Algebra 2 in 8th Grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So if my 6th grade DD qualifies for algebra 1 next year (not a sure thing by any stretch), are you really telling me that some of her peers will do geometry in the summer to get to algebra 2 in 8th grade? Coz that's just nuts. Can't believe the schools allow it. She has some classmates that are doing algebra 1 in 6th grade but those kids are in a special category, math-wise. The rest of the kids in her class aren't really significantly different than her and I cannot see any good reason to allow her to do online summer geometry. Wtf?

My daughter *chose* to take geometry over the summer. I strongly advised her against it. But, she wanted to. About 30% of the kids in summer geometry ended up dropping out. The problem was the speed of the class: there was no time for the concepts to sink in. DD did ok (B+), and is taking Alg II honors...oh, she tool algebra in the 8th grade.

[Anonymous]

If you do not have one of those children who has serious internal drive and is highly intelligent and chooses on their own to spend their time to take a summer class, then you have no business judging those who do. Not everyone who takes a summer class was forced to do so by their parents. I applaud those parents who allow their kid do what is in their child's best interest, even if it means listening to judgmental comments from uninformed parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you do not have one of those children who has serious internal drive and is highly intelligent and chooses on their own to spend their time to take a summer class, then you have no business judging those who do. Not everyone who takes a summer class was forced to do so by their parents. I applaud those parents who allow their kid do what is in their child's best interest, even if it means listening to judgmental comments from uninformed parents.

But what is your role as a parent? If her friends are interested and her teacher says she is qualified, I can guarantee we'll be having this conversation. She'll say "but Mom, I really want to. I will fall behind etc etc". Like with other inappropriate things she wants, I will look her in the eye and say "I love your enthusiasm, honey, but your brain needs a break. Hang out at the pool, we'll plan some fabulous family vacations and pick a couple of camps you want me to sign you up for. If you want to do math, let's figure out how you can tutor third graders who are struggling this summer." she'll complain for a bit, have a great summer, take an appropriate and challenging math class in 8th grade, apparently lose all hope of going to TJ (we'll live), and hopefully be a touch more protected against depression and suicide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you do not have one of those children who has serious internal drive and is highly intelligent and chooses on their own to spend their time to take a summer class, then you have no business judging those who do. Not everyone who takes a summer class was forced to do so by their parents. I applaud those parents who allow their kid do what is in their child's best interest, even if it means listening to judgmental comments from uninformed parents.

But what is your role as a parent? If her friends are interested and her teacher says she is qualified, I can guarantee we'll be having this conversation. She'll say "but Mom, I really want to. I will fall behind etc etc". Like with other inappropriate things she wants, I will look her in the eye and say "I love your enthusiasm, honey, but your brain needs a break. Hang out at the pool, we'll plan some fabulous family vacations and pick a couple of camps you want me to sign you up for. If you want to do math, let's figure out how you can tutor third graders who are struggling this summer." she'll complain for a bit, have a great summer, take an appropriate and challenging math class in 8th grade, apparently lose all hope of going to TJ (we'll live), and hopefully be a touch more protected against depression and suicide.

That's interesting. I think I will take the same approach that I took with Boy Scouts and football - I won't suggest it but will consider it if my kid really wants to do it and explain why I feel the way I do and hear out how they feel and still ultimately let them make the decision. So far I have 1 Boy Scout and no football players . (I was initially against it for religious reasons not being Christian but was happy to see they recently changed to accept transgender children).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you do not have one of those children who has serious internal drive and is highly intelligent and chooses on their own to spend their time to take a summer class, then you have no business judging those who do. Not everyone who takes a summer class was forced to do so by their parents. I applaud those parents who allow their kid do what is in their child's best interest, even if it means listening to judgmental comments from uninformed parents.

But what is your role as a parent? If her friends are interested and her teacher says she is qualified, I can guarantee we'll be having this conversation. She'll say "but Mom, I really want to. I will fall behind etc etc". Like with other inappropriate things she wants, I will look her in the eye and say "I love your enthusiasm, honey, but your brain needs a break. Hang out at the pool, we'll plan some fabulous family vacations and pick a couple of camps you want me to sign you up for. If you want to do math, let's figure out how you can tutor third graders who are struggling this summer." she'll complain for a bit, have a great summer, take an appropriate and challenging math class in 8th grade, apparently lose all hope of going to TJ (we'll live), and hopefully be a touch more protected against depression and suicide.

That's interesting. I think I will take the same approach that I took with Boy Scouts and football - I won't suggest it but will consider it if my kid really wants to do it and explain why I feel the way I do and hear out how they feel and still ultimately let them make the decision. So far I have 1 Boy Scout and no football players . (I was initially against it for religious reasons not being Christian but was happy to see they recently changed to accept transgender children).

Yeah - what I didn't say here is that I would be finding some neuroscience and cognitive science articles about learning and brain development and showing her why I think it's a bad idea.

I had a similar experience with my son. He made it into the AAP program but didn't want to go because of friends, he liked his current school, etc. We told him that he needed to go for a year and then we would re-evaluate. I didn't think he had either the ability or the information to make this decision himself and I believe the same is true in the choice to accelerate math via summer courses on stuff that should take a year to fully and properly master.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you do not have one of those children who has serious internal drive and is highly intelligent and chooses on their own to spend their time to take a summer class, then you have no business judging those who do. Not everyone who takes a summer class was forced to do so by their parents. I applaud those parents who allow their kid do what is in their child's best interest, even if it means listening to judgmental comments from uninformed parents.

