Algebra 1 in high school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If a student struggles in Algebra or takes it too early, they will struggle with the entire math sequence that follows. It’s literally a cornerstone course. those who think it’s remedial are not well versed in why it’s such an important course. No reason to push kids though. It’s always better to ensure they understand concepts before moving forward.

Those who think it is remedial realize that there are a large number of students who will take it in 7th or 8th and won't struggle in higher math classes. Those kids are your kid's competition for college

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a student struggles in Algebra or takes it too early, they will struggle with the entire math sequence that follows. It’s literally a cornerstone course. those who think it’s remedial are not well versed in why it’s such an important course. No reason to push kids though. It’s always better to ensure they understand concepts before moving forward.

Those who think it is remedial realize that there are a large number of students who will take it in 7th or 8th and won't struggle in higher math classes. Those kids are your kid's competition for college

What is going on here with all the competition. Let your kids learn at the pace they need to - not what you want them too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a student struggles in Algebra or takes it too early, they will struggle with the entire math sequence that follows. It’s literally a cornerstone course. those who think it’s remedial are not well versed in why it’s such an important course. No reason to push kids though. It’s always better to ensure they understand concepts before moving forward.

You don’t think kids aren’t struggling? You don’t think there is no reason to push kids through? Are you deliberately being obtuse?

No, but you are. It’s like learning a language. If you don’t have the foundation, you are setting yourself up for unnecessary struggle. Who’s taking these classes? You or your kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a student struggles in Algebra or takes it too early, they will struggle with the entire math sequence that follows. It’s literally a cornerstone course. those who think it’s remedial are not well versed in why it’s such an important course. No reason to push kids though. It’s always better to ensure they understand concepts before moving forward.

Those who think it is remedial realize that there are a large number of students who will take it in 7th or 8th and won't struggle in higher math classes. Those kids are your kid's competition for college

The kids who aren’t rushed through it and not be taught it with a diluted curicullum will score higher than yours on SAT, etc. Those kids are your kid’s competition for college.

[Anonymous]

I have a rising 9th grader taking algebra 1 this year in 8th grade. He’s enrolled in honors geometry for 9th grade, based on teacher recommendation.

He has some friends taking algebra 1 for the first time next year and a couple friends re-taking algebra 1 next year and other friends taking “regular” geometry next year and other friends taking algebra 2 next year. So many options! Teacher recommendations are nice to have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a student struggles in Algebra or takes it too early, they will struggle with the entire math sequence that follows. It’s literally a cornerstone course. those who think it’s remedial are not well versed in why it’s such an important course. No reason to push kids though. It’s always better to ensure they understand concepts before moving forward.

You don’t think kids aren’t struggling? You don’t think there is no reason to push kids through? Are you deliberately being obtuse?

No, but you are. It’s like learning a language. If you don’t have the foundation, you are setting yourself up for unnecessary struggle. Who’s taking these classes?
Point taken, I responded to wrong post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a rising 9th grader taking algebra 1 this year in 8th grade. He’s enrolled in honors geometry for 9th grade, based on teacher recommendation.

He has some friends taking algebra 1 for the first time next year and a couple friends re-taking algebra 1 next year and other friends taking “regular” geometry next year and other friends taking algebra 2 next year. So many options! Teacher recommendations are nice to have.

If he’s in 8th grade we all know he will be in 9th next year. There is no need for the redundant words of “rising 9th grader.” We all know what comes after 8th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a rising 9th grader taking algebra 1 this year in 8th grade. He’s enrolled in honors geometry for 9th grade, based on teacher recommendation.

He has some friends taking algebra 1 for the first time next year and a couple friends re-taking algebra 1 next year and other friends taking “regular” geometry next year and other friends taking algebra 2 next year. So many options! Teacher recommendations are nice to have.

NP. What are couple friends? Friends who are couples? Friends with benefits?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All MCPS schools offer Algebra I in high school. It is basically remedial math.

