Blair math: functions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is really interesting. My DC told me Ms. M told the kids who were recommended for Functions that theydo not need to go to the summer math camp. None of the kids I know went to the camp.

My daughter took pre-calc but did not go because vacation plans were already set before we knew about it. No big deal.

[Anonymous]

1/3 of the class ends up dropping functions every year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get the disturbing impression that people are putting their energy into doing whatever it takes to get their kids into the functions track. As the parent of a kid who will go to the Blair magnet next year, this sounds crazy. I want them to put my kid into whatever level is right for him, and which will make his experience there more positive, and I trust that they are better judges of that than I am.

The funnier thing that happens is if there are a handful kids who genuinely could handle Functions this Fall, they push triple that into summer school prep for it so there can be an actual Functions class for the original set of kids.
We said no thanks for our older and now for our younger. Everything ended up more than fine, even at college.

[Anonymous]

1 had one kid take functions and one not take it. They areboth fine. It’s a very very very hard class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1 had one kid take functions and one not take it. They areboth fine. It’s a very very very hard class.

I'm getting confused here. Isn't true that Functions and Pre-Calculus cover the same stuff at different speed? Are you suggesting that Functions cover more in depth?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get the disturbing impression that people are putting their energy into doing whatever it takes to get their kids into the functions track. As the parent of a kid who will go to the Blair magnet next year, this sounds crazy. I want them to put my kid into whatever level is right for him, and which will make his experience there more positive, and I trust that they are better judges of that than I am.

The funnier thing that happens is if there are a handful kids who genuinely could handle Functions this Fall, they push triple that into summer school prep for it so there can be an actual Functions class for the original set of kids.
We said no thanks for our older and now for our younger. Everything ended up more than fine, even at college.

New to college admission process, hence this question. They say that colleges expect kids to take most rigorous courses if applying to top universities. If kid goes to magnet Blair and does not take the top math course offered (which is not functions), how does that affect chances to get into top schools (to include Ivies)?

[Anonymous]

But getting a bad grad also hurts you, more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But getting a bad grad also hurts you, more.

This is misleading. If your DS is math-centric, then taking the most challenging math classes will be the best route. The Functions is the most challenging and fastest paced math route (of three possible) and allows the DS and two full years of advanced math electives. The routes and math electives are shown here: https://mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/courses.php

If your DS is already fully challenged in other areas or has less than optimal work habits, then taking the functions route could be a mistake.
If your DS is not 100% sure, take the summer camp and then let them confirm their decision that this is their best route.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get the disturbing impression that people are putting their energy into doing whatever it takes to get their kids into the functions track. As the parent of a kid who will go to the Blair magnet next year, this sounds crazy. I want them to put my kid into whatever level is right for him, and which will make his experience there more positive, and I trust that they are better judges of that than I am.

The funnier thing that happens is if there are a handful kids who genuinely could handle Functions this Fall, they push triple that into summer school prep for it so there can be an actual Functions class for the original set of kids.
We said no thanks for our older and now for our younger. Everything ended up more than fine, even at college.

New to college admission process, hence this question. They say that colleges expect kids to take most rigorous courses if applying to top universities. If kid goes to magnet Blair and does not take the top math course offered (which is not functions), how does that affect chances to get into top schools (to include Ivies)?

I would also like to know the answer to this question for kids who start out in Magnet Geometry and so don’t complete Analysis B (Calculus) until halfway through senior year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But getting a bad grad also hurts you, more.

This is misleading. If your DS is math-centric, then taking the most challenging math classes will be the best route. The Functions is the most challenging and fastest paced math route (of three possible) and allows the DS and two full years of advanced math electives. The routes and math electives are shown here: https://mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/courses.php

If your DS is already fully challenged in other areas or has less than optimal work habits, then taking the functions route could be a mistake.
If your DS is not 100% sure, take the summer camp and then let them confirm their decision that this is their best route.

This. Your HS transcript should eventually start telling a story of why you want to go into what discipline and how you tested it out. Functions may or may not make sense.

Your guidance counselor should have already told you this. You don't just willy nilly book up the hardest class in every department. You take what makes sense and will help you most in college and beyond. Either to have a better look while in college or try a couple new things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But getting a bad grad also hurts you, more.

