Info about going from Math 5 to IM in 6th grade?

[Anonymous]

Our elementary school said our son might be able to switch to IM math next year for middle school instead of the Math 6 class he had registered for.
However, school is out and I was wondering how that actually worked. Do I wait until the start of 6th grade to ask whether he can be put into IM? Does he have to take a placement test, or stay for a month in Math 6 while they check what his level is? Or can I contact someone at the middle school now?

[Anonymous]

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Ask now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask now

DC had a similar placement issue that was solved by emailing counselling over the summer. Then discussing a second issue we were told changing classes as late as end of first quarter was no problem. Definitely in everyone's best interest to fix it now in the scheduling phase but if there's any resistance use performance in the lower class to bolster the argument.

[Anonymous]

We switched DS to IM 6th from regular 5th after a few weeks. DS finished with an "A" for the year, but was always stressed (anxious kid) and now he is set to take Algebra 1 in 7th grade. Truthfully, it was our kid who steamrolled us (along with his teacher saying he could handle it) into letting him take the IM 6th and we wish we had stuck to our guns and kept him on grade level. It would have been a less stressful year. We still talk to DS about taking a step back if he's too stressed, although he complains that he will have already learned the material (fine with me by the way) regardless of whether he's getting an A in the class.

[Anonymous]

Seems like a mistake to me. Unless your kid a math wiz there is no reason to head on this track which will take him to Calculus in 11th grade.

[Anonymous]

def before school starts. I'd do it now if possible so it's not on your mind all summer.

[Anonymous]

I would contact your counselor in middle school and they will tell you the timetable for taking the placement test. IN the interim, have your child do math drills with Khan Academy or tenmarks in preparation for test.

[Anonymous]

My kid is doing compacted math in 4th and 5th, and then I'll pull him back on grade level in 6th. No need to push so hard, create stress, and end up doing calculus in 11th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is doing compacted math in 4th and 5th, and then I'll pull him back on grade level in 6th. No need to push so hard, create stress, and end up doing calculus in 11th grade.

Also no need to over think it and stress about the end game if all is going well. I have a soon to be 10th grader on this track, not a math superstar but capable and not over stressed. This has been the right degree of challenge and kept DC in class with motivated students. This also impacted science placement in 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

For my 10th grader, there was a new policy-science was limited by math (no biology if you had not had geometry). But two years later it all changed back and as long as you took algebra in 8 you can take bio in 9.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is doing compacted math in 4th and 5th, and then I'll pull him back on grade level in 6th. No need to push so hard, create stress, and end up doing calculus in 11th grade.

Is your kid ok with this plan? My kids do not want to be pulled back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is doing compacted math in 4th and 5th, and then I'll pull him back on grade level in 6th. No need to push so hard, create stress, and end up doing calculus in 11th grade.

Is your kid ok with this plan? My kids do not want to be pulled back.

Yes, my kid is fine with it. Obviously if he excels and it isn't stressful then we'll keep him on track---but I don't anticipate that.

[Anonymous]

Counselor here--the counselor will make the change with the approval of the math chair. Start with the math chair, who will tell you if a placemen exam is required. But, the county is letting pretty much anyone skip math 6 now--this is new and jury is out on whether it is wise.