Experience with grades in 6th Algebra pilot?

[Anonymous]

Is there a list of the pilot schools other than word of mouth?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll tell you what the Algebra 1 teachers need to help...

Curriculum. Not a list of standards, a set of lesson plans they can modify, print, and use.

Multiple versions of assessments (to accommodate retakes and study guides). Paper quizzes and tests in word format that can be adjusted and modified as desired.

Collaborative planning time with other algebra 1 teachers (this is happening at some schools at least)

Vertical articulation opportunities to speak to the algebra 1 teachers in the middle school to align practices to the 7th grade teachers.

It's nothing parents can provide.

A text book, a printed one, should be of great help in this regard. Most also have a lot of practice questions.

Couldn’t agree more about the textbook. It would be a huge help.

I looked at MathSpace and the textbook that comes with each topic and it is, actually, surprisingly good. But lessons are far too short and not enough practice problems.

I love “Introduction to Algebra” by Richard Ruszyk and it comes with a Solution Manual, but without taking an actual AoPS class it is just too much material to recommend for a 6th grader. But, similar textbook that follows FCPS Algebra 1 curriculum would be amazing.

~OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much feedback is your DC getting from their Algebra teacher so far? Asking about the experience from those who are doing Algebra pilot in 6th grade.

Since this is a HS course, we expected to see less, but not only two grades (across all types of assessments) this far into the school year. We know more needs to be graded and grades will be released eventually. Just wondering whether this is a common experience.

Our school has an in-person Algebra teacher who is on the school premises every day if that matters.

What country are you referring to? Algebra 1 is a middle school course in US. FCPS is an exception, but in most public school systems 6th to 8th grade is middle school. .

Algebra 1 can be a middle school course. Historically, it is a high school course and can be for advanced middle school or schools that are trying to push it ahead. Many students in middle school are not ready for it and many middle schools are inflating.

Historically, it depended on where you went to school. My school had Algebra I in 7th for the advanced math folk and in 8th for most in the 1970’s.

[Anonymous]

In England all kids start algebra at 11 years old by default, so at our 6 grade level. This shouldn’t be considered an advanced track. It’s normal by international standards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: In England all kids start algebra at 11 years old by default, so at our 6 grade level. This shouldn’t be considered an advanced track. It’s normal by international standards.

That approach sounds better however I think it’s a lot different than saying sixth graders in an elementary school need to complete a high school course taught by someone who’s not even qualified to teach it

[Anonymous]

Many apologies of this has been previously stated but I was looking on the FCPS edu website and it states that students must score advanced on the math 6 sol and also have 1125 iready. Therefore they needs just 500+ for sol? What percentage iready score is that? Additionally, there is no more iready, so what will be the equivalent in MAP score?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: In England all kids start algebra at 11 years old by default, so at our 6 grade level. This shouldn’t be considered an advanced track. It’s normal by international standards.

They also start math early in the equivalent US grade of preschool. So it's accelerated from the get go. You can't slow walk math in early elementary then rush though/skip upper elementary content like they are doing here and then expect things to go well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many apologies of this has been previously stated but I was looking on the FCPS edu website and it states that students must score advanced on the math 6 sol and also have 1125 iready. Therefore they needs just 500+ for sol? What percentage iready score is that? Additionally, there is no more iready, so what will be the equivalent in MAP score?

Has anyone has the answer to this inquiry???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many apologies of this has been previously stated but I was looking on the FCPS edu website and it states that students must score advanced on the math 6 sol and also have 1125 iready. Therefore they needs just 500+ for sol? What percentage iready score is that? Additionally, there is no more iready, so what will be the equivalent in MAP score?

Has anyone has the answer to this inquiry???

No. I don’t think even teachers know. It was definitely advanced pass on SOL and 99% on math iReady, but I don’t think anyone figured out the exact cut off scores.

~OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many apologies of this has been previously stated but I was looking on the FCPS edu website and it states that students must score advanced on the math 6 sol and also have 1125 iready. Therefore they needs just 500+ for sol? What percentage iready score is that? Additionally, there is no more iready, so what will be the equivalent in MAP score?

Has anyone has the answer to this inquiry???

No. I don’t think even teachers know. It was definitely advanced pass on SOL and 99% on math iReady, but I don’t think anyone figured out the exact cut off scores.

~OP

What about 510 math SOL and 98% iready as examples?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll tell you what the Algebra 1 teachers need to help...

Curriculum. Not a list of standards, a set of lesson plans they can modify, print, and use.

Multiple versions of assessments (to accommodate retakes and study guides). Paper quizzes and tests in word format that can be adjusted and modified as desired.

Collaborative planning time with other algebra 1 teachers (this is happening at some schools at least)

Vertical articulation opportunities to speak to the algebra 1 teachers in the middle school to align practices to the 7th grade teachers.

It's nothing parents can provide.

A text book, a printed one, should be of great help in this regard. Most also have a lot of practice questions.

Couldn’t agree more about the textbook. It would be a huge help.

I looked at MathSpace and the textbook that comes with each topic and it is, actually, surprisingly good. But lessons are far too short and not enough practice problems.

I love “Introduction to Algebra” by Richard Ruszyk and it comes with a Solution Manual, but without taking an actual AoPS class it is just too much material to recommend for a 6th grader. But, similar textbook that follows FCPS Algebra 1 curriculum would be amazing.

~OP

Look at Jacob's algebra or forester algebra or Dolciani algebra. You could also just use the parts of AoPS that are part of the FCPS algebra 1 syllabus instead of the whole book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: In England all kids start algebra at 11 years old by default, so at our 6 grade level. This shouldn’t be considered an advanced track. It’s normal by international standards.

They also start math early in the equivalent US grade of preschool. So it's accelerated from the get go. You can't slow walk math in early elementary then rush though/skip upper elementary content like they are doing here and then expect things to go well.

You can if kids are doing maths after school. Look at the jump from middle school PE to high school JV/V if you really want to see something crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: In England all kids start algebra at 11 years old by default, so at our 6 grade level. This shouldn’t be considered an advanced track. It’s normal by international standards.

US algebra 1 is more advanced than what a typical English 11 year old would learn. Year 7 students do not learn systems of linear equations, quadratic fucntions, factoring quadratics, the quadratic formula, arithmetic with polynomials, exponential functions, etc.

The year 7 algebra content is most similar to prealgebra content in the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many apologies of this has been previously stated but I was looking on the FCPS edu website and it states that students must score advanced on the math 6 sol and also have 1125 iready. Therefore they needs just 500+ for sol? What percentage iready score is that? Additionally, there is no more iready, so what will be the equivalent in MAP score?

Has anyone has the answer to this inquiry???

No. I don’t think even teachers know. It was definitely advanced pass on SOL and 99% on math iReady, but I don’t think anyone figured out the exact cut off scores.

~OP

What about 510 math SOL and 98% iready as examples?

I know only a handful of parents of students doing the pilot at our school. All had advanced SOL and 99% on math iReady. I am aware of one student who had advanced SOL (don’t know the exact score) and 98% on the math iReady and he was not selected for the pilot at our school. But, that is only based on a very small number of the students. None of the parents at our school (including teachers) know what the cut off scores were. ~ OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many apologies of this has been previously stated but I was looking on the FCPS edu website and it states that students must score advanced on the math 6 sol and also have 1125 iready. Therefore they needs just 500+ for sol? What percentage iready score is that? Additionally, there is no more iready, so what will be the equivalent in MAP score?

Has anyone has the answer to this inquiry???

No. I don’t think even teachers know. It was definitely advanced pass on SOL and 99% on math iReady, but I don’t think anyone figured out the exact cut off scores.

~OP

What about 510 math SOL and 98% iready as examples?

No. The threshold was firm. 1 point below meant you weren’t eligible at our school.

Presumably a certain MAP math score will replace the ready score.