how many 6th graders are taking Algebra I at Rachel Carson MS?

[Anonymous]

Why are so many people in Northern VA so eager to push their kids ahead in math? If the kids don't get a good foundation, they will only suffer when they get to higher level math. I have heard of college professors complaining that kids come to them now totally unprepared. Is this county so full of math genius's? The true ones would easily be spotted by their elementary math teachers.

[Anonymous]

Because my kid loves math and excels in it. It is beyond frustrating the that acceleration is teacher/principal/school dependent. I was able to provide (and pay for) the enrichment my child needed. I'm not sure that's the case county wide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are so many people in Northern VA so eager to push their kids ahead in math? If the kids don't get a good foundation, they will only suffer when they get to higher level math. I have heard of college professors complaining that kids come to them now totally unprepared. Is this county so full of math genius's? The true ones would easily be spotted by their elementary math teachers.

My son's 6th grade teacher told me in a conference that he was appalled at how fast the system (and parents) are trying to rush their kids through the basics. As you said, many wind up later being completely unprepared and in over their heads. The math acceleration frenzy in FCPS is crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't this be listed in the defined math sequence. Some parents are aware of it. Some parents are not aware of it. This is completely unfair that some students have the opportunity and some don't. If such an opportunity is given, it should be accessible to all the schools and not Principal dependent.

You hit the nail on the head with this one. Opportunities for advancement are given to some kids in some parts of the district, and not to others in other parts of the district. This is different than a language program, or the AP/IB discussion, which all of kids have the opportunity to access by applying / attending a different school. Living in part of the district where my children do NOT have this opportunity, it's very discouraging to read that my very driven math/science focussed child is never going to have the opportunities that these other kids have, unless we pay for a significant amount of summer school.

Life is not fair and if this is one of the more unfair things you have encountered in your child'a life- he is one of the lucky ones.

PP you are just wrong here. It is not about fair and unfair. If the school system is allowing this then it should be available for all students. IMO, they should stop allowing it at all and let the parents be responsible for getting their child, very advanced for grade, immersion.

The very same argument could be made for AAP. If it is going to be available for some kids, it needs to be available to all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't this be listed in the defined math sequence. Some parents are aware of it. Some parents are not aware of it. This is completely unfair that some students have the opportunity and some don't. If such an opportunity is given, it should be accessible to all the schools and not Principal dependent.

You hit the nail on the head with this one. Opportunities for advancement are given to some kids in some parts of the district, and not to others in other parts of the district. This is different than a language program, or the AP/IB discussion, which all of kids have the opportunity to access by applying / attending a different school. Living in part of the district where my children do NOT have this opportunity, it's very discouraging to read that my very driven math/science focussed child is never going to have the opportunities that these other kids have, unless we pay for a significant amount of summer school.

Life is not fair and if this is one of the more unfair things you have encountered in your child'a life- he is one of the lucky ones.

PP you are just wrong here. It is not about fair and unfair. If the school system is allowing this then it should be available for all students. IMO, they should stop allowing it at all and let the parents be responsible for getting their child, very advanced for grade, immersion.

The very same argument could be made for AAP. If it is going to be available for some kids, it needs to be available to all.

AAP is available to all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't this be listed in the defined math sequence. Some parents are aware of it. Some parents are not aware of it. This is completely unfair that some students have the opportunity and some don't. If such an opportunity is given, it should be accessible to all the schools and not Principal dependent.

You hit the nail on the head with this one. Opportunities for advancement are given to some kids in some parts of the district, and not to others in other parts of the district. This is different than a language program, or the AP/IB discussion, which all of kids have the opportunity to access by applying / attending a different school. Living in part of the district where my children do NOT have this opportunity, it's very discouraging to read that my very driven math/science focussed child is never going to have the opportunities that these other kids have, unless we pay for a significant amount of summer school.

Life is not fair and if this is one of the more unfair things you have encountered in your child'a life- he is one of the lucky ones.

