talking multivariable cal/linear algebra

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Disagree. Excelling (I.e getting an A) in a full blown honors algebra class as a 6th grader is much more challenging than excelling in AP Calc as a 10th grader or MV as an junior or senior. This assumes the kid actually belongs in algebra at that age and has talent and motivation to be there and isn’t there against their will. If it’s parent pushed, that’s another story and of course they shouldn’t continue if they don’t really like math.

This assumes the algebra class is a full blown honors level, and not something labeled as algebra that is actually aimed at a middle school audience. Many of the concepts that used to be part of first year algebra are not taught in MCPS until pre-calc.

Our MS doesn’t offer Honors Algebra. First Honors class is Geometry. I thought that was standard across MCPS?

That's correct, no one gets honors credit for Algebra. I'm the PP, I wasn't trying to dicker about honors credit, but about algebra content. Not only is it not an honors credit as taught in MCPS, it's very much an intro to algebra, not at all the sort of challenge the top PP is referring to. I'd believe algebra is taught more in that way at the magnets, but for the bulk of MCPS students the rigor does not step up until pre-calc.

[Anonymous]

I’m a PP and mcps precalc is where my kids first struggled/had to actually work in math. Precalc is basically a hybrid of algebra and geometry so it realy exposed gaps in their prior classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a PP and mcps precalc is where my kids first struggled/had to actually work in math. Precalc is basically a hybrid of algebra and geometry so it realy exposed gaps in their prior classes.

I'm the PP, above, and pre-calc is the first time that algebra is heavily symbolic in MCPS. It's also includes the course that would have been labeled trig once upon a time. It's also pre-calc topics like continuity and limits--concepts of functions that needed for calc. It's truly the heart of high school math. It's a lot, but a good class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about non magnet? There are so many kids in IM in 6th and all everyone talks about is the magnet kids.

They have changed the math so much it is hard to keep track. IM in 6th means algebra in 7? This is a pretty standard accelerated tack. 8: GEO 9: ALg II, 10: pre-calc 11 CAlC AB or BC or AP Stats 12: AP CALC BC, AP STAT or MV, I think there i also a finance class that counts as math? Kids that are taking algebra in 6th will have a harder time avoiding MV.

Why would kids in 6th grade algebra ever want to avoid math? That seems pretty unlikely.

Super Smart kids can get to algebra in 6th but then they start to focus on writing or theatre or the more artsy side, Algebra is much easier to be good at then Calc.

My kid took 6th grade algebra with 6 other kids. They were all the top of their ES cohort and pretty friendly with each other. Only 1 took MV. That kid went into Engineering. The rest slowed down a bit in HS as they started to focus in less tech areas. They were all strong students but not all focused on math. One went to Johnson and Wales!

[Anonymous]

What's Johnson and Wales?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's Johnson and Wales?

Cooking school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It looks like this IM in 6th pathway leads to calculus in 11th grade and then another year of post-calculus math. I guess some kids split up AB/BC (or in our case in BCC they do the other IB courses). But I also see they offer a DE course of multivariable calculus and linear algebra. Is that something a lot of kids do? BCC parents (or parents in other schools that offer it), are you finding that kids are sticking with it all the way through? Since there are quite a number of kids in IM would that mean that 60-70 (or in some schools 100) kids a year are doing those DE courses? Wow.

MCPS does require math every year the child is in high school. However, AP Statistics is an option for students who take AP Calculus BC as a junior and don't want to take multivariable as a senior. The only math MC offers past calculus is multivariable, differential equations, and linear algebra.

You can look at your child's path but in the end, this will depend upon the child's interest and aptitude.

Several parents I know had children take Hon. Algebra I in 8th and then push through Hon. Geometry in the summer after 8th to put their children on a more advanced track. For some, it has been okay (so far). Others are struggling.

We have two children. One child took Calculus AB as a senior. The other child is taking Calculus BC as a sophomore and signed up to take AP Statistics, multivariable, and differential equations as a junior.

