New math pathway

[Anonymous]

Principal mentioned a new math pathway in email. DC is on compact math now. What’s the new pathway? Anyone heard of it?

[Anonymous]

The enriched MS math classes?

[Anonymous]

If they're in compacted math in 5th grade, then there's no difference. If they were in the regular math track, then they would do math 6, then IM in 7th grade, then algebra 1 in 8th grade (for high school credit). The old version had math 6, math 7, then math 8, and algebra 1 would be done in 9th grade. See page 19 of this PDF from Lee MS: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/schools/leems/news/5th%20Grade%20Parent%20Meeting.pptx.pdf

[Anonymous]

Once students are in this pathway, no matter which middle school they’re going,they will be provided the classes in this curriculum?

[Anonymous]

Info about the enriched courses at local middle schools is in the FAQ here: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/curriculum/specialprograms/middle/Fall20118FAQ.pdf

10. What offerings are available for students who remain at their home middle school?

Based on the results of the central review process conducted in 2017-2018, significantly more students surfaced
demonstrating the potential to thrive with enriched and accelerated instruction. While some students were invited to
attend the magnet, based on the data, many more demonstrated an instructional need for enriched and accelerated
instruction. In order to address the increased need, new enriched and accelerated courses modeled after the instructional
approaches and curriculum implemented in the Humanities and Communications and Math, Science, and Computer Science magnet programs are being implemented at local middle schools in twenty middle schools for 2018-2019.
As this process is expanding to the upcounty programs (Clemente and King), these courses will be available to entering Grade 6 students in 2019-2020. Decisions regarding the number of courses offered at each school will be monitored and finalized based on student enrollment and performance data. School staff will receive professional learning, consultation on master scheduling, and central services support.

11. What are the enriched and accelerated courses?

Applied Investigations into Mathematics (IM) 6
This course is designed to extend students’ understanding of mathematical concepts aligned with the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards, accelerating the pace of instruction while diving deeper into concepts at an equal level of intensity. This is much more than an accelerated mathematics course as the program offers access to many academic competitions and the opportunity to conduct fieldwork. Students work with an academic cohort to conduct independent inquiries using mathematics, computer science, and the scientific process to solve real-world problems.

Historical Inquiry into Global Humanities 6
This course is built around the core Grade 6 social studies curriculum that includes historical content from early civilizations, the empires of Greece and Rome, the dynasties of China, and civilizations of the first millennium. Cohort students will go beyond this core however as they learn additional content, explore deeper connections to today, engage in investigative inquiry to strengthen their writing through Document Based Questions, and enhance their learning through relevant literature connections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Principal mentioned a new math pathway in email. DC is on compact math now. What’s the new pathway? Anyone heard of it?

Not sure if you are in the same CES with me... We had a meeting with school principal this morning, indicating a faster accelerated pathway to skip the entire Gr4, and directly into Gr5/6 in the MP2 (next Monday). In this pathway, kids can finish Pre-Calculus in Gr9. We were told this is the first year that MCPS tries on this pathway for the most advanced ES math students, so everything about logistics and teacher resources are very uncertain...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they're in compacted math in 5th grade, then there's no difference. If they were in the regular math track, then they would do math 6, then IM in 7th grade, then algebra 1 in 8th grade (for high school credit). The old version had math 6, math 7, then math 8, and algebra 1 would be done in 9th grade. See page 19 of this PDF from Lee MS: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/schools/leems/news/5th%20Grade%20Parent%20Meeting.pptx.pdf

I think this is already outdated (though it is the path my Junior is taking).

Now my 7th grader is in Agebra 1. 8th- geometry, 9th - Algebra 2, 10th - PreCal.

Sounds like they have a new, even more advanced path.

[Anonymous]

Applied Investigations into Mathematics (IM) 6
This course is designed to extend students’ understanding of mathematical concepts aligned with the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards, accelerating the pace of instruction while diving deeper into concepts at an equal level of intensity. This is much more than an accelerated mathematics course as the program offers access to many academic competitions and the opportunity to conduct fieldwork. Students work with an academic cohort to conduct independent inquiries using mathematics, computer science, and the scientific process to solve real-world problems.

Wow, what a bunch of marketing babble... Fieldwork? Really? If by field they meant brain, then I agree.

