easy A. There were about 40 7th graders put in Algebra this year and I know many who were getting Bs in quarters 1 and 2. At least half the classes. My son worked very hard for A minuses and in had a very high A in 7th grade math at Deal without trying. He was set to get another A- in Algebra quarter 3 but distance learning raised that (as it has all grades). Algebra is put on a kid's high school transcript and many colleges calculate it into the GPA even if it is taken in middle school. It's kind of ironic that the many of the most advanced math kids at Deal end up with a B in 7th grade Algebra when they would have had a very easy A in 8th grade math. So take that into consideration as well---if you push your kid up they better be REALLY good at math. I don't mean to be negative but these are a few things I wish I had known. I hope it helps! |
Anonymous
| When did you receive your invitation to the math camp? During the Zoom calls with Ms. Neal she indicated they were coming out this Friday |