My DS took algebra 1 in public MS and then took the algebra 1 placement test for Catholic HS. He didn’t pass and neither did other students who got As in public MS. He said a lot of the material in his 9th grade algebra 1 class was new.

Algebra 1 is a class taught to state standards in public school. What material was new?

Taught to state standards. lol!

The nice thing about public schools is that all the testing people complain about demonstrates whether or not the kids have mastered the material. What does Catholic algebra cover that Maryland state standards omit?

Public schools spend a ton of time testing so I imagine that they didn’t finish the entire curriculum in MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a student struggles in Algebra or takes it too early, they will struggle with the entire math sequence that follows. It’s literally a cornerstone course. those who think it’s remedial are not well versed in why it’s such an important course. No reason to push kids though. It’s always better to ensure they understand concepts before moving forward.

Those who think it is remedial realize that there are a large number of students who will take it in 7th or 8th and won't struggle in higher math classes. Those kids are your kid's competition for college

The kids who aren’t rushed through it and not be taught it with a diluted curicullum will score higher than yours on SAT, etc. Those kids are your kid’s competition for college.

There are 4000 colleges to choose from. If you choose to make it a competition, that’s on you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work with teens in a high school. If you aren’t going to school with your kid, you have no idea the amount of cheating going on. Lots of Calculus students who know no calculus. Look at what the colleges are saying. It’s an open secret.

I’d rather my own child lean into what he’s good at rather than taking a math class he’s not ready for.

This ⬆️ 100%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All MCPS schools offer Algebra I in high school. It is basically remedial math.

My DS took algebra 1 in public MS and then took the algebra 1 placement test for Catholic HS. He didn’t pass and neither did other students who got As in public MS. He said a lot of the material in his 9th grade algebra 1 class was new.

Algebra 1 is a class taught to state standards in public school. What material was new?

Taught to state standards. lol!

The nice thing about public schools is that all the testing people complain about demonstrates whether or not the kids have mastered the material. What does Catholic algebra cover that Maryland state standards omit?

Public schools spend a ton of time testing so I imagine that they didn’t finish the entire curriculum in MS.

Let me get this straight, you think that public schools spend so much time testing that they omit material that the tests cover?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is so crazy. I took Algebra I as a freshman (as most did), never hit calculus, and was still admitted to and graduated from a top engineering program. When did this change?

20 years ago LOL

Like you I took it in 9th grade

Did you two grow up in small towns or high poverty areas? Or went to an expensive private high school.

20 years ago, nearly all unhooked "donut hole" students from public schools in well-off areas who admitted to competitive schools (state flagship or similar) on their STEM credentials took calculus in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a student struggles in Algebra or takes it too early, they will struggle with the entire math sequence that follows. It’s literally a cornerstone course. those who think it’s remedial are not well versed in why it’s such an important course. No reason to push kids though. It’s always better to ensure they understand concepts before moving forward.

Those who think it is remedial realize that there are a large number of students who will take it in 7th or 8th and won't struggle in higher math classes. Those kids are your kid's competition for college

The kids who aren’t rushed through it and not be taught it with a diluted curicullum will score higher than yours on SAT, etc. Those kids are your kid’s competition for college.

There are 4000 colleges to choose from. If you choose to make it a competition, that’s on you.

Do you really think that there are 4,000 colleges worth attending? What do you think the a degree from a school in the 3,750 - 4,000 range is worth?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a student struggles in Algebra or takes it too early, they will struggle with the entire math sequence that follows. It’s literally a cornerstone course. those who think it’s remedial are not well versed in why it’s such an important course. No reason to push kids though. It’s always better to ensure they understand concepts before moving forward.

Those who think it is remedial realize that there are a large number of students who will take it in 7th or 8th and won't struggle in higher math classes. Those kids are your kid's competition for college

The kids who aren’t rushed through it and not be taught it with a diluted curicullum will score higher than yours on SAT, etc. Those kids are your kid’s competition for college.

There are 4000 colleges to choose from. If you choose to make it a competition, that’s on you.

Why don’t you read the post that I was responding to? They were the one who brought up the competition aspect.