I push my kids and have NO shame! You should too!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
same stuff to the same depth only faster. The other is broadening the range of math--adding in statistics/probability and more real-world applications earlier. The latter isn't 'bad' to me,

This takes time away from the other topics. What I found was kids were not as capable of solving word problems.

[Anonymous]

That is a great approach. My kid goes to a rigorous private school (not in DC) and they handle advanced learners through depth rather than acceleration. Honors Calc is the highest class they offer (they do not offer APs because they do not believe in classes just to prep for a test, although many kids take the tests in their own and do well). The honors calc class is tough. My daughter had a PhD in Physics tutoring her and he noted how it was much more in depth and difficult than our local high school’s AP Calc classes (he tutored kids there, too, so could compare). There are ways to challenge advanced learners without just speeding everything up.

You used a calculus level class as an example of depth vs. acceleration. It's easier to enrich higher level math. If a 10yo is already at Calculus level, how do you suggest to "enrich" more depth using only the 5th grade concepts?
The best solution is both acceleration (higher level classes) and depth (faster paced, deeper materials, more word problem solving) for those who can handle that.

[Anonymous]

I don’t need to push my child, I need to support him and give him opportunities for growth. Pushing him backfires spectacularly every time. The kid is exceptionally self-driven. He will not do anything unless and until he wants to. When he wants to learn Calculus, I have zero no doubt he will be able to. But what if he doesn’t want or need to learn it? What if he’s more interested in his instrument, or science, or philosophy?

I think a lot of gifted kids are like this. You do you OP. But you may be doing more harm than good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol! I agree to an extent except I think algebra in 7th is the stupidest trend.

Sounds like the rhetoric of an underachiever.

I have a STEM PhD from an elite school and agree with this. Elementary math is too easy. But it doesn't need more acceleration, it needs more hard problems that force kids to conceptualize the math. More depth, not more speed.

There's no reason kids can't take Algebra in 8th and still finish Calc BC by senior year. That's plenty to major in STEM in college. I actually think it's better to take the next math classes (e.g., Diff Eq and Linear Algebra) when you're taking them at the same time as science or engineering classes that use that math. It's more immersive and provides better context.

AoPS buffers the Algebra -> Geometry -> Algebra II -> PreCalc progression by inserting two number theory courses and two Counting&Probability courses. I wish most school systems followed this pattern, since there's no point in having a kid finish Calculus in 10th grade, but know almost nothing about two major branches of mathematics. Yeah, I know FCPS touches on probability a little in its courses, but it's not even slightly comparable to the AoPS classes. Algebra in 6th or 7th makes sense for the smart kids, but there's no reason that the Algebra through Calc sequence needs to be compressed to 5 years and needs to omit so many significant math branches.

The main reason so many schools hyper accelerate is that it's the easiest way to handle advanced learners. The school system could gather more challenging curricula and attempt to differentiate for the top learners, or they could simply bump them up to the next grade without having to do much of anything else. They're choosing the easiest path rather than the best path.

So true. Like so many other things. Following the easier path doesn't help in the long run.

[Anonymous]

In my experience there are limits to pushing and they are different for each kid (and parent I guess). I push where I can see results and little resistance; when it’s the opposite I usually let go.
I also try to pick my battles.
It looks like my kid is going to be average and my main goal is to be ok with it.
Some kids seem pretty useless but then surprise everyone as they grow up
You just never know

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know what is hilarious here?

Pushing kids athletically vs pushing kids academically are the same thing.

Also- kids can do both.

I think that blows peoples minds a bit but wow. Most of mom friends with teen athletes tell me that their kids are also incredibly smart.

Pushing is still pushing. And the kids will still love their parents as long as there is down time and kindness.

Yup. Why are people ok with their student athletes being pushed? Dear god, these athletes are pushed to the MAX…by coaches, parents, classmates. They face far more stress than other students. Why do we spend so much time criticizing “Tiger moms” but not the parents who are desperately hoping their kids get athletic scholarships?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know what is hilarious here?

Pushing kids athletically vs pushing kids academically are the same thing.

