Reply to Advanced middle school math

Forum Index » Schools and Education General Discussion

Reply to "Advanced middle school math"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]DS is in fifth grade and in Advanced Math in FCPS. He has been going to RSM for enrichment since third grade. We had a chance to listen to the math classes and realized that he was not going to be challenged in math. We asked if he wanted to take an extra class that would challenge him and he said yes. He has continue with the class since then. He also participates in a math competition class and enjoys math competitions.

We have not talked to his school about advancing him in math at school. We remind him that the work at school is important foundational work and that the extra practice is good for him because it will help him remember proper steps and procedures. He will need to be fluent and fast with these skills as he gets older so the extra practice is good for him.

He is one of the youngest kids in his grade level right now. We don't think that it is a good idea to try and advance him faster for social reasons. I don't think that he needs to be taking Algebra in 6th grade so badly that he ends up in a virtual class or trying to work out going to the MS for a class in the morning and then returning to his ES. The acceleration is not worth his getting up an hour earlier to go to a different school to take a class. [/quote]

Here's the long and short of it.  If your child takes Algebra in 7th, some doors are being closed to him.  But, they may already have been closed.  If he has the natural aptitude to qualify for National Mathcounts, he would be at a huge disadvantage if he were taking Algebra in 7th or even 6th.  But, only the top 4 kids in each state qualify.  Unless your kid is one of those very top kids, Algebra timing is irrelevant.  FWIW, my kid did participate in Mathcounts nationals, and he also took Algebra I in 4th grade.  That is not at all atypical for kids at that level.

Likewise, it would be nearly impossible for a kid to progress through the USAJMO/AMO -&gt; MOP -&gt; IMO chain without being highly accelerated.  They simply wouldn't know enough math compared to the kids who are accelerated.  This would only potentially affect the top 50 or so kids in each grade level across the entire country.

If your kid isn't a complete outlier, the only benefit to taking Algebra earlier is moderately better placement in math contests at somewhat earlier ages.  It won't ultimately matter that much for anything else.  [/quote]

I appreciate your response. I am less concerned that doors to advanced math competitions are closed to him in future years and more concerned about balancing his interest and ability in math with his social well being and making sure that he does not burn out academically. I think my child is bright and he really loves math. He is ahead and I have no clue if he could handle Algebra in fifth grade. We can have him move ahead at RSM, if we think he needs it, and stay with his class in school. That is what ended up happening last year. He moved from the fourth grade group to the fifth grade group at RSM.

He will have lots of time in college and potentially grad school to take more advanced math. Right now, he likes playing sports and math and Scouts. We like that he has time to have sleep overs with his friends and hang out with them after school. He has a reasonably busy schedule that is balanced between academic and rec activities. He is happy with that. He asks to do the extra math and we sign him up for it. I am comfortable that 4 hours of extra math class plus 2 hours of homework is more then enough. I know he can do more, he could do more with soccer or basketball as well, we just don't feel like he needs to do more. He is ahead and he has the ability to move further ahead, we are comfortable with that. [/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