Algebra in 6th grade - new selection process?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So math path is:

10: Calc BC
11: AP stats or multivar/linear algebra.
What do they take in 12th?

They have said that MultiVar and Linear Algebra will each become a year long course rather than a semester long course. It makes the whole hurry up to get to Algebra in 6th worthless unless they go to TJ. The Multi Var and Linear Alg courses already at the semester length are not challenging to kids who excel in math. The excellent teacher of these courses at our HS has been very honest that half the students in them are not ready and the other half find it too easy so it makes it very challenging to teach and grade in an effective way. I'm not in favor of moving the frenzy surrounding TJ even earlier but kids who get an A in Alg in 6th, Geo in 7th, and Alg 2 in 8th with pass advanced on the SOLs should be given priority for TJ admissions or they will certainly face boredom in Math in HS. Trying to take courses at Nova (nothing advanced enough is offered) or GMU (impossible to schedule based on having to late register as a part time student) just moves the problem of being less challenged in 6th grade to 11th and 12th grade.

[Anonymous]

Which private school here accelerate math? Since which grade?

Anonymous wrote:My kid got a high advanced pass on 6th SOL and high iready score and it would benefit from this pilot. However we did not receive an email. I sent a email to school and waiting to hear back.

This will be a good choice for the kids who already did algebra enrichment. However if our school is not participate this pilot, we will miss this chance.

I know some family moved to private because it’s hard to skip the math in FCPS. If people know about this sooner, they would move to the school who participate the pilot program.

[Anonymous]

I am wondering if this pilot will continue next year? Our school went from having few few kids taking algebra, one or two to having two full classes of algebra. It is a 2400% increase. Is this a good thing for so many kids to skip so many years of math? Why the big push? What will be next? Algebra in 5th and later 4th? How far will this madness go?

[Anonymous]

I'm curious- for those doing it, how is it going?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am wondering if this pilot will continue next year? Our school went from having few few kids taking algebra, one or two to having two full classes of algebra. It is a 2400% increase. Is this a good thing for so many kids to skip so many years of math? Why the big push? What will be next? Algebra in 5th and later 4th? How far will this madness go?

Reid doesn’t need to care or think about this. Get contract will be up before these kids get to 11th and 12th where the data will likely show more than FCPS “expected” to just stop math, which was not their intent and Reid just wants the percentages now for her resume- she is already using them in her communications. She is short term resume building.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So math path is:

10: Calc BC
11: AP stats or multivar/linear algebra.
What do they take in 12th?

They have said that MultiVar and Linear Algebra will each become a year long course rather than a semester long course. It makes the whole hurry up to get to Algebra in 6th worthless unless they go to TJ. The Multi Var and Linear Alg courses already at the semester length are not challenging to kids who excel in math. The excellent teacher of these courses at our HS has been very honest that half the students in them are not ready and the other half find it too easy so it makes it very challenging to teach and grade in an effective way. I'm not in favor of moving the frenzy surrounding TJ even earlier but kids who get an A in Alg in 6th, Geo in 7th, and Alg 2 in 8th with pass advanced on the SOLs should be given priority for TJ admissions or they will certainly face boredom in Math in HS. Trying to take courses at Nova (nothing advanced enough is offered) or GMU (impossible to schedule based on having to late register as a part time student) just moves the problem of being less challenged in 6th grade to 11th and 12th grade.

Already more kids who take Alg 2 in 8th than number of TJ spots and by acceptance stats, not all kids going in will be done with Alg 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So math path is:
6:Algebra
7: Geometry
8: Algebra 2
9: pre Calc
10: Calc BC
11: AP stats or multivar/linear algebra.
What do they take in 12th?

I say this as someone who has a degree in math. This is insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So math path is:
6:Algebra
7: Geometry
8: Algebra 2
9: pre Calc
10: Calc BC
11: AP stats or multivar/linear algebra.
What do they take in 12th?

I say this as someone who has a degree in math. This is insane.

Agreed. I hope our school gets rid of the pilot. I also hope that FCPS gets rid of AAP centers and goes back to the GT ways of the past. That seems like a better place to implement it.