Also- kids can do both.

I think that blows peoples minds a bit but wow. Most of mom friends with teen athletes tell me that their kids are also incredibly smart.

Pushing is still pushing. And the kids will still love their parents as long as there is down time and kindness.

Yup. Why are people ok with their student athletes being pushed? Dear god, these athletes are pushed to the MAX…by coaches, parents, classmates. They face far more stress than other students. Why do we spend so much time criticizing “Tiger moms” but not the parents who are desperately hoping their kids get athletic scholarships?

Crazy sports parents get plenty of flack. We don’t talk about it in the AAP forum though.

As a parent of a kid who is both smart and athletic, I do think about how to keep him from burning out on either thing. The good thing is that the sports give him an outlet when school is hard, and vice versa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know what is hilarious here?

Pushing kids athletically vs pushing kids academically are the same thing.

Also- kids can do both.

I think that blows peoples minds a bit but wow. Most of mom friends with teen athletes tell me that their kids are also incredibly smart.

Pushing is still pushing. And the kids will still love their parents as long as there is down time and kindness.

Yup. Why are people ok with their student athletes being pushed? Dear god, these athletes are pushed to the MAX…by coaches, parents, classmates. They face far more stress than other students. Why do we spend so much time criticizing “Tiger moms” but not the parents who are desperately hoping their kids get athletic scholarships?

I hear far more conversation about the crazy sports parents then I do the crazy AAP type parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know what is hilarious here?

Pushing kids athletically vs pushing kids academically are the same thing.

Also- kids can do both.

I think that blows peoples minds a bit but wow. Most of mom friends with teen athletes tell me that their kids are also incredibly smart.

Pushing is still pushing. And the kids will still love their parents as long as there is down time and kindness.

Yup. Why are people ok with their student athletes being pushed? Dear god, these athletes are pushed to the MAX…by coaches, parents, classmates. They face far more stress than other students. Why do we spend so much time criticizing “Tiger moms” but not the parents who are desperately hoping their kids get athletic scholarships?

I hear far more conversation about the crazy sports parents then I do the crazy AAP type parents.

That is why the US Empire is in decline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know what is hilarious here?

Pushing kids athletically vs pushing kids academically are the same thing.

Also- kids can do both.

I think that blows peoples minds a bit but wow. Most of mom friends with teen athletes tell me that their kids are also incredibly smart.

Pushing is still pushing. And the kids will still love their parents as long as there is down time and kindness.

Yup. Why are people ok with their student athletes being pushed? Dear god, these athletes are pushed to the MAX…by coaches, parents, classmates. They face far more stress than other students. Why do we spend so much time criticizing “Tiger moms” but not the parents who are desperately hoping their kids get athletic scholarships?

I hear far more conversation about the crazy sports parents then I do the crazy AAP type parents.

That is why the US Empire is in decline.

The actual reason has more to do with the propaganda pushed by outlets like Fox News.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So absolutely absurd to not push kids to do advanced stuff. Especially since some average people are deciding the standards.

Push your kids to do well in school, on screener tests, and everywhere, becait will make them better at the end. They will learn about themselves the most.

Go for Algebra in 7th, even in 6th if you can.

LA should have better acceleration too.

You should MYOB

[Anonymous]

I’d think all you pushers would be happy that not all of us are tiger mom devotees. Makes your precious seem even smarter.

[Anonymous]

How to advertise your kid is neurotypical without saying your kid is neurotypical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How to advertise your kid is neurotypical without saying your kid is neurotypical.

Right? The very brilliant kids I know do not need to be pushed. If anything, some of them need to be taught not to push themselves (and the people around them) so hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How to advertise your kid is neurotypical without saying your kid is neurotypical.

Right? The very brilliant kids I know do not need to be pushed. If anything, some of them need to be taught not to push themselves (and the people around them) so hard.

Ok but asian families push their kids and they overwhelmingly make up the majority of magnet or test in schools. It’s not that asians as a whole are that much more smarter than other ethnic groups.

I think it’s good to push your kid a little. Not too much where it will backfire though or detrimental to their mental health.