Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 kids in 3rd and 5th grade AAP. I’ve recently realized that many of their classmates go to kumon or mathnasium. My 3rd grader seems to especially feel behind as he feels his classmates are more advanced than he is in math. Some kids claim to be doing algebra in 3rd grade. We recently moved to Mclean. I didn’t even know what mathnasium was until we moved here.

My 5th grader told me he is in the lowest AAP math group. He said his group is the one who did the worst in pre assessments. At open house, teachers were purposely vague about differentiation within AAP math. We have never prepped or done any outside math with our children. I’m beginning to think we should be doing something.

My 3rd grader recently took another pre assessment and he said he was dumb. He said he got only 4 questions right out of 20 while others were getting everything right. I told him this was for the teacher to see where everyone was at and DS said he was the dumbest kid in the class.

Both my kids scored 99th percentile in their math Cogat and have always received 4s in math.

Should I be sending my kids to mathnasium or similar?

In a case like this I would-- not because your kid needs more math, but because it's hurting his confidence. My Ds was struggling in math and a math tutor said that we better believe that many of these kids who are doing amazing are getting tons of outside support-- even, and especially, if they are highly gifted in the subject.

I'm also in the camp of "you can never have too much math"-- even if you choose a field that doesn't require a lot of math, the critical thinking skills are invaluable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 kids in 3rd and 5th grade AAP. I’ve recently realized that many of their classmates go to kumon or mathnasium. My 3rd grader seems to especially feel behind as he feels his classmates are more advanced than he is in math. Some kids claim to be doing algebra in 3rd grade. We recently moved to Mclean. I didn’t even know what mathnasium was until we moved here.

My 5th grader told me he is in the lowest AAP math group. He said his group is the one who did the worst in pre assessments. At open house, teachers were purposely vague about differentiation within AAP math. We have never prepped or done any outside math with our children. I’m beginning to think we should be doing something.

My 3rd grader recently took another pre assessment and he said he was dumb. He said he got only 4 questions right out of 20 while others were getting everything right. I told him this was for the teacher to see where everyone was at and DS said he was the dumbest kid in the class.

Both my kids scored 99th percentile in their math Cogat and have always received 4s in math.

Should I be sending my kids to mathnasium or similar?

In a case like this I would-- not because your kid needs more math, but because it's hurting his confidence. My Ds was struggling in math and a math tutor said that we better believe that many of these kids who are doing amazing are getting tons of outside support-- even, and especially, if they are highly gifted in the subject.

I'm also in the camp of "you can never have too much math"-- even if you choose a field that doesn't require a lot of math, the critical thinking skills are invaluable.

My son took regular math throughout school and wound up making up lost ground in HS when he took some college classes. He was accepted as a STEM major at almost every college he applied to (state schools).

We never did Kumon or Mathnasium, instead I supplemented at home using, at first, flash cards to memorize math facts in elementary school and later using released math SOLs as study guides. I also looked over his homework every night. Math is NOT my strong suit so at some point I had to step back and let him sink or swim with it. He swam.. I think his success had a lot to do with going over the basics with him, really making sure that he practiced his math when he was younger.

If Mathnasium or Kumon helps kids get that practice in, more power to the folks who use those programs. We don't think twice about reading with our kids - reading a bedtime story is often a part of the nightly routine. Quizzing math facts and sitting down and working on math problems is something that you have to prioritize doing or it doesn't get done.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 kids in 3rd and 5th grade AAP. I’ve recently realized that many of their classmates go to kumon or mathnasium. My 3rd grader seems to especially feel behind as he feels his classmates are more advanced than he is in math. Some kids claim to be doing algebra in 3rd grade. We recently moved to Mclean. I didn’t even know what mathnasium was until we moved here.

My 5th grader told me he is in the lowest AAP math group. He said his group is the one who did the worst in pre assessments. At open house, teachers were purposely vague about differentiation within AAP math. We have never prepped or done any outside math with our children. I’m beginning to think we should be doing something.

My 3rd grader recently took another pre assessment and he said he was dumb. He said he got only 4 questions right out of 20 while others were getting everything right. I told him this was for the teacher to see where everyone was at and DS said he was the dumbest kid in the class.

Both my kids scored 99th percentile in their math Cogat and have always received 4s in math.

Should I be sending my kids to mathnasium or similar?

In a case like this I would-- not because your kid needs more math, but because it's hurting his confidence. My Ds was struggling in math and a math tutor said that we better believe that many of these kids who are doing amazing are getting tons of outside support-- even, and especially, if they are highly gifted in the subject.

I'm also in the camp of "you can never have too much math"-- even if you choose a field that doesn't require a lot of math, the critical thinking skills are invaluable.

My son took regular math throughout school and wound up making up lost ground in HS when he took some college classes. He was accepted as a STEM major at almost every college he applied to (state schools).