PP you are just wrong here. It is not about fair and unfair. If the school system is allowing this then it should be available for all students. IMO, they should stop allowing it at all and let the parents be responsible for getting their child, very advanced for grade, immersion.

The very same argument could be made for AAP. If it is going to be available for some kids, it needs to be available to all.

AAP is available to all.

Really? You're going to go down that silly road again?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't this be listed in the defined math sequence. Some parents are aware of it. Some parents are not aware of it. This is completely unfair that some students have the opportunity and some don't. If such an opportunity is given, it should be accessible to all the schools and not Principal dependent.

You hit the nail on the head with this one. Opportunities for advancement are given to some kids in some parts of the district, and not to others in other parts of the district. This is different than a language program, or the AP/IB discussion, which all of kids have the opportunity to access by applying / attending a different school. Living in part of the district where my children do NOT have this opportunity, it's very discouraging to read that my very driven math/science focussed child is never going to have the opportunities that these other kids have, unless we pay for a significant amount of summer school.

Life is not fair and if this is one of the more unfair things you have encountered in your child'a life- he is one of the lucky ones.

PP you are just wrong here. It is not about fair and unfair. If the school system is allowing this then it should be available for all students. IMO, they should stop allowing it at all and let the parents be responsible for getting their child, very advanced for grade, immersion.

The very same argument could be made for AAP. If it is going to be available for some kids, it needs to be available to all.

AAP is available to all.

Really? You're going to go down that silly road again?

It seems you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't this be listed in the defined math sequence. Some parents are aware of it. Some parents are not aware of it. This is completely unfair that some students have the opportunity and some don't. If such an opportunity is given, it should be accessible to all the schools and not Principal dependent.

You hit the nail on the head with this one. Opportunities for advancement are given to some kids in some parts of the district, and not to others in other parts of the district. This is different than a language program, or the AP/IB discussion, which all of kids have the opportunity to access by applying / attending a different school. Living in part of the district where my children do NOT have this opportunity, it's very discouraging to read that my very driven math/science focussed child is never going to have the opportunities that these other kids have, unless we pay for a significant amount of summer school.

Life is not fair and if this is one of the more unfair things you have encountered in your child'a life- he is one of the lucky ones.

PP you are just wrong here. It is not about fair and unfair. If the school system is allowing this then it should be available for all students. IMO, they should stop allowing it at all and let the parents be responsible for getting their child, very advanced for grade, immersion.

The very same argument could be made for AAP. If it is going to be available for some kids, it needs to be available to all.

AAP is available to all.

Really? You're going to go down that silly road again?

It seems you are.

Have at it. I know how you enjoy listing all the hoops kids have to jump through in order for "AAP to be available to all".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At Longfellow, the 6th graders who are eligible and taking Algebra I Honor are in the class with other 7th AAP students. There are no 8th graders in that class.

From my understanding, 8th graders taking Algebra, and NOT Algebra Honor. I was told only 7th graders taking Algebra are eligible to be in the class designated with "honor". The reason being you get the 0.5 GPA bump. May not seem like a big deal but I suppose that helps with those taking the HS course/credit in younger grades. I'm pretty sure 6th graders get that same courtesy as well?

My knowledge is only with Longfellow.

My 6th grader is in Algebra 1 Honors and the students are all 6th graders or 8th graders. They are al taking the honors class.

I feel for those of you whose schools are not supportive. Ours wasn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't this be listed in the defined math sequence. Some parents are aware of it. Some parents are not aware of it. This is completely unfair that some students have the opportunity and some don't. If such an opportunity is given, it should be accessible to all the schools and not Principal dependent.

You hit the nail on the head with this one. Opportunities for advancement are given to some kids in some parts of the district, and not to others in other parts of the district. This is different than a language program, or the AP/IB discussion, which all of kids have the opportunity to access by applying / attending a different school. Living in part of the district where my children do NOT have this opportunity, it's very discouraging to read that my very driven math/science focussed child is never going to have the opportunities that these other kids have, unless we pay for a significant amount of summer school.

