Nervous about intensified algebra In 7th

[Anonymous]

DC was placed in intensified algebra and the email about it from the teacher is making me nervous. “Very high expectations” “homework a major key to success” “being prepared for class is paramount,” etc.

DC is smart and this far has picked up on math concepts quickly, but bless her heart she struggles so much with organization, doing homework even when she doesn’t feel like it, etc. I feel like this is going to be a significant burden on me, with reminding her to do her homework and not letting her play before her homework is done. And even with that I cannot see her getting a good grade unless miraculous changes happen at the beginning of next school year.

If DC hadn’t been gunning for this I would request she take regular math instead. I can totally envision some drama three months into the school year when she is getting a bad grade and beating herself up over it. Her teachers are incredibly supportive, especially with her ADHD, but still.

Would it be awful of me to warn her about what I see as an inevitably? Maybe say “hey there is no shame in dropping to a lower level or repeating a class in middle school?”

[Anonymous]

Forgot to mention she had a B the first semester and another B+ this semester assuming that what’s on PARENTVUE is final.

[Anonymous]

What school system?

[Anonymous]

Is this in APS? My DC took it and it wasn’t terribly hard or a lot of work. Worst case scenario, if they aren’t doing well they repeat in the summer or 8th grade and drop the 7th grade class grade. It will never show on HS transcript that they took it twice. There’s really no harm to trying!

[Anonymous]

Yes this is APS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this in APS? My DC took it and it wasn’t terribly hard or a lot of work. Worst case scenario, if they aren’t doing well they repeat in the summer or 8th grade and drop the 7th grade class grade. It will never show on HS transcript that they took it twice. There’s really no harm to trying!

Hmm so maybe the email was kind of an overstatement? That would be really nice, ha.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes this is APS.

When did you receive the email? My 6th grader is in APS too, & we’ve heard nothing about which math class next year. She got all As this year, but do they base it on that or SOL scores or Math Inventory?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes this is APS.

When did you receive the email? My 6th grader is in APS too, & we’ve heard nothing about which math class next year. She got all As this year, but do they base it on that or SOL scores or Math Inventory?

I received it yesterday, from her current math teacher. So I imagine the emails come out when the teacher decides they should come out, you know?

[Anonymous]

In APS do they receive HS credit for Algebra? In LCPS they do and it factors into their GPA unless you expunge it before HS.

[Anonymous]

Keeping up with the homework is a major portion of Algebra. Stay on top of that. Since she wants this class get some buy-in before it starts, that each day she’ll sit down and do the math homework first. You should supervise this if possible. Make sure she’s neat and methodical in her steps. Habits here will be useful for all of HS math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes this is APS.

When did you receive the email? My 6th grader is in APS too, & we’ve heard nothing about which math class next year. She got all As this year, but do they base it on that or SOL scores or Math Inventory?

I received it yesterday, from her current math teacher. So I imagine the emails come out when the teacher decides they should come out, you know?

Oh sorry, and I really don’t know what they base it on. It looks like there isn’t a big emphasis on letting parents know how this works. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keeping up with the homework is a major portion of Algebra. Stay on top of that. Since she wants this class get some buy-in before it starts, that each day she’ll sit down and do the math homework first. You should supervise this if possible. Make sure she’s neat and methodical in her steps. Habits here will be useful for all of HS math.

Great advice. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

I think it's a win win (I'm the PP before who said you can always retake). Since most take Algebra in 8th, you have the chance to try it this year and see how your kid does. If they struggle from the get go, then you move down to pre-algebra 7th grade and retake as an 8th grader with the majority of their classmates. No harm, no foul. But the teachers are usually pretty good at predicting who will be successful in the class- they are fairly strict (and have gotten stricter in the past few years) about who they put in the class, so if your DC is excited to take it I'd let them go. Contrary to popular belief a B+ will no doom your kid to a life of community college and a career at Mcdonald's.

You can also get a tutor to help before quizzes if that will help boost confidence. I've been doing that for both my High Schoolers since Algebra 1 and it's helped them feel ready for each test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's a win win (I'm the PP before who said you can always retake). Since most take Algebra in 8th, you have the chance to try it this year and see how your kid does. If they struggle from the get go, then you move down to pre-algebra 7th grade and retake as an 8th grader with the majority of their classmates. No harm, no foul. But the teachers are usually pretty good at predicting who will be successful in the class- they are fairly strict (and have gotten stricter in the past few years) about who they put in the class, so if your DC is excited to take it I'd let them go. Contrary to popular belief a B+ will no doom your kid to a life of community college and a career at Mcdonald's.

You can also get a tutor to help before quizzes if that will help boost confidence. I've been doing that for both my High Schoolers since Algebra 1 and it's helped them feel ready for each test.

+1. The teacher probably sees your daughter's potential and believes she can handle the class if she buckles down and does the work. It is unusual for an APS middle school to tell you now what class your child will be placed in for the fall (they usually wait until end of summer for that), so my guess is you got this email from the teacher now because she also recognizes your daughter is not consistent about doing the work the class will take, and is giving you an opportunity to speak up before the placement is set in case you think she should be in the lower-level math class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's a win win (I'm the PP before who said you can always retake). Since most take Algebra in 8th, you have the chance to try it this year and see how your kid does. If they struggle from the get go, then you move down to pre-algebra 7th grade and retake as an 8th grader with the majority of their classmates. No harm, no foul. But the teachers are usually pretty good at predicting who will be successful in the class- they are fairly strict (and have gotten stricter in the past few years) about who they put in the class, so if your DC is excited to take it I'd let them go. Contrary to popular belief a B+ will no doom your kid to a life of community college and a career at Mcdonald's.

You can also get a tutor to help before quizzes if that will help boost confidence. I've been doing that for both my High Schoolers since Algebra 1 and it's helped them feel ready for each test.

That’s encouraging! Thank you!