Reply to RSM or AoPS -- which one?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I would say AoPS because my kids have gone to RSM and currently take AoPS and the reason why, is because RSM teaches you about basic math you-need-to-know things in contrast to AoPS, which stretches things apart and go into very deep explanations. My kids complained how the RSM portal was always acting weirdly, but know the AoPS homework is set up differently. You can do alcumus, which is just math practice to make your grades go higher, and the homework is challenging and the solutions are well explained.[/quote]were your kids in the competition RSM classes? Those are the most rigorous[/quote]

The competition classes is not the issue.  The issue is that AOPS only has 1 level and it’s the highest level.  It’s for kids very good in math, at the top of their class and need more challenge.  It’s not for anyone else.  They move fast and expect you to keep up.  They expect you to already grasp the basics and go deep and complex right away.  All the gifted kids do AOPS.  But most kids are not gifted, just above average smart.

RSM is traditional school math.  They focus more on what kids are learning in class and the foundations.  They don’t go as deep or stretch the kids.  They have multiple levels so can accommodate all kids, even the ones struggling.  The higher classes at RSM goes faster but still covers foundational material.
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RSM does stretch kids, they do that in the math competition class that you have to test into. You can take just the competition class, DS is doing just that this year. The competition class is closer to what AoPS classes are. The difference is that the RSM competition class has fewer students who need additional support then my DSs AoPS class had. Both his AoPS class and his RSM competition class have been online with video instruction and we have listened in to both classes. About 1/4 of the AoPS kids in his class needed additional time with the Teacher or additional explanations and were not able to provide a successful solution for many of the problems they worked. the RSM Competition class has not had that issue.

Last year I noticed that RSM has added level 1 and level 2 competition math classes. It also has the National Math Competition class that students have to be nominated to participate in. The NMCP is essentially a year advanced of the regular MCP. It looks to me like RSM understands that there is a desire for kids to participate in competitions and is expanding their class base to meet the demand, which includes more of an intro to math competition class for each grade level and the regular class that kids can build to. NMCP is advertised as limited to 200 students per grade level but I suspect that they will adjust that number of there are enough people willing to pay for the program.

The RSM grade level classes are of varying difficulty levels. My child was not challenged in Honors, last year was a diasaster because the Honors class was moving really, really slowly. DS was bored to tears and it was the first year they did not simply move him into the next grade level, which they had done the last 2 years. I had the distinct impression that there were kids who belonged in the Advanced class that had been moved into Honors and simply didn't belong there. It was bad enough that DS asked to not do the grade level class and just participate in NMCP, which we are fine with. DS is enjoying his online AoPS Mat Competition class. He says that it is challenging and that the homework isn't easy. This makes him happy and us happy. The class is also more targeted to Math Counts and the AMC 8. RSM's MCP classes are broader based and focus on developing skills that are used in Math Counts and the AMC tests and the other high school based National tests.

If you have a child that needs to firm up their math base, RSM is a great option. If you have a child who wants to play with math, AoPS and RSM have options that can meet their needs. One of the biggest pros to our family is RSM has branches in many places allowing for in person classes, which is what DS wanted. The MCP classes were in person at the location we attended. AoPS has very few locations and is far less convenient. The only RSM class that DS was willing to participate in virtually was the NMCP which is virtual for obvious reasons.

We have not used Kumon, Mathnasium, Curie or any other math enrichment program so I cannot speak to those programs.

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