Reply to Math 7 Honors vs. Algebra

Forum Index » Advanced Academic Programs (AAP)

Reply to "Math 7 Honors vs. Algebra"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
The important question then is whether kids who barely pass the Algebra SOL in 8th grade would have been better served by waiting a year for Algebra. [/quote]

I think that would be answered by how they do in subsequent math classes.  If they pass subsewuent classes (passing grade), then what difference does it make if they " would have bern better served" by taking it a year later?  What does that even mean?  There are probably non-quantifiable effects of being told "you can do this" -- the same effects that they report for kids who take AP even if they don't pass the exam.  The chsllenge and the message have a positive effect.[/quote]

If a kid barely passes the Algebra SOL in 8th, the kid has some serious foundational gaps.  It's likely that the kid would have fewer gaps if Algebra had been taken in 9th with an extra year in 8th to address those gaps.  The math builds upon itself each year, so it's unlikely that a kid who struggled in Algebra I would suddenly be thriving in Algebra II, pre-calc, or calc.

There are also non-quantifiable effects of struggling year after year in a subject.  Working your ass off for a poor grade is more likely to discourage kids from STEM than it is to have any sort of positive effect.

The bottom line is whether FCPS is encouraging more kids to take Algebra by 8th because it's beneficial to the kids, or whether they're doing so because it makes FCPS look better.  The same is true for encouraging more AP course participation.  If it's a net positive for the kids, great.  If it's not helping the kids at all, but is only happening so FCPS can boost its ratings, that's horrible.  [/quote]

Counterpoint on whether kids should be pushed forward:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/the-best-little-schoolhouse-in-oregon-and-how-it-go-to-be-that-way/2019/09/17/418b3264-d5b3-11e9-9343-40db57cf6abd_story.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/the-power-of-changing-your-mind-or-how-a-teacher-came-to-believe-in-his-students/2019/11/22/db620816-0b39-11ea-97ac-a7ccc8dd1ebc_story.html
[/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