Algebra 1 - In 6th Grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Algebra I in sixth grade honestly requires a certain level of maturity that has nothing to do with mathematical ability. I took Pre-Algebra in sixth grade and had Bs until 4th quarter. At that point something clicked about getting assignments done accurately and properly preparing for tests, and I had straight As from then through the end of high school. I would not have been mature enough to handle Algebra I in sixth grade even though I probably could have understood the content.

+1 50 kids in Algebra 1 at one ES. Make it make sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Algebra I in sixth grade honestly requires a certain level of maturity that has nothing to do with mathematical ability. I took Pre-Algebra in sixth grade and had Bs until 4th quarter. At that point something clicked about getting assignments done accurately and properly preparing for tests, and I had straight As from then through the end of high school. I would not have been mature enough to handle Algebra I in sixth grade even though I probably could have understood the content.

+1 50 kids in Algebra 1 at one ES. Make it make sense.

50 at one school? I thought there is basically a total of one class across the county. My school has ~130 sixth graders and there are 2 or 3 in Algebra 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Algebra I in sixth grade honestly requires a certain level of maturity that has nothing to do with mathematical ability. I took Pre-Algebra in sixth grade and had Bs until 4th quarter. At that point something clicked about getting assignments done accurately and properly preparing for tests, and I had straight As from then through the end of high school. I would not have been mature enough to handle Algebra I in sixth grade even though I probably could have understood the content.

+1 50 kids in Algebra 1 at one ES. Make it make sense.

50 at one school? I thought there is basically a total of one class across the county. My school has ~130 sixth graders and there are 2 or 3 in Algebra 1.

Yep. Navy ES. Multiple parents called to get their kid in even though they didn’t qualify.

[Anonymous]

I was a teacher. One thing I learned--you need to challenge kids, but you must also be sure they have a strong foundation.
I just wonder of sixth grade algebra is really a good idea. Sometimes too much too soon is not a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Algebra I in sixth grade honestly requires a certain level of maturity that has nothing to do with mathematical ability. I took Pre-Algebra in sixth grade and had Bs until 4th quarter. At that point something clicked about getting assignments done accurately and properly preparing for tests, and I had straight As from then through the end of high school. I would not have been mature enough to handle Algebra I in sixth grade even though I probably could have understood the content.

+1 50 kids in Algebra 1 at one ES. Make it make sense.

Some parents are really underestimating the degree to which good organizational skills are actually more important than raw intelligence for academic success. Better to focus on exceeding academic requirements (eg consistently completing assignments on time and perfectly and achieving high test scores) instead of pushing ahead in the curriculum. Career and academic success are defined more by good executive functioning and social skills than completing modules as quickly as possible. I am not opposed to algebra I for 7th graders, btw. That’s what I did and it meant that I was part of a cohort of much more motivated kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Algebra I in sixth grade honestly requires a certain level of maturity that has nothing to do with mathematical ability. I took Pre-Algebra in sixth grade and had Bs until 4th quarter. At that point something clicked about getting assignments done accurately and properly preparing for tests, and I had straight As from then through the end of high school. I would not have been mature enough to handle Algebra I in sixth grade even though I probably could have understood the content.

+1 50 kids in Algebra 1 at one ES. Make it make sense.

Some parents are really underestimating the degree to which good organizational skills are actually more important than raw intelligence for academic success. Better to focus on exceeding academic requirements (eg consistently completing assignments on time and perfectly and achieving high test scores) instead of pushing ahead in the curriculum. Career and academic success are defined more by good executive functioning and social skills than completing modules as quickly as possible. I am not opposed to algebra I for 7th graders, btw. That’s what I did and it meant that I was part of a cohort of much more motivated kids.

Unfortunately the Tesla drivers want status and to be able to brag that their 6th graders are in Algebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Algebra I in sixth grade honestly requires a certain level of maturity that has nothing to do with mathematical ability. I took Pre-Algebra in sixth grade and had Bs until 4th quarter. At that point something clicked about getting assignments done accurately and properly preparing for tests, and I had straight As from then through the end of high school. I would not have been mature enough to handle Algebra I in sixth grade even though I probably could have understood the content.

+1 50 kids in Algebra 1 at one ES. Make it make sense.

50 at one school? I thought there is basically a total of one class across the county. My school has ~130 sixth graders and there are 2 or 3 in Algebra 1.

Keene mill has 100ish in 6th grade AAP and 50 (half) are in algebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are any of your 6th grade classes still adding kids to algebra? It’s been over a month since school started and ours are still placing kids in that class. Not sure how any of this makes sense. I guess it’s principal placement.

I’d be surprised if it’s principal placement. I can’t even get our principal to return an email.

It was principal placement at our school, was not publicized to anyone in his taught by a teacher who should not be a teacher at all. This program is completely discriminatory.

What do you mean?

Technically you need to be certified to teach algebra but I heard they were lifting that for 6th grade this year. But this case could be a regular unlicensed teacher? Or Long term sub?