Life is not fair and if this is one of the more unfair things you have encountered in your child'a life- he is one of the lucky ones.

PP you are just wrong here. It is not about fair and unfair. If the school system is allowing this then it should be available for all students. IMO, they should stop allowing it at all and let the parents be responsible for getting their child, very advanced for grade, immersion.

The very same argument could be made for AAP. If it is going to be available for some kids, it needs to be available to all.

AAP is available to all.

Really? You're going to go down that silly road again?

It seems you are.

Have at it. I know how you enjoy listing all the hoops kids have to jump through in order for "AAP to be available to all".

Advanced Academic Programs is not simply Level IV. As an example, see how FCPS implements the JASON Project:

http://www.ebmcdn.net/fcps/fcps_video_viewer.php?viewnode=718f48e769cac

This is for ALL students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't this be listed in the defined math sequence. Some parents are aware of it. Some parents are not aware of it. This is completely unfair that some students have the opportunity and some don't. If such an opportunity is given, it should be accessible to all the schools and not Principal dependent.

You hit the nail on the head with this one. Opportunities for advancement are given to some kids in some parts of the district, and not to others in other parts of the district. This is different than a language program, or the AP/IB discussion, which all of kids have the opportunity to access by applying / attending a different school. Living in part of the district where my children do NOT have this opportunity, it's very discouraging to read that my very driven math/science focussed child is never going to have the opportunities that these other kids have, unless we pay for a significant amount of summer school.

Life is not fair and if this is one of the more unfair things you have encountered in your child'a life- he is one of the lucky ones.

PP you are just wrong here. It is not about fair and unfair. If the school system is allowing this then it should be available for all students. IMO, they should stop allowing it at all and let the parents be responsible for getting their child, very advanced for grade, immersion.

The very same argument could be made for AAP. If it is going to be available for some kids, it needs to be available to all.

AAP is available to all.

Really? You're going to go down that silly road again?

It seems you are.

Have at it. I know how you enjoy listing all the hoops kids have to jump through in order for "AAP to be available to all".

Advanced Academic Programs is not simply Level IV. As an example, see how FCPS implements the JASON Project:

http://www.ebmcdn.net/fcps/fcps_video_viewer.php?viewnode=718f48e769cac

This is for ALL students.

This has nothing to do with segregating kids into AAP and non-AAP, which is the issue. As you know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At Longfellow, the 6th graders who are eligible and taking Algebra I Honor are in the class with other 7th AAP students. There are no 8th graders in that class.

From my understanding, 8th graders taking Algebra, and NOT Algebra Honor. I was told only 7th graders taking Algebra are eligible to be in the class designated with "honor". The reason being you get the 0.5 GPA bump. May not seem like a big deal but I suppose that helps with those taking the HS course/credit in younger grades. I'm pretty sure 6th graders get that same courtesy as well?

My knowledge is only with Longfellow.

My 6th grader is in Algebra 1 Honors and the students are all 6th graders or 8th graders. They are al taking the honors class.

I feel for those of you whose schools are not supportive. Ours wasn't.

Eighth graders may take either honors or regular algebra. Seventh graders taking algebra may only take honors, so it makes sense that sixth graders would only take honors also.

[Anonymous]

The thing is that there is a known, county-wide screening process for AAP. For math acceleration in ES it is COMPLETELY principal dependent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The thing is that there is a known, county-wide screening process for AAP. For math acceleration in ES it is COMPLETELY principal dependent.

It is also completely principal dependent for Level II and Level III services. (I would argue Level III services are more important to be consistent from school to school.)

[Anonymous]

The kids who plan to go to college usually take it in 6th or 7th grade, so they are on track to take Calculus 10th or 11th grade. This is because it's now competitive to get into college, even a state college. Going to college and getting a degree is not a walk-in-the-park like it used to be. It's very competitive and only the smartest people hold Bachelor's Degrees.