But what is your role as a parent? If her friends are interested and her teacher says she is qualified, I can guarantee we'll be having this conversation. She'll say "but Mom, I really want to. I will fall behind etc etc". Like with other inappropriate things she wants, I will look her in the eye and say "I love your enthusiasm, honey, but your brain needs a break. Hang out at the pool, we'll plan some fabulous family vacations and pick a couple of camps you want me to sign you up for. If you want to do math, let's figure out how you can tutor third graders who are struggling this summer." she'll complain for a bit, have a great summer, take an appropriate and challenging math class in 8th grade, apparently lose all hope of going to TJ (we'll live), and hopefully be a touch more protected against depression and suicide.

That's interesting. I think I will take the same approach that I took with Boy Scouts and football - I won't suggest it but will consider it if my kid really wants to do it and explain why I feel the way I do and hear out how they feel and still ultimately let them make the decision. So far I have 1 Boy Scout and no football players . (I was initially against it for religious reasons not being Christian but was happy to see they recently changed to accept transgender children).

Yeah - what I didn't say here is that I would be finding some neuroscience and cognitive science articles about learning and brain development and showing her why I think it's a bad idea.

I had a similar experience with my son. He made it into the AAP program but didn't want to go because of friends, he liked his current school, etc. We told him that he needed to go for a year and then we would re-evaluate. I didn't think he had either the ability or the information to make this decision himself and I believe the same is true in the choice to accelerate math via summer courses on stuff that should take a year to fully and properly master.

How did the AAP work out? Did he stay in? Were you all glad with however it worked?

I agree I think age 7/8 is pretty young to be making a big decision like that.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you do not have one of those children who has serious internal drive and is highly intelligent and chooses on their own to spend their time to take a summer class, then you have no business judging those who do. Not everyone who takes a summer class was forced to do so by their parents. I applaud those parents who allow their kid do what is in their child's best interest, even if it means listening to judgmental comments from uninformed parents.

+1

And my role as a parent is to nurture their interests. My child was interested in taking Geometry between 7-8, he was also interested in playing sports, going on vacation and hanging at the pool.............all of which he did that summer. Different kids, different interests. You parent your kid, I'll parent mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure RR offers Algebra 2. Carson MS has 2 classes of students. There were @10 advanced kids who took Algebra in 6th grade who took Geometry in 7th and were slated for Algebra 2 in 8th grade. But then over the summer about 40 kids spent there summer taking Geometry (yes they are all trying to get into TJ so their parents put them into this over the summer) so now there are 2 full classes at Carson. Rocky Run also sends a ton of kids to TJ so I'm sure they have Algebra 2.

DD is in 8th grade at RRMS. She says that the kids who are taking Algebra 2 spend their math time in the media center supposedly doing their math homework. They still have to take the course on-line at home after school. I think it is a terrible shame that these kids are learning two core math courses (Geometry on line over the summer and Algebra II now) on line rather than face to face with a teacher. I really wonder how these kids will do when they get to the higher level HS math courses such as BC Calculus.

Unless these kids are part of the 1-2% of truly gifted math kids in the county, what are they gaining by hyper accelerating in math?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure RR offers Algebra 2. Carson MS has 2 classes of students. There were @10 advanced kids who took Algebra in 6th grade who took Geometry in 7th and were slated for Algebra 2 in 8th grade. But then over the summer about 40 kids spent there summer taking Geometry (yes they are all trying to get into TJ so their parents put them into this over the summer) so now there are 2 full classes at Carson. Rocky Run also sends a ton of kids to TJ so I'm sure they have Algebra 2.

DD is in 8th grade at RRMS. She says that the kids who are taking Algebra 2 spend their math time in the media center supposedly doing their math homework. They still have to take the course on-line at home after school. I think it is a terrible shame that these kids are learning two core math courses (Geometry on line over the summer and Algebra II now) on line rather than face to face with a teacher. I really wonder how these kids will do when they get to the higher level HS math courses such as BC Calculus.

Unless these kids are part of the 1-2% of truly gifted math kids in the county, what are they gaining by hyper accelerating in math?

So Rocky run does not have teacher taught Algebra 2? How many kids are doing Algebra 2 in RRMS?

[Anonymous]

I also feel bad for these kids who are forced to take Geometry over the summer. My DC took Algebra in 6th so it was a natural progression to take Algebra 2 in 8th. And no we didn't make DC take this in 6th. The teachers encouraged it in our case - no Sat school or kumon. DC says it's shocking how many of the kids in Algebra 2 just don't get the concepts. They have been 'artificially' accelerated through Geometry by their parents to give them an edge into TJ. That's the only reason to do it. 2 kids were caught cheating this year - yes 8th grade, because of the pressure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also feel bad for these kids who are forced to take Geometry over the summer. My DC took Algebra in 6th so it was a natural progression to take Algebra 2 in 8th. And no we didn't make DC take this in 6th. The teachers encouraged it in our case - no Sat school or kumon. DC says it's shocking how many of the kids in Algebra 2 just don't get the concepts. They have been 'artificially' accelerated through Geometry by their parents to give them an edge into TJ. That's the only reason to do it. 2 kids were caught cheating this year - yes 8th grade, because of the pressure.

My son is on the path to take Algebra 1 in sixth grade. Where does your child take the class? Online at school or at home after school like a previous poster mentioned?

[Anonymous]

There were 5 children in the ES who took Algebra in 6th grade. They took the MS bus to MS in the morning and after 1st period took a bus to the ES.

[Anonymous]

Carson has a few kids taking PreCalc in 8th grade. They go to the HS to take this class.

[Anonymous]

Site based management means not every school offers Alg in 6th grade, thus for kids who are truly interested in math taking a class in the summer is not big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Carson has a few kids taking PreCalc in 8th grade. They go to the HS to take this class.

This is ridiculous! Are they such mathematical geniuses that they will win the nobel prize in math in the near future? What math will they take in 11th and 12th grade?
Do they really understand the concepts? Besides TJ, few HS offer much past BC Calculus.