Are there advantages to 7th grade Algebra and 8th grade Geometry?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| Given students will still take 4 years of HS Math, why push them into Algebra I in 7th grade? This path has DC taking Calculus junior year and then more difficult math classes senior year. Is there an advantage to them over other students when child applies to college? I think I would be okay waiting for DC to taking Algebra I in 8th grade, and have better grades in math and other classes overall. |
Anonymous
|
It isn't a push and it isn't about taking the class as some sort of advantage, it is just where some kids are academically. The alternative is to skip a year of math or move so slowly that they stop paying attention or decide they hate math because it is so darn boring.
By the way, there is no guarantee they'd have better grades in the lower level class, especially in the case of a kid who just tunes out from boredom, reads a book under the table, and stops turning stuff in. It happens. |
Anonymous
| I had one kid who did Algebra I in 8th grade (and took AP Calculus AB in 12th -- the only option he had) and one who did it in 7th (taking multivariable calc in 12th) . They both got solid grades throughout high school. If a child can get A's on one track but only Bs on the other, then he/she should take the less accelerated track and get the As. That is the best move not only for college, but also -- more importantly really -- for learning higher math by having solid foundations. If your child might be a stem major, it really helps to complete AP Calculus BC level in high school - whether or not he/she repeats it freshman year of college or moves up a level for two reasons: 1) it potentially opens up more options; 2) I think some high schools do a better job teaching calculus and other higher math in some ways than some colleges -- smaller classes, more individual attention in high school; 3) I have learned that many kids in college repeat math (or AP science courses) as freshman so the material is already understood and they do better, driving a harder curve for the class. Caveat -- that is true at my DC's college which is one of those doesn't really give AP college credits, only an option to place into higher classes. In schools where kids get AP credits I doubt they retake as much. chools. |
Anonymous
|
Op here, say "push" because that's the feeling I get from the school due to DC's test scores.
14:34, thank you for your answer. Is it possible to take Algebra 1 in 8th and still get to AP Calc BC as a Sr? |
Anonymous
|
The answer is no. Acceleration is over rated. Whats important is the quality of the teaching and the depth of the subject matter, i.e. what is REALLY learned at each level.
|
Anonymous
Actually, I was a student who did re-take and our kids have as well even though the 5s would have allowed us to skip the courses. But it gets to point #3--I/they do it to get a handle on the perspective of the college math staff (pedagogy, philosophical bent) and as they get adapted to the college life. I agree, though, that it does drive up the curve, which is unfortunate. To OP's point, though, I don't agree with the heavy push these days because I think that some kids are getting pushed too hard and too fast, and are losing fundamental understandings. We have kept 2 children from the hard acceleration push. Frankly, we even have had one kid who entered the Ivy school without having had Calc of any sort in high school (meaning the kid was accepted without it and scored 2150 on SATs and scored over 700 for the math subject test although I cannot recall the exact score now). But if a child is ready for it and if there is enough support so that the child doesn't flounder then, certainly, go for it. |
Anonymous
I think yes in most public schools but you should check yours. Yes at the larger and more competitive privates, but sometimes smaller privates don't have enough that kids to offer BC as a class. Amending my earlier post, I certainly have heard of kids only going through AB Calc in 12th and majoring in STEM, it can be done, just has some drawbacks. |
Anonymous
| Does anyone take Algebra as a freshman in high school or is Geometry the entry class? Is Algebra 1 considered a middle school class now? |
Anonymous
At my kids' middle school the goal is for kids to take Algebra in 8th grade. Kids in "Math 8" in 8th grade are at the remedial level. The advanced kids are in Geometry, but it's a pretty big group. I wasn't thrilled with the push to get to algebra in 7th (I don't see the benefit of pushing it down) but math is my son's main strength in school. I was concerned that holding him to math 6 in 6th grade rather than math 7 would be 1) boring and 2) make him feel like he isn't as good at math as he really is. It's worked out fine, he's done well throughout middle school and I'm sure will do fine in Algebra II/Trig in 9th grade. He'll have a variety of options for an additional math class in senior year, after calculus. |
Anonymous
| There are always a few kids taking Algebra in 9th grade but they are the outliers - most kids are taking Algebra in 8th, with some taking it in 7th. |
Anonymous
Is Math 8, Pre-Algebra? Or is that class no longer offered as most kids go straight into Algebra in middle school? |
Anonymous
I took Algebra as a Freshman in the 80's. I think lots of kids still do take Algebra I in 9th grade. |
Anonymous
But the kids who are taking Algebra I in 9th grade will still get to Calculus by senior year. How is that "remedial"? |
Anonymous
No. The few kids whontake algebra I in 9th are the remedial kids. |
Anonymous
Common Core does not have "pre-Algebra" standards, so whatever would have been covered in a class with that title is within the units leading up to Algebra. This is the way it was when I was in school in the 80s too. Usually pre-algebra is a way to name a class that is an acceleration and mashing together of whatever the class needs to cover from where they are to where they need to be to get to Algebra next. So, for example, if you took a class called pre-algebra in 6th to take algebra in 7th, then your 6th grade class will cover all of the core standards from 6th to 8th, but likely the students in that class 1) covered 6th and maybe some of 7th while in 5th and 2) are also able to move along at a fast pace. It is more common to merge Math 7 and 8 in 7th and take Algebra in 8th. |