[Anonymous]

FCPS’s article about the new program is insane. They’ve got all these sixth graders talking about how good this is going to look on their college applications, and the grade in the course is going on their high school transcripts that will be used in those applications. When I was in sixth grade I was only vaguely aware on college, and I certainly wasn’t ready to have my middle school grades considered as part of my college applications (and for the record I had a 4.0 in high school and went to Stanford—I would not have had a 4.0 if my sixth grade math grade were included in my high school GPA).

https://www.fcps.edu/news/sixth-graders-tackle-algebra-two-years-ahead-schedule-expanding-access-math-rigor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are any of your 6th grade classes still adding kids to algebra? It’s been over a month since school started and ours are still placing kids in that class. Not sure how any of this makes sense. I guess it’s principal placement.

I’d be surprised if it’s principal placement. I can’t even get our principal to return an email.

It was principal placement at our school, was not publicized to anyone in his taught by a teacher who should not be a teacher at all. This program is completely discriminatory.

What do you mean?

Technically you need to be certified to teach algebra but I heard they were lifting that for 6th grade this year. But this case could be a regular unlicensed teacher? Or Long term sub?

The two 6th graders I know of have only had subs so far for algebra.

[Anonymous]

This is kind of crazy to me.

In prior years, typically around 30 students across all 142 FCPS elementary schools took Algebra 1 in sixth grade. This year, more than 700 students are doing so, either by attending a class in their own elementary school or by taking a virtual class if the number of participating students at their base school isn’t enough for a full classroom.

And it's only 1/3 of FCPS elementary schools offering it this year. They are going to have to find some more math classes to offer in high school. Won't these kids run out of math classes junior year? What if they end up not wanting to take Calculus (no way does every 6th grader taking algebra know they will continue an interest in high level math)? Are there other options to continue taking math all 4 years of high school - which I think colleges want to see. I know about AP statistics, Calc AB and Calc BC. What else is there beyond Algebra 2?

[Anonymous]

I teach AAP 6th and am certified in Algebra and middle school math. My school is not doing the pilot. But, I do offer extensions into Algebra concepts. I am against this pilot though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS’s article about the new program is insane. They’ve got all these sixth graders talking about how good this is going to look on their college applications, and the grade in the course is going on their high school transcripts that will be used in those applications. When I was in sixth grade I was only vaguely aware on college, and I certainly wasn’t ready to have my middle school grades considered as part of my college applications (and for the record I had a 4.0 in high school and went to Stanford—I would not have had a 4.0 if my sixth grade math grade were included in my high school GPA).

https://www.fcps.edu/news/sixth-graders-tackle-algebra-two-years-ahead-schedule-expanding-access-math-rigor

This whole thing just seems incredibly misguided. They’ll be taking calculus as 10th graders. Does every high school offer two years of math beyond calculus? Do colleges want students who finished calculus two years early? This just seems like a nightmare.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I have a 7th grader taking Algebra and I was already worried about high school math options. Even crazier for 6th grade start. Can someone lay out the math class options through high school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS’s article about the new program is insane. They’ve got all these sixth graders talking about how good this is going to look on their college applications, and the grade in the course is going on their high school transcripts that will be used in those applications. When I was in sixth grade I was only vaguely aware on college, and I certainly wasn’t ready to have my middle school grades considered as part of my college applications (and for the record I had a 4.0 in high school and went to Stanford—I would not have had a 4.0 if my sixth grade math grade were included in my high school GPA).

https://www.fcps.edu/news/sixth-graders-tackle-algebra-two-years-ahead-schedule-expanding-access-math-rigor

Knowledge of college and wanting to attend a good college is not really surprising in an area with a larger percentage of the population holding graduate degrees. Most kids know people with PhDs at many of the schools in FCPS. Parents are activly rooting for their College Sports teams. There are college flags waving all over the place. Alumni events are not exactly uncommon. Neighborhoods have kids going to college. ES start talking about college early on, especially at Title 1 and near Title 1 schools as a way of encouraging kids to stay focused on school. Young Scholars and other programs are geared to help kids see school as important and to think about attending college.

This is most likely a response to the increasing number of kids taking Geometry in the summer between 7th and 8th grade because they kid, or their parent, is desperate to get their kid into Algebra 2 in 8th grade.

I would agree that most kids are not ready for A1H in 6th grade. I don't have an issue with the pilot program, a few FCPS schools offered the opportunity, but the vast majority did not. For those of us with kids who love math and are strong at math, it was frustrating. DS has been active in math competitions, his choice, since he was in 4th grade. He scored in the 99th percentile on the AMC 8 as a 6th grader. He would have been fine in A1H if he had the opportunity.

The pilot is rushed, and I don't think that they did a great job in establishing criteria for participating. Nor do I think that they are doing a good job in offering it. Virtual classes for something like A1H for 6th graders is not a good choice. Offer it at Centers and require that kids participating have to move to the Center, so they have the kids for at least one class full of kids and a certified teacher. I suspect that they have selected far too many students and am disappointed to hear that they are adding kids to the class based on parent demand. This is a class that should have a strict selection process that is not flexible.

I hope that they have some type of evaluation towards the end of the quarter and move students who are not understanding the material back to the regular AAP math class. I wish they could have a policy that if a child earns below a B that the grade is expunged and they have to retake the class.

As for classes for kids that far ahead, there are classes. Most every school offers multivariate calculus and linear algebra. Plenty of schools offer DE math classes beyond that. And if you think that there are a lot of kids in A1H in the Title 1 schools feeding into the lower SES HS you are crazy. This is mainly going to be at MC and UMC ES where the HS are used to having kids accelerated in math, it is not going to be hard to accommodate a larger group of accelerated kids.