Reply to VA math changes - ways to speak out

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I never thought I would say this but I actually support the changes that VA is going to make.

It will almost certainly go through because too many parents are disillusion regarding their kids abilities and their kids never learn the basics of math and this becomes evident in high school.

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What evidence do you have that these changes will actually lead to kids gaining a better understanding of the basics of math? Serious question. [/quote]

It's no secret that taking the time to learn the basics of Math well and gain a great understanding will be beneficial.

Most kids are rushed through and by the time they get to high school they are struggling and need a tutor to get them through their higher level math classes.

Most accelerated classes all throughout the schools years make allowances for students who aren't doing well by doing things to prop up grades like grading homework participation, giving many retakes and so on.

Now that my child is in high school and does really want to go into a STEM field and we are looking at colleges, we are finding that many students once they get to college are repeating their advanced math courses from high school in college. Even when the student gets a high AP exam score. Some schools for some majors seem to require the student take the math courses at their school.

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I don't see how this is helped by removing tracking.  No honors algebra 1 vs algebra 1.  No 6th graders taking prealgebra.  No 7th graders taking prealgebra.  All 6th graders in Math 6(possibly renamed to foundations of algebra for next year).  All 7th graders in Math 7, not even prealgebra, when currently a high percentage in Loudoun County are taking algebra.  I doubt they will be getting any deeper understanding in Math 7, when the teacher is focusing on the weaker students.     [/quote]

Simple.

Developmentally, 6th and 7th graders are not ready for that level of math and don’t truly understand or grasp the concepts. Yes many, many pass the course a lot of them with an “A” but it is watered down to a level they can process. This is leading to the false sense parent like  you  and many, many others have that their child is ready for advanced math classes far before they are ready.

Are their exceptions? Of course, and by their nature exceptions are rare occurrences so kids who are truly ready at those ages are rare. It’s very tough to hear this I know. It’s really not bad for your kid to spend a year focusing on actually understanding math and being bored in class. School is boring. Listening to lectures is boring. Even as adults this happens. So saying “my kid will be bored!” Is just dumb. School isn’t meant to entertainment - duh.

And before you start firing off emails - for god sakes - use critical thinking 🤔

Do you really, truly believe the state decided to make this change solely to piss off parents in NOVA and to deprive only that part of the state of math curriculum? Does that make sense? Do you honestly believe they never, ever asked an educator, one math teacher, anyone else, any professional, before suggesting this change? Have you talked to any math teachers? Or hey how about that math tutor you pay for every week? Instead of screaming about your AAP snowflake, calm down and think. And then maybe research and consider the pros and cons.[/quote]

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