Math 678 (Prealgebra for 6th Graders) in APS

[Anonymous]

What is the wisdom of the group on the new Math 678, which replaced Math 7 for 6th graders in APS? How’s it going so far? Is it awesome, or are there lots of challenges?

[Anonymous]

My child is in 678. Seems to be going fine so far. But it is definitely a fast moving class. Seems to be spending about half as long as Math 6 on most concepts. He's my oldest so I can't speak to what Math 7 was like.

[Anonymous]

My kid was in "Gifted" 5th-grade math - doing 6th Grade math, but was encouraged not to do Math678 in 6th grade.

My kid laughs at how easy the math is, where they spend a whole day working on how to make a Reciprocal, which take 2 minutes to learn.

Very disappointed in this system. So far seems to be a complete waste of a math year. Great job APS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid was in "Gifted" 5th-grade math - doing 6th Grade math, but was encouraged not to do Math678 in 6th grade.

My kid laughs at how easy the math is, where they spend a whole day working on how to make a Reciprocal, which take 2 minutes to learn.

Very disappointed in this system. So far seems to be a complete waste of a math year. Great job APS.

Have you spoken with the math coach at your middle school? It might be possible to have your kid move up to the 678 class. I confess, I don't know much about it, because my DD was in Math 7 for 6th graders last year and is taking Algebra I, Intensified this year. That is a lot of work -- a LOT more than she saw in her Math 7 for 6 last year. She was doing extra math in excel with the Kenmore math coach all year for kids that they thought would move to algebra in 7th grade so they'd be up to speed -- this 678 class is supposed to resolve that a bit. The 7th grade algebra class covers more than the 8th grade algebra class in the same amount of time.

[Anonymous]

Three years of math in one year seems like too much. Am I missing something? There is so many new concepts introduced in 6-7-8. It would have to be rushed.

[Anonymous]

Does everyone realize that MD, VA, and DC have the exact same math options but everyone calls it something different?

Math 6, Math 7, and Math 8, collectively, are what used to be called preAlgebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Three years of math in one year seems like too much. Am I missing something? There is so many new concepts introduced in 6-7-8. It would have to be rushed.

It is more like 2 years (7th and 8th), since the advance 5th graders did 6th grade math in 5th grade.

[Anonymous]

True. But most of those advanced 5th graders ended up in Math 6. Isn't it something like 15% in prealgebra this year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:True. But most of those advanced 5th graders ended up in Math 6. Isn't it something like 15% in prealgebra this year?

Another parent of GT math kid here who didn't go with 678. Neither the GT teacher at our ES nor the math teacher recommended it. They said it was not a good plan and that the GT kids will have plenty of time to do advanced math. Math 6 this year is super easy, but maybe that just means a better foundation is being laid so there will be less meltdowns than they are seeing with the advanced kids now.

[Anonymous]

This sounds like the real issue is math isn't being taught properly to advanced 4th and 5th graders... I'm not getting how the advanced 5th graders did 6th grade math with a push-in extension based gifted services setup? Real question.

[Anonymous]

Seems to be being taught well enough in 5th. I think there are 4 sections of the math 678 class at our middle school. And despite what people have said on here about their elementary teachers not recommending it for their kid, the truth is that the middle school math team makes the decisions based on a lot of data besides teacher recommendation. I guess people could opt out of the middle school's recommendation for Math 678 based on their elementary teacher's advice. Didn't do that for my son. I didn't have any reason to question the placement. It's going fine so far.

[Anonymous]

Our team spoke publicly about 678 being a bad idea and they wouldn't even recommend it for their own kids. Sixth graders shouldn't be taking an 8th grade SOL.

[Anonymous]

So if a kid takes 678 in 6th, when do they take calculus?

If it is still 11th, then it is just a relabeling of the old class.

[Anonymous]

Yes. It is just a relabeling of the old class except they try to actually teach 8th grade math, rather than skipping from Math 7 to Algebra I. Because they teach 8th grade math, they give the 8th grade SOL. I don't see what the problem is with giving the SOL that reflects the content they learned? It doesn't go on your "permanent record." The only downside on the SOL seems to be for the school if the kids do poorly. If my kid seemed in over his head or was struggling, I would pull him out, of course. My kid learned the 6th grade standards in 5th grade. But if kids can handle this challenge what is the problem? It's only first quarter, so we'll have to see what happens when they ramp up more. But I'm pretty sure this is the same trajectory that the AAP kids in on in Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So if a kid takes 678 in 6th, when do they take calculus?

If it is still 11th, then it is just a relabeling of the old class.

Yes, that would put you in Algebra in 7th so Calculus in 11th.