Algebra in 6th grade - new selection process?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is algebra in 6th only offered to AAP ?

Currently the pilot is at 25ish schools, to students who scored 500+ on the math 6 SOL and at least an 1125Q on the iready. So it doesn't have to be AAP but they must be in advanced math.

Only a 500? I thought it was more than that. Anyone know what the percentile is for that iready score?

[Anonymous]

500 SOL is very low. I heard that it used to be almost perfect score on SOL as one requirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is algebra in 6th only offered to AAP ?

Currently the pilot is at 25ish schools, to students who scored 500+ on the math 6 SOL and at least an 1125Q on the iready. So it doesn't have to be AAP but they must be in advanced math.

Only a 500? I thought it was more than that. Anyone know what the percentile is for that iready score?

I can’t for the life of me figure that out.

https://hub.lexile.com/quantile-grade-level-charts/
Based on this website:

90th percentile 5th grade: 960
90th percentile 6th grade: 1070
90th percentile 7th grade: 1155 (75th percentile 7th grade: 1030)
90th percentile 8th grade: 1235 (75th percentile 8th grade: 1110)

So I would guess the 1125 is somewhere near where an 85th percentile 7th grader or 80th percentile 8th grader is? Probably pretty close to 99th percentile in 5th grade, but I’m kind of shooting in the dark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is algebra in 6th only offered to AAP ?

Currently the pilot is at 25ish schools, to students who scored 500+ on the math 6 SOL and at least an 1125Q on the iready. So it doesn't have to be AAP but they must be in advanced math.

Only a 500? I thought it was more than that. Anyone know what the percentile is for that iready score?

Maybe 500 was all FCPs needed to get to the “over 75%” are taking algebra 1 by 8th, which is what FCPs sent out in one of latest newsletters.

[Anonymous]

Our elementary school sent an email saying they were midway through the “rational numbers” unit in algebra 1…but there is no rational numbers unit in algebra 1. I think they’re just doing math 7. Curious when they will switch. Are they just killing time until they get more settled or is this intentional?

Algebra: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/curriculum/secondary-7-12/algebra-1-and-algebra-1-honors

Math 7: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle/mathematics/grade-7

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is algebra in 6th only offered to AAP ?

Currently the pilot is at 25ish schools, to students who scored 500+ on the math 6 SOL and at least an 1125Q on the iready. So it doesn't have to be AAP but they must be in advanced math.

Only a 500? I thought it was more than that. Anyone know what the percentile is for that iready score?

Maybe 500 was all FCPs needed to get to the “over 75%” are taking algebra 1 by 8th, which is what FCPs sent out in one of latest newsletters.

That makes no sense, since all the kids taking it in 6th would have taken it in 7th next year anyway (or at latest in 8th). If the goal is more kids taking it before 9th, they need to change procedures and interventions for the kids who take it for the first time in 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary school sent an email saying they were midway through the “rational numbers” unit in algebra 1…but there is no rational numbers unit in algebra 1. I think they’re just doing math 7. Curious when they will switch. Are they just killing time until they get more settled or is this intentional?

Algebra: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/curriculum/secondary-7-12/algebra-1-and-algebra-1-honors

Math 7: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle/mathematics/grade-7

Our school started with Data Analysis (Linear regression etc) last week and they will move on to linear equations this week.

[Anonymous]

Why is this necessary? I have a phD in mechanical engineering - I did not take Algebra until 8th grade. I turned out just fine!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary school sent an email saying they were midway through the “rational numbers” unit in algebra 1…but there is no rational numbers unit in algebra 1. I think they’re just doing math 7. Curious when they will switch. Are they just killing time until they get more settled or is this intentional?

Algebra: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/curriculum/secondary-7-12/algebra-1-and-algebra-1-honors

Math 7: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle/mathematics/grade-7

Our school started with Data Analysis (Linear regression etc) last week and they will move on to linear equations this week.

So elementary schools are not being held to the same pacing the way middle and high schools are. Interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is this necessary? I have a phD in mechanical engineering - I did not take Algebra until 8th grade. I turned out just fine!

It's not necessary. Most things in life aren't. High school sports, middle school band, elementary foreign language immersion.

It's an opportunity for those who want to/are able to handle it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is this necessary? I have a phD in mechanical engineering - I did not take Algebra until 8th grade. I turned out just fine!

Necessary? No.

Nice to have available for the kids who can handle it? Yes.

Rolling out in a clear fashion that is going to help kids? Nope

Selecting kids who are really ready for it? Probably not. Some are ready, some will do fine but really didn't need it, some are going to struggle and will end up returning to AAP math or expunging the grade and retaking the class.

I would guess that there are probably around 200 kids who are ready for Algebra 1H in 6th grade who would benefit from the class as an option, not 500 kids at 20 ES.

[Anonymous]

As an update, the pilot seems to be going well at Haycock; the teacher appears (early on) to be sticking to the honors curriculum. The kids seem excited and engaged in the work. They took two weeks to get into the algebra content; but now it’s moving along well.

[Anonymous]

Are the kids who take Algebra 1 in 6th going to take Geometry in 7th grade then? Also, is the Algebra class in 6th considered Honors? Will it go on the transcript? That’s a lot of pressure for a 6th grader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are the kids who take Algebra 1 in 6th going to take Geometry in 7th grade then? Also, is the Algebra class in 6th considered Honors? Will it go on the transcript? That’s a lot of pressure for a 6th grader.

Yes to all of those.

It is Algebra 1H, they will take Geometry in 7th grade. It does go on the transcript.

As for pressure, that will depend on the kid. I know 7th graders who took A1H last year who felt a lot of pressure. My kid didn't feel any pressure. Some kids will take it, find it hard, and drop back to AAP math. Some kids will take it and ace the class, no problems. Some kids will take it, work hard, and get an A. Some kids will take it, work hard and get a lower grade. Some parents will accept a B, some will expunge the B and the kids will retake the class. I suspect that the county will counsel parents of kids with lower than a B to expunge the grade and retake the class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an update, the pilot seems to be going well at Haycock; the teacher appears (early on) to be sticking to the honors curriculum. The kids seem excited and engaged in the work. They took two weeks to get into the algebra content; but now it’s moving along well.

What makes you assess it's going well? Just wondering ... I have a kid in the program at Haycock also.