Iowa

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What if my DS does not score enough to get into Algebra 1 in 7th grade? Is there a second chance or another way to get into maths honors?

With 7th grade Algebra I:
7th: Alg I. 8th: Geometry, 9th:Algebra II, 10th: pre-calc, 11th: calc, 12th: multivariable calc/linear Alg.

Kids who don't earn high enough scores for Algebra I in 7th:
7th: Math 7 Honors, 8th: Algebra I, 9th: Geometry, 10th: Algebra II, 11th: precalc, 12th: calc

I guess kids on this track could take summer geometry between 8th and 9th. If a kid isn't smart/advanced enough to place into 7th grade Algebra, then having that kid cram geometry into a summer is a very bad idea.

I took Geometry in summer school to get ahead in math, and I'm so glad I did. Cannot imagine wasting a whole school year on such a boring subject.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What? Everyone tutors their kids in AAP? Really? I don't know anyone who does (6th and 4th grade in AAP). Unless they keep it on the DL so everyone thinks their kids is natural genius.

My 4th graders class is about a year behind the normal curriculum though. Virtual learning is not going well.

Yep. This is what they do.

I have 4th and 6th graders in AAP. We moved to McLean last year and my kids were probably average within AAP. There were so many advanced kids within AAP. Our kids have received tutoring in writing and math since pandemic and now they are also advanced. I don’t broadcast it but I think anyone with means would have supplemented during this covid time. We will probably continue the tutoring, especially in writing.

How do you find tutors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 6th grader in AAP who has always done well in math and prior to this year I would have wanted him in Algevra for 7th. We don’t do any outside math tutoring.

I am concerned that missing 1/3rd of last year (we were at a school that did not teach new material) and then this year is substandard distance learning has not prepared him well for Algebra. There has to be a large subset of similarly situated kids. Unless everyone is secretly tutoring their kids on the side.

Anyway, I predict fewer kids taking algebra next year in 7th.

Can we skip the test if we aren’t interested in algebra next year?

Everyone is tutoring their kids. And yes, you can skip the test if you're not interested. That said, we didn't think our child was ready but he took the test. He scored a 99 on IAAT and has a 104.3% on Algebra this year so far. So maybe let your son take the test and if he scores 95%+ let him try the class. If he doesn't then don't take the class. The score cutoff is 91%, BTW.

how does your kid have a 104.3 in algebra? This is what sucks, teachers. My DC has no chance at extra credit at all. With a rolling grade book your kid is almost guaranteed an A now being halfway thru the year. One of her friends at LB has a 104 as well. DC teacher no nonsense, no extra credit. It is really demoralizing when you are working hard.

This is extremely teacher dependent. I’ve had two kids take algebra in 7th. One would give a test 2x a quarter. There were 5 questions on it. If you missed the answer - you were already at an 80. Other teachers offer a lot of extra credit, allow test retakes, allow homework and quizzes to count for a lot, etc. don’t rely on getting a teacher like this.

[Anonymous]

Any website where my DS can do practice test? Even if its paid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if my DS does not score enough to get into Algebra 1 in 7th grade? Is there a second chance or another way to get into maths honors?

Then it is not a good fit.
Even if they just clear the threshold I would not have them take it; I think the class is really designed for kids that ace the Iowa test

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What if my DS does not score enough to get into Algebra 1 in 7th grade? Is there a second chance or another way to get into maths honors?

Then it is not a good fit.
Even if they just clear the threshold I would not have them take it; I think the class is really designed for kids that ace the Iowa test

This. Don't push your kid into a class they can't handle or badger a teacher to sign off on it if the test indicates they don't have the chops. Middle school is hard enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any website where my DS can do practice test? Even if its paid.

We used this book and you can order via Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Solomon-Academys-IAAT-Practice-Tests/dp/1500258156/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=iaat&qid=1612571825&sr=8-1

[Anonymous]

I ordered my child a practice IAAT book on Amazon. He just took the Iowa test and felt well prepared. He said the actual test was much easer than the practice book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I ordered my child a practice IAAT book on Amazon. He just took the Iowa test and felt well prepared. He said the actual test was much easer than the practice book.

My 6th grader just took it too. Said same thing. I had him take on online last night just to practice having to hurry. He said the one today was much easier. Wonder if they are doing it easier to account for the kids having learned 30% less over the past year and nothing last spring?

[Anonymous]

My 5th AAP DC is planning to take IAAT as her homeroom teacher recommended one. If my DC takes IAAT in 5th grade and gets a low score, can the test taken again in 6th grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 5th AAP DC is planning to take IAAT as her homeroom teacher recommended one. If my DC takes IAAT in 5th grade and gets a low score, can the test taken again in 6th grade?

Is your 5th grader currently taking AAP math with the AAP 6th graders? If so, my understanding is that your child would take M7H in 6th grade if she doesn't earn a high enough score on the IAAT, and then she'd still move on to Algebra in 7th. If your child is not currently in AAP 6th grade math, I'm confused as to why they're even giving the IAAT. Unless they changed the rules in the last year, FCPS requires all of: IAAT 91%, pass advanced on 7th grade math SOL, and successful completion of 6th grade AAP math to take Algebra before 8th. I had a lengthy phone call with the math head at Gatehouse about this issue, and they're extremely rigid on these requirements. They also apparently can not give the 7th grade math SOL to a kid who hasn't been taking 7th grade math, so it would be impossible to meet that requirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What if my DS does not score enough to get into Algebra 1 in 7th grade? Is there a second chance or another way to get into maths honors?

Then it is not a good fit.
Even if they just clear the threshold I would not have them take it; I think the class is really designed for kids that ace the Iowa test

This. Don't push your kid into a class they can't handle or badger a teacher to sign off on it if the test indicates they don't have the chops. Middle school is hard enough.

+1000. The IAAT is not a high bar at all. If your child doesn't earn a high enough score on IAAT, then that child needs another year of pre-algebra before jumping in on algebra. There are kids in my kid's algebra class who have some fundamental misunderstandings of how to manipulate numbers. They might slog through algebra, but they'll eventually struggle in geometry or algebra II. Don't put your kid in that position.

[Anonymous]

Anyone know when parents usually get the results on the IOWA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know when parents usually get the results on the IOWA?

Last year, I got my kids' scores in late March.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any website where my DS can do practice test? Even if its paid.

We used this book and you can order via Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Solomon-Academys-IAAT-Practice-Tests/dp/1500258156/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=iaat&qid=1612571825&sr=8-1

Yep, so many preppers here. Mostly white moms, I noticed. A kid on zoom class told everyone that her Russian mom bought this exact same book, both volumes 1 & 2. They drilled for over many months!!