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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]What is the purpose of dropping down in rigor?  Sacrificing high school education in hope for a better/safer college result?

I don't think it's worth it.  As long as you can maintain B and above, I would go ahead and challenge myself.

You may end up at a slightly lower ranked school but you will be much better prepared for college.  And college performance is where you should care about the most.

T20 or T50 doesn't make too much difference.[/quote]
The purpose is that with math, [b]it benefits kids to have a very strong foundation before moving up a level[/b]. Some kids benefit from a slower intro of new concepts and speed of is e even if they end up in same place later.

Our school district found the heavy push in acceleration in middle school had worse outcomes in high school then when they backed off.  Too many kids were pushed ahead without clear grasp of algebra basics.

[/quote]

This is not the OP's case.  OP is freaking out by an A-.  If it's a C that is concerning.  Since when A- is a sign for lacking strong foundation?  [/quote]

I am not freaking out about n A-. He really should have more like a B- if you are just looking at test grades. He gets As on the homework and quizzes which brings the grade up a lot. But I would not be freaking out about a B- either. If anyone is "freaking out," it is DS because As have been easy for him to this point. I'd prefer he stay on the previously planned track but school has never been hard for him (and the other 6 classes still aren't) so [b]I don't think he knows how to be challenged[/b]. He is taking 3 other APs--it isn't like he isn't trying to challenge himself. But [b]one class is hard and he is talking about dropping down for next year[/b].[/quote]

Again, refocus him on next week. Not next year.

It may not be conscious, but my guess is he's already talking about dropping down next year in order to ease his discomfort with what's happening this year. As you said, it's the first time he's struggled academically. Sure, he has an A-, but that's because of easy points. Grade aside, he feels like he's in over his head. Given that school has been easy for him until now, that must be REALLY uncomfortable for him!

Of course, he may be in over his head. Or he may just need to learn how to "get comfortable being uncomfortable" so he can focus on learning learn the material and doing well without all the extra points etc.

So yes, you are right - this is an opportunity for him to build resilience. He has three more quarters to learn how to perservere when struggling . . . how to embrace a difficult task or risk by pushing himself to figure it out, even if it means getting additional help/tutoring.

IMHO, it's really important that high-achieving kids experience this type of challenge before college. When things level up freshman year, the fear of failure can be overwhelming for many kids. But having a positive experience working through it in high school can be a huge help.

So step one is to teach him to stop focusing on hypotheticals in the future. Literally cut him off every time he mentions it. Teach him to block that out and double-down on the present. For example, what is one thing he do tonight/this weekend/next week to better understand and conquer Precalc? One small step at a time, painful though it may be. [/quote]

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