I generally can't stand these type of nonsense descriptions and I can't believe parents let this type of crap fly. This says nothing about what they are learning in this class.. absolutely nothing, it's all marketing jargon meant to sound like this class is head and shoulders above ground level without any substance to back it up. Parents should be vigilant and hold these people responsible for posting a non-BS version having a syllabus description showing actual topics covered. Just like a standard syllabus in a college level course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Applied Investigations into Mathematics (IM) 6
This course is designed to extend students’ understanding of mathematical concepts aligned with the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards, accelerating the pace of instruction while diving deeper into concepts at an equal level of intensity. This is much more than an accelerated mathematics course as the program offers access to many academic competitions and the opportunity to conduct fieldwork. Students work with an academic cohort to conduct independent inquiries using mathematics, computer science, and the scientific process to solve real-world problems.

Wow, what a bunch of marketing babble... Fieldwork? Really? If by field they meant brain, then I agree.

I generally can't stand these type of nonsense descriptions and I can't believe parents let this type of crap fly. This says nothing about what they are learning in this class.. absolutely nothing, it's all marketing jargon meant to sound like this class is head and shoulders above ground level without any substance to back it up. Parents should be vigilant and hold these people responsible for posting a non-BS version having a syllabus description showing actual topics covered. Just like a standard syllabus in a college level course.

Jeez. It's not supposed to be a syllabus. It's an answer on a FAQ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Applied Investigations into Mathematics (IM) 6
This course is designed to extend students’ understanding of mathematical concepts aligned with the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards, accelerating the pace of instruction while diving deeper into concepts at an equal level of intensity. This is much more than an accelerated mathematics course as the program offers access to many academic competitions and the opportunity to conduct fieldwork. Students work with an academic cohort to conduct independent inquiries using mathematics, computer science, and the scientific process to solve real-world problems.

Wow, what a bunch of marketing babble... Fieldwork? Really? If by field they meant brain, then I agree.

I generally can't stand these type of nonsense descriptions and I can't believe parents let this type of crap fly. This says nothing about what they are learning in this class.. absolutely nothing, it's all marketing jargon meant to sound like this class is head and shoulders above ground level without any substance to back it up. Parents should be vigilant and hold these people responsible for posting a non-BS version having a syllabus description showing actual topics covered. Just like a standard syllabus in a college level course.

Jeez. It's not supposed to be a syllabus. It's an answer on a FAQ.

You are right, it's in the FAQ section, but my point still holds that try as hard as you can, I bet you will not find any specifics of what the class will cover. I'm positive that even if you directly email the teachers they will not send or give any information, and that lack of transparency is the real problem... the fact that (especially in math) everything about what they will cover in the class is generally kept vague is a real problem. If you ask, they will just point to some common core standards for that particular grade, etc. You will not get any actual information on the specific class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Applied Investigations into Mathematics (IM) 6
This course is designed to extend students’ understanding of mathematical concepts aligned with the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards, accelerating the pace of instruction while diving deeper into concepts at an equal level of intensity. This is much more than an accelerated mathematics course as the program offers access to many academic competitions and the opportunity to conduct fieldwork. Students work with an academic cohort to conduct independent inquiries using mathematics, computer science, and the scientific process to solve real-world problems.

Wow, what a bunch of marketing babble... Fieldwork? Really? If by field they meant brain, then I agree.

I generally can't stand these type of nonsense descriptions and I can't believe parents let this type of crap fly. This says nothing about what they are learning in this class.. absolutely nothing, it's all marketing jargon meant to sound like this class is head and shoulders above ground level without any substance to back it up. Parents should be vigilant and hold these people responsible for posting a non-BS version having a syllabus description showing actual topics covered. Just like a standard syllabus in a college level course.

Jeez. It's not supposed to be a syllabus. It's an answer on a FAQ.

You are right, it's in the FAQ section, but my point still holds that try as hard as you can, I bet you will not find any specifics of what the class will cover. I'm positive that even if you directly email the teachers they will not send or give any information, and that lack of transparency is the real problem... the fact that (especially in math) everything about what they will cover in the class is generally kept vague is a real problem. If you ask, they will just point to some common core standards for that particular grade, etc. You will not get any actual information on the specific class.

This page includes an overview of each unit in IM, going over the topics covered. (This is not specifically about the new enriched class, which I agree needs a fuller description.)
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/math/middle/investigations/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Principal mentioned a new math pathway in email. DC is on compact math now. What’s the new pathway? Anyone heard of it?

