Algebra in 7tb - why? Whats the big deal?
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Anonymous
| My DC is in 5th grade AAP. I see several threads in this forum about posters seeming wanting their DC to get into algebra in 7th grade. Why is it something to achieve or extra significant? Is this bc their DC is trying for TJ or ? Whats the big deal or benefit to aim for Algebra in 7th grade? What's missed if the DC doesn't get into Algebra in 7th grade? TIA. |
Anonymous
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Yep - kids get some high school credits in middle school and let’s you explore other courses or get college credits in high school etc. But, it does look like primary motivation is still TJ admissions. Based on the link below, most of the TJ kids had taken algebra I in 7th grade. Only about 7% kids took algebra I in 8th grade.
http://www.fcag.org/documents/TJ+Class+of+2020+Math.pdf Also, below is another link that might explain why there is so much interest in AAP program in this forum. Most of the TJ feeders are AAP center schools. Also, kids need to get pass advanced on 7th grade math SOL in 6th grade along with 91 percentile in IAAT to be eligible for algebra I in 7th grade. This is only possible if the kid is already in advanced math track in elementary school. Personally, I don’t think it’s fair to split kids so early in 3rd grade with so much at stake later on. http://www.fcag.org/documents/TJHSST%20All%20Middle%20Schools%20Class%20of%202022.pdf |
Anonymous
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TJ is a major reason. Other parents (frequently the same parents) are aiming their kids towards difficult-to-get-into engineering schools.
Aside from that, demographics of the area being what they are, there are quite a few very smart kids who deserve the opportunity to take math at their level. |
Anonymous
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^^ agree.
My DD wants to take Algebra in 7th. She LOVES pre-algebra. It’s easy for her understand. She can’t wait to learn more. |
Anonymous
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Aiming for 7th grade Algebra is silly. Putting your child in 7th grade algebra because that is the most appropriate placement for your child is totally reasonable My kids' school emphasized that no one should prep for the IAAT, because the goal is not to be placed in Algebra, but rather to be placed in the most appropriate math class.
I think people are aiming for algebra due to TJ, wanting their kids to have the "most rigorous" high school schedule for college admissions, and because the parents have an overly optimistic view of their kids' math ability. |
Anonymous
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8:14 PP again
DD is taking algebra in 7th so she can take AP stats without using an elective slot. She's in orchestra, so she doesn't have tons of electives to spare. DS will take Algebra in 6th. He's a math whiz who loves math and wants to do all of the math. He has found 6th grade AAP math to be absurdly easy, and he got a 99% on IAAT. |
Anonymous
| In my triangle they are trying to feed more kids into regular math and keep the advanced classes more specifically for people who are really really really into math. I think this is great. It’s understandably hard for parents to get the impression that their kid isn’t super special. I don’t think people realize just how gifted in math some kids are. |
Anonymous
| I know numerous kids who took algebra in 7th that aren't taking AP Calculus by the time junior or senior year rolls around becuase they "aren't good at math". I don't think it's worth the push unless you are the super stellar, enthusiastic math student. |
Anonymous
Interesting. I took ap calculus my senior year and I didn’t take algebra until 9th grade I took both geometry and algebra II my tenth grade year because I discovered I really liked it, even though I wasn’t a natural at it. I wonder if pushing kids into advanced math gives them a distaste for the subject? |
Anonymous
| What are the math options to take senior year if your child takes Algebra in 7th? |
Anonymous
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Every school has AP stats
Most have dual enrollment (GMU?) multi variable calc and linear algebra. |
Anonymous
Most AP schools have classes - either stats or comp sci or multivariable calculus. IB schools - the path is less clear. At our base school it was an off campus course, an online course, or a stats class. Not great options in my opinion and that was pretty disappointing. Algebra I in 7th is certainly the "mainstream" for the AAP kids but in some cases it feels like the road to nowhere. Especially when there are so many studies showing that a firm understanding of Algebra I is critical to future high level math success. Just for full disclosure, I'm fully on the crazy train with a kid at TJ and a kid in Alg I in 7th probably heading towards an IB school. But I still question the wisdom. As do the 7th grade Algebra I teachers at our school. |
Anonymous
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Some kids are fully ready for Algebra in or even before 7th. Making them take M7H when they've already mastered all of the pre-algebra concepts will do nothing for their algebra foundation. I don't like the idea of restricting access to early algebra for the kids who absolutely belong there, just because some kids or families are making poor decisions.
I'd prefer to have them use a much more comprehensive test and make it significantly harder to test into algebra if they're worried about unready kids in the program. Or, I'd prefer to have them force any kid who doesn't at least earn a B, B+ or whatever in 7th grade algebra to retake it in 8th. Or there could be a rule that any kids in 7th grade Algebra who don't at least have a B or whatever at the end of the first quarter are automatically dropped into M7H. |
pettifogger
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I agree with the bolded but I don't think kids should be forced to repeat a year class, unless absolutely necessary. I agree that for some of these schools with large groups of students who have been accelerated since elementary school (but who nevertheless have a large subset of these kids who really aren't fully ready to commit to the work/pace of a rigorous algebra class), they should definitely have a more selective test to be in an honors algebra program. For your second point, I think there should be a bit more choice; i.e. there should be two separate algebra tracks, regular and honors. If kids can't handle the pace/rigor/etc. in honors algebra, they can drop just down to either regular algebra which would move more slowly, or just repeat M7H as you suggested. I'm not sure why this isn't the norm in middle school given how two separate tracks is very typical in high school curriculums (I'm assuming it's mainly a resource/funding issue). |
Anonymous
| Only reason OP, is some parents of AAP kids are anticipating being embarrassed when Gen Ed kids do better. |