Fcps Options to step down from accelerated math track

[Anonymous]

10th grade on accelerated math track.

7th grade Algebra I B+
8th grade Geometry A
9th grade Algebra II B+
10th grade Pre Calc probably a C+

Teacher recommended Calc BC when schedules were made.

Parents insisted on AB.

Parents now thinking that might be a bad option based off Pre calc grade.

Issue is not lack of intellect, ability or mathematical mind. The issue is lack of effort.

What options are there to step down further in math for 11th and still leave open the possibility of acceptance in a decent college?

Student is most like more suited for and more interested in humanities fields. Student has no interest in engineering type fields.

Thanks.

Signed, really Frustrated and discouraged mom who does not want to spend 11th grade fighting over math homework.

[Anonymous]

Yeah. This is the problem with overaccelerating math. I don’t know that AP Calc AB would be that bad. But maybe discrete math in 11th, and then AP Stats or prob Stats in 12th? It looks like your kid does better with less abstract math.

[Anonymous]

I would find a summer precalc course or tutor and continue on to Calc AB followed by AP stat.

[Anonymous]

My kids were humanities kids and decided not to take pre-calc at all, much less Calculus. They went up to AP Stats. And they have no trouble at all getting into excellent colleges. If your kid isn't going into a STEM field, there is no need to take Calculus.

[Anonymous]

^^"have had no trouble"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah. This is the problem with overaccelerating math. I don’t know that AP Calc AB would be that bad. But maybe discrete math in 11th, and then AP Stats or prob Stats in 12th? It looks like your kid does better with less abstract math.

OP here.

I agree.

My kid got a 99 on the Iowa, pass advanced on the SOL to qualify, and a 147 on his test to qualify for GT (OLSAT in another state). My kid is very, very bright and has always been good at math.

Maturity and work ethic finally caught up. The grades are not due to lack of potential, intellect or not having a mathematical mind. I have been turning around why the teacher recommended BC next year and I think potential and ability must be why

I wish this would have happened earlier in algebra.

Thank you for the suggestion of a summer tutor and also the suggestion of stepping down to stats for 11th. We will be having some unfun conversations soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids were humanities kids and decided not to take pre-calc at all, much less Calculus. They went up to AP Stats. And they have no trouble at all getting into excellent colleges. If your kid isn't going into a STEM field, there is no need to take Calculus.

Did they take Stats junior or senior year? My concern is that by stepping down to stats Junior year, what will the math options be for senior year?

Everything I read says that students must be in math through senior year to get accepted to college, even if this means graduating with 6 math credits.

Quite frankly, I think my kid would benefit more from taking 2 history classes senior year vs taking 6 years of math, but I don't want to close doors by making a bad choice.

[Anonymous]

I actually think AB Calculus would be a better choice than AP Stats for a kid who's bored with math. I have a strong math kid (>750 SAT Math) who barely pulled out a B- in pre-calc but got an A in AB Calc.

Also, in my experience, the quality of the teacher can make a lot of difference in a kid's math grade. Maybe look into which teachers have a better reputation at the school.

[Anonymous]

Applied Calculus, I don’t know if other FCPS schools offer it but I took it a South County and loved it. It’s very easy but lays a good foundation for AB or BC Calculus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah. This is the problem with overaccelerating math. I don’t know that AP Calc AB would be that bad. But maybe discrete math in 11th, and then AP Stats or prob Stats in 12th? It looks like your kid does better with less abstract math.

OP here.

I agree.

My kid got a 99 on the Iowa, pass advanced on the SOL to qualify, and a 147 on his test to qualify for GT (OLSAT in another state). My kid is very, very bright and has always been good at math.

Maturity and work ethic finally caught up. The grades are not due to lack of potential, intellect or not having a mathematical mind. I have been turning around why the teacher recommended BC next year and I think potential and ability must be why

I wish this would have happened earlier in algebra.

This is a main reason I don’t want my Rising 7th grader taking algebra regardless of Iowa and all. Do you regret the decision now? I’m asking bc I’ve been a little wishy washy about it lately but you could help solidify my decision.

Thank you for the suggestion of a summer tutor and also the suggestion of stepping down to stats for 11th. We will be having some unfun conversations soon.

[Anonymous]

Maybe have him do a refresher Precalc course on Kahn Academy over the summer?

[Anonymous]

AP Stats and AP calc in either order. AP Stats is rigorous but totally different than calculus. Don’t think of it as stepping down.

[Anonymous]

^AB calc

[Anonymous]

Sorry I don't have a suggestion, but thanks for sharing your experience and your child's earlier stats. I have a rising 7th grader who qualifies for Alg 1 honors and this is exactly what I gave been concerned about. I'm not pushing him to take Alg. He doesn't want to take it yet, and we are going to respect that and request Math 7 honors. I think he could handle alg 1 hon and geom hons...but I worry about putting him on a track that has him taking AP calc BC when he is just barely 16 yrs old. That's when he may be over accellerated.

Fwiw, I've heard several math teacher in ms/hs say that they see the wheels fall off in hs for a lot of kids who take Alg 1 hons in 7th. Not all. But they advise caution. We are taking that advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10th grade on accelerated math track.

7th grade Algebra I B+
8th grade Geometry A
9th grade Algebra II B+
10th grade Pre Calc probably a C+

Teacher recommended Calc BC when schedules were made.

Parents insisted on AB.

Parents now thinking that might be a bad option based off Pre calc grade.

Issue is not lack of intellect, ability or mathematical mind. The issue is lack of effort.

What options are there to step down further in math for 11th and still leave open the possibility of acceptance in a decent college?

Student is most like more suited for and more interested in humanities fields. Student has no interest in engineering type fields.

Thanks.

Signed, really Frustrated and discouraged mom who does not want to spend 11th grade fighting over math homework.

It's not an over acceleration problem at all. If OP's kid waited a year, he would still be screwing around, not doing his homework, and getting poor grades. Kids don't mature that much over the course of a year at those ages, and if anything, being older, having a car, dating, etc. can often make the kid less likely to stay focused on schoolwork.

11th grade is way too old for you to have to hold your kid's hand and fight over any homework. If you continue having to helicopter over your kid's homework, then when he does go off to that decent college, he will end up flunking out without mommy there to oversee his work. At some point, your kid needs to accept some responsibility for his own education.

In the meantime, I'd get a summer tutor, do Calc AB, and then perhaps AP stats senior year.