Not sure if you are in the same CES with me... We had a meeting with school principal this morning, indicating a faster accelerated pathway to skip the entire Gr4, and directly into Gr5/6 in the MP2 (next Monday). In this pathway, kids can finish Pre-Calculus in Gr9. We were told this is the first year that MCPS tries on this pathway for the most advanced ES math students, so everything about logistics and teacher resources are very uncertain...

So amusing they are circling back to the pre 2.0 system if skipping grades and getting kids to algebra in 6th. Maddening that my kid got caught in the bad year where accelerated kids were forced to repeat the same math when acceleration ended suddenly..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Applied Investigations into Mathematics (IM) 6
This course is designed to extend students’ understanding of mathematical concepts aligned with the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards, accelerating the pace of instruction while diving deeper into concepts at an equal level of intensity. This is much more than an accelerated mathematics course as the program offers access to many academic competitions and the opportunity to conduct fieldwork. Students work with an academic cohort to conduct independent inquiries using mathematics, computer science, and the scientific process to solve real-world problems.

Wow, what a bunch of marketing babble... Fieldwork? Really? If by field they meant brain, then I agree.

I generally can't stand these type of nonsense descriptions and I can't believe parents let this type of crap fly. This says nothing about what they are learning in this class.. absolutely nothing, it's all marketing jargon meant to sound like this class is head and shoulders above ground level without any substance to back it up. Parents should be vigilant and hold these people responsible for posting a non-BS version having a syllabus description showing actual topics covered. Just like a standard syllabus in a college level course.

Jeez. It's not supposed to be a syllabus. It's an answer on a FAQ.

You are right, it's in the FAQ section, but my point still holds that try as hard as you can, I bet you will not find any specifics of what the class will cover. I'm positive that even if you directly email the teachers they will not send or give any information, and that lack of transparency is the real problem... the fact that (especially in math) everything about what they will cover in the class is generally kept vague is a real problem. If you ask, they will just point to some common core standards for that particular grade, etc. You will not get any actual information on the specific class.

It is likely that they made it vague on purpose. DC is taking the so called Applied IM. The school has conceded that it is being and will be taught the same way as regular IM. Identical syllabus. No enrichment at all. It is a sham by MCPS. With the new pathway they won’t have to pretend to provide any math enrichment to kids to be denied by middle school magnets because of the cohort criterion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Applied Investigations into Mathematics (IM) 6
This course is designed to extend students’ understanding of mathematical concepts aligned with the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards, accelerating the pace of instruction while diving deeper into concepts at an equal level of intensity. This is much more than an accelerated mathematics course as the program offers access to many academic competitions and the opportunity to conduct fieldwork. Students work with an academic cohort to conduct independent inquiries using mathematics, computer science, and the scientific process to solve real-world problems.

Wow, what a bunch of marketing babble... Fieldwork? Really? If by field they meant brain, then I agree.

I generally can't stand these type of nonsense descriptions and I can't believe parents let this type of crap fly. This says nothing about what they are learning in this class.. absolutely nothing, it's all marketing jargon meant to sound like this class is head and shoulders above ground level without any substance to back it up. Parents should be vigilant and hold these people responsible for posting a non-BS version having a syllabus description showing actual topics covered. Just like a standard syllabus in a college level course.

Jeez. It's not supposed to be a syllabus. It's an answer on a FAQ.

You are right, it's in the FAQ section, but my point still holds that try as hard as you can, I bet you will not find any specifics of what the class will cover. I'm positive that even if you directly email the teachers they will not send or give any information, and that lack of transparency is the real problem... the fact that (especially in math) everything about what they will cover in the class is generally kept vague is a real problem. If you ask, they will just point to some common core standards for that particular grade, etc. You will not get any actual information on the specific class.

It is likely that they made it vague on purpose. DC is taking the so called Applied IM. The school has conceded that it is being and will be taught the same way as regular IM. Identical syllabus. No enrichment at all. It is a sham by MCPS. With the new pathway they won’t have to pretend to provide any math enrichment to kids to be denied by middle school magnets because of the cohort criterion.

Which school? How was this communicated? Is the class able to cover material at a faster pace, since everyone in the section should be at the most advanced level?

[Anonymous]

OMG. It does not have to be this complicated.