So it's fine to look at the tracks but your child doesn't have to be on the fastest track to be successful. Our child who took Calculus AB as a senior was admitted to two top 20 colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It looks like this IM in 6th pathway leads to calculus in 11th grade and then another year of post-calculus math. I guess some kids split up AB/BC (or in our case in BCC they do the other IB courses). But I also see they offer a DE course of multivariable calculus and linear algebra. Is that something a lot of kids do? BCC parents (or parents in other schools that offer it), are you finding that kids are sticking with it all the way through? Since there are quite a number of kids in IM would that mean that 60-70 (or in some schools 100) kids a year are doing those DE courses? Wow.

MCPS does require math every year the child is in high school. However, AP Statistics is an option for students who take AP Calculus BC as a junior and don't want to take multivariable as a senior. The only math MC offers past calculus is multivariable, differential equations, and linear algebra.

You can look at your child's path but in the end, this will depend upon the child's interest and aptitude.

Several parents I know had children take Hon. Algebra I in 8th and then push through Hon. Geometry in the summer after 8th to put their children on a more advanced track. For some, it has been okay (so far). Others are struggling.

We have two children. One child took Calculus AB as a senior. The other child is taking Calculus BC as a sophomore and signed up to take AP Statistics, multivariable, and differential equations as a junior.

So it's fine to look at the tracks but your child doesn't have to be on the fastest track to be successful. Our child who took Calculus AB as a senior was admitted to two top 20 colleges.

Except there is no honors algebra..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It looks like this IM in 6th pathway leads to calculus in 11th grade and then another year of post-calculus math. I guess some kids split up AB/BC (or in our case in BCC they do the other IB courses). But I also see they offer a DE course of multivariable calculus and linear algebra. Is that something a lot of kids do? BCC parents (or parents in other schools that offer it), are you finding that kids are sticking with it all the way through? Since there are quite a number of kids in IM would that mean that 60-70 (or in some schools 100) kids a year are doing those DE courses? Wow.

MCPS does require math every year the child is in high school. However, AP Statistics is an option for students who take AP Calculus BC as a junior and don't want to take multivariable as a senior. The only math MC offers past calculus is multivariable, differential equations, and linear algebra.

You can look at your child's path but in the end, this will depend upon the child's interest and aptitude.

Several parents I know had children take Hon. Algebra I in 8th and then push through Hon. Geometry in the summer after 8th to put their children on a more advanced track. For some, it has been okay (so far). Others are struggling.

We have two children. One child took Calculus AB as a senior. The other child is taking Calculus BC as a sophomore and signed up to take AP Statistics, multivariable, and differential equations as a junior.

So it's fine to look at the tracks but your child doesn't have to be on the fastest track to be successful. Our child who took Calculus AB as a senior was admitted to two top 20 colleges.

What schools offer MV and differential equations? What is your child doing senior year?

[Anonymous]

Our high school offers m/v and linear algebra, although I think in alternating years. For students who have exhausted all of the math offerings at our high school, they take a math class at MC or UMD (I doubt there are many students in this boat but my kids each know a few).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our high school offers m/v and linear algebra, although I think in alternating years. For students who have exhausted all of the math offerings at our high school, they take a math class at MC or UMD (I doubt there are many students in this boat but my kids each know a few).

DC took Algebra 1 in 6th. We were told that the school runs an MV Calc class when there are enough students registered for it. Otherwise, they take MV through MC junior year. Senior year, they would take math through MC or UMD.

[Anonymous]

That sounds terrible.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I meant I wouldn't want my child to commute during junior and senior years but I do realize some children would thrive under more academic rigor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, I meant I wouldn't want my child to commute during junior and senior years but I do realize some children would thrive under more academic rigor.

We’re not thrilled with it, but DC was on this track before we moved to MCPS. DC is considering Blair SMCS mainly to avoid this scenario. One more day to decide!

[Anonymous]

If the commute isn't too bad and your child would be okay leaving the home school, I would do it to avoid that scenario too.