Reply to pre-algebra topics?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]If you look on the Illustrative website there's an explanation of the condensed version so the content of grades 6-8 is done in two years. Faster pace but also less built-in review.[/quote]

Can you link? All I see is accelerated 6-7. Is the idea that 7th is prealgebra?[/quote]

There's not really any specific thing called "Pre-Algebra" in this curriculum. They learn the 6th-8th grade curriculum over two years. You can call the second half or the third third "Pre-Algebra" if you feel like it, I guess. [/quote]

So if my kid isn’t getting through the 8th grade Illustrative Math in 7th  he won’t be ready for algebra in 8th? [/quote]

Well, I think if your kid's bright enough to take Algebra I in 8th, he'll probably be able to figure it out despite not taking 8th grade math. Whether the school will allow him to take Algebra I is a separate question.[/quote]

That’s what I’m failing to understand. Doesn’t the content build on itself? It seems like you shouldn’t just be able to skip content because you are “bright”? [/quote]

It does build on itself, but kids who are bright can usually figure it out as they go along. Or watch some YouTube videos about it, or the teacher or staff can give them a little extra help. It will be fine.[/quote]

That still literally does not make sense to me. [/quote]

I really don't know what else to tell you. If they're smart in math, with the teacher's help, they'll catch up as needed. Because that's part of what it means to be smart in math.

Are you asking this because your kid is not being allowed in Algebra? Or because you don't like that the school is putting your kid in Algebra?[/quote]

I’m asking because I want my kid to be prepared for algebra, and in the absence of actual textbooks, it’s impossible for me to tell how I can make sure that happens. Based on the loosey-goosey approach of letting some kids skip 7th grade math and others skip 8th grade math, I’m coming to believe that maybe nobody is trying in DCPS to systematically prepare kids for algebra. If there isn’t a concrete sequence of knowledge that has to be built to enroll in algebra then it sounds possible that they just put the “smart kids” in algebra and give up on the rest. Would not surprise me![/quote]

There's a lot of variety among DCPS schools. At Deal, they test them in 6th and start offering accelerated classes. Nothing is skipped, it's just done in a shorter period of time. Or some of 8th grade math is taught during the Algebra I course. There are lots of ways to do this. But you need to stop thinking of math learning as a rigid linear sequence. It does build on itself, but it's more flexible than you think. It has to be, because kids move here from other states and countries in every grade. [/quote]

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