Reply to Algebra 1 - In 6th Grade

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It makes me sad that some people cannot fathom taking advanced math/enrichment math for any reason other than to get into TJ or MIT.

[/b]It's no different than travel soccer [b]or private piano lessons for the right kid.  We don't do it (because I'm not driving an hour or more each way to get to Vienna/Mclean), but I did look into it at one point because he was bored at school and yet loved math and wanted more, and I don't know how to present it appropriately for his level.

I actually hope my child doesn't go to TJ. The level of stress and pressure there don't seem worth it to me, unless he suddenly becomes passionate about research. I kept him in A1 anyway though, because he is ready for it and excited about it.

(I drive a hyundai)[/quote]

Yes it is. If it’s no different, then why not just put your child into said sport or piano. I’d argue that that plus your kid already being smart would be a better combo than math enrichment. [/quote]

#1. Totally agree about TJ - not sure what the advantages actually are, and the downsides are very obvious.
#2. If a kid really loves math, then it's a great hobby and there's no reason to hold the child back. You wouldn't say that if a kid was doing extremely well in violin, we should put them in a math class instead of having them study the Brahms Concerto in order to balance them out. That said, I'd bet that the number of kids who really love math enough to pursue it as a hobby is pretty small. The schools should find a way to accommodate the relatively small number of kids who are really ready to move forward in the curriculum without setting up a large-scale Algebra in Sixth Grade program.[/quote]

Would child have been ready for Algebra in 6th without the math enrichment outside of school? Ask yourself that. And why is simply taking the normal math offered at school considered “holding a child back.” Why must there be a push to accelerate?[/quote]

Many of the parents who discuss the normal math path as holding kids back are doing so because they are aware that math is taught differently internationally.

And yes, there are kids who would be ready for A1H in 6th grade without outside enrichment. There are kids who grasp math concepts easily and are able to apply them. In many cases, parents will look for outside enrichment to encourage the child's natural ability. Some kids might not be interested in outside enrichment and not take it, and that is fine.

There is a perception that every kid doing math competitions and involved in classes like AoPS are there because of pushy parents, I thought that until I had a kid who loves math and was excited when we offered math enrichment as an option. But there are kids who love math and want to take those classes.  And there are kids strong in math who don't want to take those classes but are capable of A1H in 6th grade. We know kids who choose M7H over A1H in 7th grade because the kid just isn't into math that much but they qualified for A1H, those same kids might have made the cut off for 6th grade A1H if the class existed then. And I would guess that their parents would choose regular advanced math/6th grade AAP math over A1H.

Most people are fine with the kid who is great on the rec soccer team trying out for the travel team. The kid is strong at soccer, it is natural that they would try for a more competitive team. Why is it different saying that a kid who is strong in math should be happy to do math enrichment outside of school?

There are parents who push their kids into academic enrichment because the parents are focused only on that. There are parents who push their kids into travel sports when the kid doesn't want to be there. There are parents who force music lessons when the kid doesn't want to be there. But for some reason it is the math enrichment that seems to strike the biggest chord for people on this site. I don't get it.

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