What Are the Pros and Cons Of Taking Algebra I in Sixth Grade?
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Anonymous
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My fifth grader is currently taking GT Math (which is two years ahead). We reside in Howard County. I received a consent letter from the Gifted and Talented Program for him to enroll in the Accelerated G/T Mathematics Program for middle school. If I give my consent, then he will be taking Algebra I G/T in the fall for sixth grade. This will place him in a G/T class with seventh graders in the fall. Academically, he can handle the course. His CogAT, MAP, etc. results are really advanced for his age. His current GT Math teacher thinks that he will not have any problems at all. I am concern about the social issues that may arise with being one of the youngest students in his class. I will attend a county meeting next Monday for other parents of fifth graders whose children were invited to enroll in this program. So, I will obtain more information at this meeting and be able to discuss some of my concerns. I have until May 22, to make a final decision on this matter.
However, I want to get a parent's view about their child's experiences in an accelerated math program here in Maryland. It doesn't matter if you reside in Howard County or not. I want to know what were the pros and cons of having your child take Algebra I at such a young age? Did your child excel because they were placed with like minded students or did your child find that it was a challenge to be in an accelerated math program with older students? By the way, if I decline to place him in the accelerated math program, then he will take Pre-Algebra I G/T for sixth grade instead. Also, any feedback from teachers who teach GT math courses at a middle school will be appreciated as well. |
Anonymous
| The State requires 4 years of math in HS regardless of level. Your child will Take Calc in 10th grade and still needs two more years of math..likely AP Stats and Calc II. If he is likely to go into a tech field, probably great. If he is more likely to be an English major, he might want his focus elsewhere. |
Anonymous
I think Algebra 1 is a high school course, even if it's taken in middle school. At least that is the case in Virginia. So, I think under the track you describe, the child could be finished with high school math requirement by 10th grade and be free to take other courses. Or more advanced math if that's the field that interests him. To OP's question, I don't think the social thing is worth worrying about to be honest. I'd be more concerned about the quality of instruction of Algebra I in MS. I know anecdotally in Arlington, for example, that a lot of kids who take Algebra 1 in MS go on to take geometry with no problem but really struggle with Algebra II due largely to gaps when learning Algebra I. So if you're going to ask some questions, find out if there are any roadblocks that high schools encounter with Algebra II. |
Anonymous
| I did not push for Algebra I in sixth grade even though the child is off the chart and could even handle Algebra II. One reason is because during 8th grade the child would have to travel to a high school to take the math class. Another reason, I believe in high school things will get better, meaning the schools' math offerings start becoming a bit more solid. |
Anonymous
| how do you see his math track 6th grade thru 12th? |
Anonymous
| Will his grade go on his HS transcript? That's one argument for taking it a bit slower - if he stumbles a bit because of immaturity, there's a lot riding on it, assuming it goes on his HS transcript. |
Anonymous
This is a great point. Yes, it will go on his HS transcript. Definitely something to consider. As for the social side, I would not worry about that. It's one class out of the day. |
Anonymous
At least in Montgomery county, there is no more Algebra II offered in middle school buildings. So if you take Algebra I in 6th grade, you have to go to a high school in 8th grade. The other math courses are in high schools' web sites. Courses are like Calculus, Statistics, Multivariate Calculus, Differential Equations etc. |
Anonymous
Algebra 1 is a high school course which means it will count towards his/her 4 years of Math. I took Algebra 1 in 8th grade and only needed to finish 3 years of Math when I got to high school. This was several years ago I'm sure it is still the case. |
Anonymous
No, the state of MD requires 4 years of math in grades 9-12. So the classes in 11th and 12 grades wind up being AP courses. |
Anonymous
PP is correct the state requirement is enrolled in a math class all 4 years of HS not 4 HS math credits. But, OP this is the least of your concerns, once in HS there will be something and DC will likely stay interested. It's a fairly new rule. |
Anonymous
OP here. Yes, this is one of my concerns. Actually, it appears that I'm the only one who is worried about this. My son, my husband, and his teacher are all thrilled. I'm happy as well, but I didn't realized that we were going to be making decisions about high school credit while he is still in elementary school. My son already knows how to do Algebra and he thinks its so easy. Math always came natural to him. He is a die hard STEM kid. His interests are medicine and engineering. However, he gravitates more to medicine. My other concern is that in 8th grade he will have to take math at River Hill School which isn't our zoned high school. I will find out next Monday more detail information at the Middle School Accelerated G/T Mathematics Orientation for parents. I already have a long of list of questions to ask at the orientation. Maybe I'm worried for nothing, but I still have reservations. I'm looking at the letter right now and this is the breakdown of the accelerated math program: Grade Level/ Course 6th- Algebra I G/T 7th- Geometry 8th - Algebra II G/T 9th - Precalculus G/T 10th - AP Calculus AB 11th - AP Calculus C 12th - AP Statistics, and/or Discrete Mathematics, and/or Differential Equations |
Anonymous
| Interesting progression, MCPS would go from precalc to Calc BC in 10th. Yours is slightly slower (good!) |
Anonymous
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You can take ab and then bc in MCPS also. Op, suggest you post in aap forum. Most people on this board have children in MCPS and MCPS almost never allows kids to be accelerated. So very few people would be able to provide personal perspectives. Unless they are old. MCPS used to allow it many years ago.
It is more common in fcps. |
Anonymous
| I'm in MCPS. I know at least one child who took AP Calculus AB as a sophomore and hated it. Now she can't wait to become a humanities major. |