Applied Investigation into Mathematics 6

[Anonymous]

I got a letter saying my son was accepted into this class. The description seems similar to Investigations into Mathematics. He’s my only so I don’t know anyone with older children in the area to ask questions. Is this Applied class a lot harder? Do students who take that course take a different kind of math in 7th and 8th than Investigations into math (not applies)?

And I know this is far down our road, but how will taking this class in 6th affect his high school math choices? He does well in compacted math, but isn’t the top math student in his class and it’s a struggle for him sometimes. Looking for thought and advice from anyone who has children who have been through these classes. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got a letter saying my son was accepted into this class. The description seems similar to Investigations into Mathematics. He’s my only so I don’t know anyone with older children in the area to ask questions. Is this Applied class a lot harder? Do students who take that course take a different kind of math in 7th and 8th than Investigations into math (not applies)?

And I know this is far down our road, but how will taking this class in 6th affect his high school math choices? He does well in compacted math, but isn’t the top math student in his class and it’s a struggle for him sometimes. Looking for thought and advice from anyone who has children who have been through these classes. Thank you.

The current school year is the first year Applied IM 6 has been offered. Next year many middle schools will keep the current Applied IM kids together as a cohort for Algebra 1, and presumably the same will happen after that for Geometry. We don't know if or how this will affect HS math choices. It is just meant to be a partial substitute for the math classes at Takoma Park/Clemente magnet programs.

[Anonymous]

He will take algebra in 7th and that gets you to calc in 11th unless you veer off the standard path.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got a letter saying my son was accepted into this class. The description seems similar to Investigations into Mathematics. He’s my only so I don’t know anyone with older children in the area to ask questions. Is this Applied class a lot harder? Do students who take that course take a different kind of math in 7th and 8th than Investigations into math (not applies)?

And I know this is far down our road, but how will taking this class in 6th affect his high school math choices? He does well in compacted math, but isn’t the top math student in his class and it’s a struggle for him sometimes. Looking for thought and advice from anyone who has children who have been through these classes. Thank you.

At least at my son's school, it doesn't seem too hard for the kids who are supposed to be in it.

[Anonymous]

At our school they just renamed regular IM to this class. Everyone that would have been IM is in this class instead.

In terms of long term this path gets kids to calculus in 11th grade. Remains to be seen how that will all pan out. From talking to some HS math teachers sounds like not well....

[Anonymous]

My DC found it to be challenging and he sailed through compacted math in elementary school, although his teacher is weak so that could be part of the problem. The former magnet students were much better prepared.

All that said, I get the impression each middle school handles it differently so you might get a better response if you say what school you ar interested in.

[Anonymous]

OP the curriculum has changed slightly and the name of the class. Its the same as IM6 and the other poster was correct to say if he passes this class, he'd be in line to take Algebra I in 7th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP the curriculum has changed slightly and the name of the class. Its the same as IM6 and the other poster was correct to say if he passes this class, he'd be in line to take Algebra I in 7th grade.

I don't think it is the same as IM6. Our school has both IM and IM6. Yes, both courses lead to geometry in 7th grade, but they are different. AIM has more projects and the students grouped in the class are all high achieving, capable 6th graders. It sounds like at some schools the courses are almost identical, but at others there are some differences.

[Anonymous]

My son is AIM told me today how much he likes math class because of his peers and his teacher does math competitions. His friends in IM6 do not have the same instructional experience even though the content overlaps.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Thank you for all the helpful information. I’m a little worried about calculus in 11th grade, but I think we will keep him in this applied class and hope for the best.

[Anonymous]

As for calculus in 11th grade, depending on how your kid is doing, there are options -- at my son's HS you can take calculus with applications, AP Calc AB, or AP Calc BC. I would definitely keep your son in Applied -- he can always drop down later if truly necessary, but see how he does!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP the curriculum has changed slightly and the name of the class. Its the same as IM6 and the other poster was correct to say if he passes this class, he'd be in line to take Algebra I in 7th grade.

I don't think it is the same as IM6. Our school has both IM and IM6. Yes, both courses lead to geometry in 7th grade, but they are different. AIM has more projects and the students grouped in the class are all high achieving, capable 6th graders. It sounds like at some schools the courses are almost identical, but at others there are some differences.

At our school, the classes are identical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP the curriculum has changed slightly and the name of the class. Its the same as IM6 and the other poster was correct to say if he passes this class, he'd be in line to take Algebra I in 7th grade.

I don't think it is the same as IM6. Our school has both IM and IM6. Yes, both courses lead to geometry in 7th grade, but they are different. AIM has more projects and the students grouped in the class are all high achieving, capable 6th graders. It sounds like at some schools the courses are almost identical, but at others there are some differences.

At our school, the classes are identical.

I think PP meant both courses lead to Algebra 1 in 7th grade, not Geometry, which follows in 8th grade. (Then Algebra 2 in 9th, Precalc in 10th, Calc in 11th.)

[Anonymous]

there are three math in our MS: Math 6, IM and AIM. AIM. Not sure yet how different they are.

[Anonymous]

Very interesting development. When my kids were in middle school, only the high flyers took IM in 6th and finished geometry by 8th. Everyone else took IM in 7th grade after Math 6.

Since MCPS is now dumping all kids into some form of IM in 6th grade, it sounds like AIM is an enriched class for the high flyers.

IM used to be a fairly difficult class, but I believe they changed the course curriculum for it when they wanted all 6th graders to take it. Now it sounds like many kids breeze right through it so they added this AIM class to provide more challenge for kids that need it.