algebra II or geometry first?

[Anonymous]

My 7th grader is doing very well in algebra I this year. For next year, we have the choice of doing algebra II or geometry (and then the other in 9th grade). Any thoughts about which order is better? I did algebra II before geometry, but I know that's not typical. I don't know the pros and cons of each.

[Anonymous]

They're different types of math and cater to different sides of the brain. That's why many kids who 'hate' or are 'bad' at math suddenly love and succeed in geometry, and math whiz kids often struggle for the first time.

That being said, there are various factors to consider - where will he attend high school? In a standard public, 9th grade geometry will likely be a mixed bag of all levels of students. If he's going to struggle more with geometry than algebra II, it might make sense to wait, and do algebra II next year since he's good at algebra-type math.

[Anonymous]

I recommend Geometry first, then Algebra 2. Geometry doesn’t tend to review much from Algebra. And taking a year off the study of Algebra after Algebra 2 to do Geometry and then diving into Precalculus would be really difficult even for the best math students. Sure, there’s review, but it is lightning speed. For example, in the precalculus book I teach from, logarithms are reviewed in 2 days in one subsection of chapter 3. On the other hand, a whole chapter (9 subsections) is devoted to them in Algebra 2. So taking a year away from Algebra after taking Algebra 2 will be really painful when you’re going to have to get all that snapped back into your brain and very quickly, too. Then at the end of Precalculus you’re going to want to take the SAT Math 2 - so you want all those Algebra concepts to be absolutely rock solid.

Where will Trigonometry be covered, as part of Algebra 2 or Precalculus?

If both are being offered, would the kid want to take them concurrently? I have come to believe that for the right student, it is almost the perfect way to learn them. Don’t lose any important Algebra concepts by taking a year off but add the extra analysis and reasoning skills that Geometry provides.

[Anonymous]

I took them together. No problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I took them together. No problems.

That's an interesting idea. But then he'll be in calculus sophomore year, which seems early, and I don't know if his school offers two years of post calculus math.

[Anonymous]

What school is this? I wasn't aware of any schools giving the option.

Which one will most of his peers be doing next year? Which one does the school recommend?

[Anonymous]

In my kids' schools at MCPS, they did geometry followed by Algebra II.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I took them together. No problems.

My DS did too, but in HS.