This is misleading. If your DS is math-centric, then taking the most challenging math classes will be the best route. The Functions is the most challenging and fastest paced math route (of three possible) and allows the DS and two full years of advanced math electives. The routes and math electives are shown here: https://mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/courses.php

If your DS is already fully challenged in other areas or has less than optimal work habits, then taking the functions route could be a mistake.
If your DS is not 100% sure, take the summer camp and then let them confirm their decision that this is their best route.

Yes, if your kid is going to be a math or engineering taking functions, even as pass/fail or audited, will give your kid more exposure to tough math so s/he will be more prepared come ENG or MATH department classes at college. If you don't need such higher level math for your desired major, go take a class that does help you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is really interesting. My DC told me Ms. M told the kids who were recommended for Functions that theydo not need to go to the summer math camp. None of the kids I know went to the camp.

My daughter took pre-calc but did not go because vacation plans were already set before we knew about it. No big deal.

When in the summer is it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get the disturbing impression that people are putting their energy into doing whatever it takes to get their kids into the functions track. As the parent of a kid who will go to the Blair magnet next year, this sounds crazy. I want them to put my kid into whatever level is right for him, and which will make his experience there more positive, and I trust that they are better judges of that than I am.

The funnier thing that happens is if there are a handful kids who genuinely could handle Functions this Fall, they push triple that into summer school prep for it so there can be an actual Functions class for the original set of kids.
We said no thanks for our older and now for our younger. Everything ended up more than fine, even at college.

New to college admission process, hence this question. They say that colleges expect kids to take most rigorous courses if applying to top universities. If kid goes to magnet Blair and does not take the top math course offered (which is not functions), how does that affect chances to get into top schools (to include Ivies)?

I would also like to know the answer to this question for kids who start out in Magnet Geometry and so don’t complete Analysis B (Calculus) until halfway through senior year

They just count the number of honors courses or AP courses you took. So magnet math is considered honors no matter what level you take (regular sequence or functions). So taking the 'normal' sequence still adds to your weighted GPA and 'counts' as an honors class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get the disturbing impression that people are putting their energy into doing whatever it takes to get their kids into the functions track. As the parent of a kid who will go to the Blair magnet next year, this sounds crazy. I want them to put my kid into whatever level is right for him, and which will make his experience there more positive, and I trust that they are better judges of that than I am.

The funnier thing that happens is if there are a handful kids who genuinely could handle Functions this Fall, they push triple that into summer school prep for it so there can be an actual Functions class for the original set of kids.
We said no thanks for our older and now for our younger. Everything ended up more than fine, even at college.

New to college admission process, hence this question. They say that colleges expect kids to take most rigorous courses if applying to top universities. If kid goes to magnet Blair and does not take the top math course offered (which is not functions), how does that affect chances to get into top schools (to include Ivies)?

I would also like to know the answer to this question for kids who start out in Magnet Geometry and so don’t complete Analysis B (Calculus) until halfway through senior year

They just count the number of honors courses or AP courses you took. So magnet math is considered honors no matter what level you take (regular sequence or functions). So taking the 'normal' sequence still adds to your weighted GPA and 'counts' as an honors class.

True but if they see the magnet profile they see that there are many Math courses at a higher level (Magnet Geometry kids finish Analysis B or Calculus halfway through 12th grade) so would that be held against them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get the disturbing impression that people are putting their energy into doing whatever it takes to get their kids into the functions track. As the parent of a kid who will go to the Blair magnet next year, this sounds crazy. I want them to put my kid into whatever level is right for him, and which will make his experience there more positive, and I trust that they are better judges of that than I am.

The funnier thing that happens is if there are a handful kids who genuinely could handle Functions this Fall, they push triple that into summer school prep for it so there can be an actual Functions class for the original set of kids.
We said no thanks for our older and now for our younger. Everything ended up more than fine, even at college.

New to college admission process, hence this question. They say that colleges expect kids to take most rigorous courses if applying to top universities. If kid goes to magnet Blair and does not take the top math course offered (which is not functions), how does that affect chances to get into top schools (to include Ivies)?

I would also like to know the answer to this question for kids who start out in Magnet Geometry and so don’t complete Analysis B (Calculus) until halfway through senior year

They just count the number of honors courses or AP courses you took. So magnet math is considered honors no matter what level you take (regular sequence or functions). So taking the 'normal' sequence still adds to your weighted GPA and 'counts' as an honors class.

True but if they see the magnet profile they see that there are many Math courses at a higher level (Magnet Geometry kids finish Analysis B or Calculus halfway through 12th grade) so would that be held against them.

No one in the magnet had to worry about lack of rigor.