Reply to APS Block Schedule - 90 minute core classes

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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][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My kids APS middle school does it and I hate it. It seems especially bad for the 6th grade pre algebra class. It's hard to learn three years of math in one year when your class only meets 2-3 times a week.[/quote]

Why would the sixth grade prealgebra class need to teach three years of math?

[/quote]

Yeah I don't understand this either.[/quote]

It used to be called Math 6-7-8. [/quote]

It's one year of pre-algrebra.  They are not trying to cram three years of material into one year.[/quote]

How is it not three years of math in one? These kids were all in fifth grade math the year before, at the end of the year they take the 8th grade SOL. That means they have to cover material from.6, 7 and 8th.[/quote]

I believe they are one and the same. In the middle school program of studies, there is only one listing, Pre-Algebra for 8th graders.
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Middle-School-POS-2022-23-FINAL.pdf
DP.  You have some bad information.  They do not take the 8th grade SOL at the end of 6th grade.[/quote]

I was told the pre-algebra kids do. [/quote]

You got bad information.  Most APS 8th graders take algebra or geometry in 8th grade.  Only those who are effectively on a remedial math track take pre-algebra in 8th grade. [/quote]

Yes, exactly.  Pre-algebra is only one year.  If you stretched out Math 6, 7, 8 over three years, it would be remedial and very slow.  That's why it's not the same as saying "three years worth of math in one year."  Normal course is algebra in 8th. [/quote]

No, "normal" is pre-algebra in 8th.  Advanced is algebra in 8th.  Algebra is a high school course. That's why they get high school credit for it if they pass it in middle school - whatever year they take it.
"Stretching out Math 6, 7,8 over three years" is called taking grade level math each year.  There's nothing "remedial" about that.[/quote]

Then what is the difference between taking Math 8 vs. pre-algebra in 8th?[/quote]

If you are doing Math 6, then Math 7, then pre-algebra over three years, then that is the slowest track.  If you are in that track, even if it is not technically called "remedial," you are in there with kids who are behind and may well be remedial.[/quote]

I don't think you understand the math program.  Nobody is doing pre-algebra over 3 years.  "Math 8" is "pre-algebra."  "Math 6" and "math 7" are the math classes traditionally taken prior to taking pre-algebra; then algebra traditionally taken in 9th.  Where are you getting this "pre-algebra over 3 years" idea?[/quote]

Right, I'm saying if you do this program, over three years, that is the slowest track:
6th - Math 6
7th - Math 7
8th - Pre-algebra

I am objecting to PP who claimed this track is not remedial.  Maybe it is technically not "remedial" per se, but it goes at a much slower pace than pre-algebra for 6th (6/7/8) or Math 6+pre-algebra for 7th (7/8).  It is the slowest track, so it includes the kids who are the farthest behind.  Does that mean it's still "on grade level" and everyone else on higher tracks (60% according to one PP) are "above grade level?"  Who knows.  Whatever.[/quote]

Ok, so it takes 3 years to get to Algebra instead of one or two.  But I don't equate that with "slower paced" or "remedial" class at all. A primary (GOOD) reason to take the time for grade level math each year is to get better exposure and build a stronger fundamentals understanding foundation for the higher math.  Those in the accelerated classes often get abbreviated curriculum in order to get through the concepts faster.  But not all those kids are building as strong an understanding of the fundamentals that they could or should.   I highly object to classifying appropriate grade level math as "remedial" even if there are kids who are less adept and struggle more with it in the class.[/quote]

Going back to this discussion, APS released the "equity dashboard" which lets you look at the data for students in 8th grade taking "Algebra 1 or higher."  You can see variances in the percentages for 8th graders during the 2021-2022 SY, from 49% at Hamm, to 65% at TJ, to 85% at HBW.  But it does look like Algebra 1 or higher tends to be the majority at most schools:

https://analytics.apsva.us/public/equity/aps_8math.html
[/quote]

Sorry, that's only 34% at TJ.  65% did not attempt.[/quote]

Looks like overall it is about half -- so it is definitely not remedial to take algebra in 8th as one of the PPs suggested[/quote]

Five or so years ago, 80% of kids took Algebra I by 8th grade, which may be what PP was referencing. The share has been coming down since.[/quote]

Such a large disparity between schools![/quote]

Yes and COVID made this worse. Current 8th graders had to take 6th grade math online which was a nightmare.[/quote]

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