Reply to Are there advantages to 7th grade Algebra and 8th grade Geometry?

Forum Index » Schools and Education General Discussion

Reply to "Are there advantages to 7th grade Algebra and 8th grade Geometry?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I had one kid who did Algebra I in 8th grade (and took AP Calculus AB in 12th -- the only option he had) and one who did it in 7th (taking multivariable calc in 12th) . They both got solid grades throughout high school.  If a child can get A's on one track but only Bs on the other, then he/she should take the less accelerated track and get the As.  That is the best move not only for college, but also -- more importantly really -- for learning higher math by having solid foundations.  If your child might be a stem major, it really helps to complete AP Calculus BC level in high school - whether or not he/she repeats it freshman year of college or moves up a level for two reasons: 1) it potentially opens up more options; 2) I think some high schools do a better job teaching calculus and other higher math in some ways than some colleges -- smaller classes, more individual attention in high school; 3) I have learned that many kids in college repeat math (or AP science courses) as freshman so the material is already understood and they do better, driving a harder curve for the class.  Caveat -- that is true at my DC's college which is one of those doesn't really give AP college credits, only an option to place into higher classes. [b] In schools where kids get AP credits I doubt they retake as much[/b].  chools.     [/quote]

Actually, I was a student who did re-take and our kids have as well even though the 5s would have allowed us to skip the courses.  But it gets to point #3--I/they do it to get a handle on the perspective of the college math staff (pedagogy, philosophical bent) and as they get adapted to the college life.  I agree, though, that it does drive up the curve, which is unfortunate.

To OP's point, though, I don't agree with the heavy push these days because I think that some kids are getting pushed too hard and too fast, and are losing fundamental understandings.  We have kept 2 children from the hard acceleration push.  Frankly, we even have had one kid who entered the Ivy school without having had Calc of any sort in high school (meaning the kid was accepted without it and scored 2150 on SATs and scored over 700 for the math subject test although I cannot recall the exact score now).  But if a child is ready for it and if there is enough support so that the child doesn't flounder then, certainly, go for it.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics