Reply to Yet another math question

Forum Index » Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)

Reply to "Yet another math question - algebra 1 in 8th?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Hi - a tutor and someone who taught for a year here.

Nothing, I repeat NOTHING, is worse for teachers, parents, students, and tutors than a child who is misplaced in their math course. A child who struggles with negative numbers and/or fractions should not be pushed ahead into a more advanced course. They will consistently find themselves confused, or as the kids like to say "lost in sauce". The single greatest reason students cannot learn algebra 2, precalculus, calculus, etc. is because their skills in the underlying courses are weak.

If you're so worried about your kid getting into a competitive college, HOLD THEM BACK A GRADE in late elementary or middle school. Colleges will not see this. Your students will have an extra year to mature. They'll look like they are on the advanced track as they take algebra 2 in "9th grade". As a BONUS? you receive a free year of education with highly competent teachers. [/quote]

Ridiculous. You've forgotten about the sometimes very profound social and psychological effects of being held back. How do you think it makes the child feel, seeing their friends go to the next grade and not them? Maybe they've mastered the material in every other subject, and now they have to do the same darn work as last year? They'll start acting out in class just out of boredom, PP.

If a child is struggling in math, you get them a good tutor. That's what tutors are paid to do - explain their subject. Developmentally speaking, there is NO typical progression in math. Different countries teach different concepts at different ages, so don't give me crap about a child being too young for any particular math topic. I know, I did my schooling in various countries around the world, and every time I moved, I had to catch up on something, or got to relearn a topic, taught differently.

You must be a lousy tutor. Adapt to your students.[/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