We never did Kumon or Mathnasium, instead I supplemented at home using, at first, flash cards to memorize math facts in elementary school and later using released math SOLs as study guides. I also looked over his homework every night. Math is NOT my strong suit so at some point I had to step back and let him sink or swim with it. He swam.. I think his success had a lot to do with going over the basics with him, really making sure that he practiced his math when he was younger.

If Mathnasium or Kumon helps kids get that practice in, more power to the folks who use those programs. We don't think twice about reading with our kids - reading a bedtime story is often a part of the nightly routine. Quizzing math facts and sitting down and working on math problems is something that you have to prioritize doing or it doesn't get done.

Op here. We check our 3rd grader’s homework everyday. My 5th grader seems to not bring any homework minus some occasional projects. Both kids get good grades but the perception is so different for the two of them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 kids in 3rd and 5th grade AAP. I’ve recently realized that many of their classmates go to kumon or mathnasium. My 3rd grader seems to especially feel behind as he feels his classmates are more advanced than he is in math. Some kids claim to be doing algebra in 3rd grade. We recently moved to Mclean. I didn’t even know what mathnasium was until we moved here.

My 5th grader told me he is in the lowest AAP math group. He said his group is the one who did the worst in pre assessments. At open house, teachers were purposely vague about differentiation within AAP math. We have never prepped or done any outside math with our children. I’m beginning to think we should be doing something.

My 3rd grader recently took another pre assessment and he said he was dumb. He said he got only 4 questions right out of 20 while others were getting everything right. I told him this was for the teacher to see where everyone was at and DS said he was the dumbest kid in the class.

Both my kids scored 99th percentile in their math Cogat and have always received 4s in math.

Should I be sending my kids to mathnasium or similar?

In a case like this I would-- not because your kid needs more math, but because it's hurting his confidence. My Ds was struggling in math and a math tutor said that we better believe that many of these kids who are doing amazing are getting tons of outside support-- even, and especially, if they are highly gifted in the subject.

I'm also in the camp of "you can never have too much math"-- even if you choose a field that doesn't require a lot of math, the critical thinking skills are invaluable.

My son took regular math throughout school and wound up making up lost ground in HS when he took some college classes. He was accepted as a STEM major at almost every college he applied to (state schools).

We never did Kumon or Mathnasium, instead I supplemented at home using, at first, flash cards to memorize math facts in elementary school and later using released math SOLs as study guides. I also looked over his homework every night. Math is NOT my strong suit so at some point I had to step back and let him sink or swim with it. He swam.. I think his success had a lot to do with going over the basics with him, really making sure that he practiced his math when he was younger.

If Mathnasium or Kumon helps kids get that practice in, more power to the folks who use those programs. We don't think twice about reading with our kids - reading a bedtime story is often a part of the nightly routine. Quizzing math facts and sitting down and working on math problems is something that you have to prioritize doing or it doesn't get done.

Op here. We check our 3rd grader’s homework everyday. My 5th grader seems to not bring any homework minus some occasional projects. Both kids get good grades but the perception is so different for the two of them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD completed math program at Kumon McLean. She breezed through Algebras and skipped Calculus - because of Kumon.

So if my child was sitting in same algebra class with your child, my child would appear to be struggling since your child already learned or at least had exposure to material being taught in class.

I will take my kids to visit mathnasium. Guess it can’t hurt.

Yes. I teach AAP and the amount of kids who already know all of the standards I have to cover this year is insane!! They learned it outside of school two years ago and are doing way harder math outside of school. The schools won’t put them in a higher grade for math class though... so I’m stuck with 1/4 students who aren’t familiar with the standards (which is what a teacher typically expects- to teach kids the standards), 1/2 already know it all, and the other 1/4 are somewhat familiar from doing less intense math outside of school. I have pressure to challenge and engage the kids who are bored because they know it all, but my concern is catching up the students who come to school to learn math. Not everyone’s parents have spent thousands to get them way ahead in math from first grade on...it’s cool they know so much but I think having them take a test and go with the right grade for math block would make more sense. Parents so crazy competitive about TJ, but half these kids are getting far far ahead of the pacing guide doing math outside of school. I think it really effects the confidence of the kids who come to school to learn math because we have al these kids saying “this is easy” and solving problems so quickly...

I just think the schools should stop having stupid rules about sending a kid to another grade for math. Test them and if they’re doing 8th grade math outside of school- send them to an 8th grade math teacher during school.

Op here. So my kid isn’t wrong when he says he is in the lowest math group within AAP.

Do you think the kids without outside help are at a disadvantage?

I actually really value free time and play. We are Asian American. My parents prioritized education and did not value socialization.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just think the schools should stop having stupid rules about sending a kid to another grade for math. Test them and if they’re doing 8th grade math outside of school- send them to an 8th grade math teacher during school.

I know at least two schools where they do send more advanced kids to other grades for Math. There is definitely one child in DD's 4th grade class who is doing 6th grade math I suspect he's actually considerably more advanced than that), and I have a friend who has had two kids grade skip math. What it takes is perfect SOLs and perfect grades in math, in class.

Mosby Woods? They allow kids to skip grades in math, but the process is very secretive. They don't just want the perfect SOLs, but they also want very high CogAT Q scores. Then, a FCPS curriculum specialist tests the kids for a grade skip. Some very talented kids are passed over based on tests when from when they were 7 year olds, while other overly prepped kids are being given the grade skip. If you think your kid should be considered for a skip, make a point of asking about the criteria at the end of 4th grade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of defensive parents. However you rationalize it. It is tutoring. If you think common core (from which VA standards are based) isn’t teaching math standards at fast enough rate, and you use that as an excuse to pay for classes that do, that’s tutoring.

Ignorant poster, nobody thinks FCPS isn't teaching math standards fast enough! From the many posts it's clear they are not teaching well enough, and actually do very little teaching! They actually rush through a bunch of topics, do not teach them effectively (using worksheets, group lessons, and pretty much anything other than teacher involvement). Because they haven't taught them enough, they have to "spiral" around to them again, year after year! So you expect most kids to just get it through osmosis? That's why there's a huge business in private tutoring/teaching/enrichment centers everywhere you look. It speaks to the large elephant in the room, namely that there is very little teaching being done in elementary and middle school! (And high school too, but hopefully by that point many kids should be able to at least figure out how to learn on their own).

+1. In the last few years, AAP math for my kids has been rotating through: The teacher center, where they might actually learn material, the "game" center, where they do some sort of vaguely math related game, the "technology center" where they are stuck doing Dreambox, the "sudoku center", where they do sudoku puzzles, and the worksheet center, where they do worksheets. My oldest is in 6th, and I'm still seeing a lot of this.

Mine are in AoPS so they can actually learn math. It has nothing to do with learning the material earlier or faster, since the AoPS track has Algebra in 7th. I've recognized a lot of kids from my kids' AAP center at AoPS, and I would imagine that a bunch of other kids are doing Kumon, RSM, or Mathnasium. No one is trying to get ahead in the curriculum, and we all accept that our kids are going to be bored out of their minds during school math. At least this way they're getting a solid foundation.

Anonymous wrote:My child has done kumon and aops (both 3-4 grade levels ahead) but won’t do Algebra I until 8th grade in school. We think it’s important to stay on a steady, only slightly accelerated path in school and learn to work deeper on that level. It’s not a race. These kids are young. Kids need to learn how to learn. Some kids need to learn how to be advanced and show it while working at all levels.

Anonymous wrote:We think it’s important to stay on a steady, only slightly accelerated path in school and learn to work deeper on that level. It’s not a race.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child has done kumon and aops (both 3-4 grade levels ahead) but won’t do Algebra I until 8th grade in school. We think it’s important to stay on a steady, only slightly accelerated path in school and learn to work deeper on that level. It’s not a race. These kids are young. Kids need to learn how to learn. Some kids need to learn how to be advanced and show it while working at all levels.

Just wondering why you put child in only 3rd and 4th. Did you find school teaching in math to be lacking?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child has done kumon and aops (both 3-4 grade levels ahead) but won’t do Algebra I until 8th grade in school. We think it’s important to stay on a steady, only slightly accelerated path in school and learn to work deeper on that level. It’s not a race. These kids are young. Kids need to learn how to learn. Some kids need to learn how to be advanced and show it while working at all levels.

Just wondering why you put child in only 3rd and 4th. Did you find school teaching in math to be lacking?

In both programs child was/is working 3 to 4 grade levels ahead.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We think it’s important to stay on a steady, only slightly accelerated path in school and learn to work deeper on that level. It’s not a race.

How are you managing to have your kids work deeper on grade level math in school? The worksheets my kids are bringing home in AAP math are pretty basic, as are all of the tests and quizzes. There isn't any "working deeper" happening. The only thing kids who are ahead can learn in AAP math is how to tolerate boredom and busywork.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child has done kumon and aops (both 3-4 grade levels ahead) but won’t do Algebra I until 8th grade in school. We think it’s important to stay on a steady, only slightly accelerated path in school and learn to work deeper on that level. It’s not a race. These kids are young. Kids need to learn how to learn. Some kids need to learn how to be advanced and show it while working at all levels.

Just wondering why you put child in only 3rd and 4th. Did you find school teaching in math to be lacking?

In both programs child was/is working 3 to 4 grade levels ahead.

Your kid is doing or will be doing AoPS Algebra, which is very rigorous, around 5th grade, but you'll make that kid wait until 8th to do FCPS Algebra I, which is very watered down and taught at a much lower level than the AoPS Algebra? How does that make any sense?