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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Supplementing in math 4 hours a week and expecting the school to accommodate is ridiculous[/quote]

We don’t expect the school to accommodate. DS is in class at his grade level and we have not asked for him to be advanced.

That said, the Public schools are not set it to handle exceptional kids (and I don’t think my kid is exceptional) on either end of the spectrum. They are not great at helping kids with learning issues and they are not great at helping kids who are gifted. There are kids whose parents are supplementing because their child is legit bored at school. The schools don’t want to advance kids more quickly even when there is a kid who needs it. Should the parents of a gifted kid just let the kid twiddle their thumbs during school and learn nothing? Then people complain when the parents supplement so that the kid is actually challenged and has a chance to grow. It is a catch 22 and the kid is the one who is harmed by it. [/quote]

Here is the point and we have gone round and round on this.  Very few kids are actually gifted, like less than .01%.  That's maybe one per grade even in a high IQ/SES region like this one.  Those kids should be on alternative tracks than traditional public school.

For everyone else, the kids are just smart.  There is no need or reason to accelerate in math.  Again taking Algebra in 7th gives you 2 Calculus plus courses in high school which is more than enough.  It is not a good idea to skip more than one core math component in college.   [/quote]

PP here with the kid doing Calculus in 8th grade.  I guess we don't fully disagree.  My kid was skipped ahead two years in math in early grades in public.  It quickly became apparent, though, that regular public school would never be able to meet his needs.  So we left.  I have no regrets with the acceleration, since it allowed my kid to compete in Mathcounts nationals, ARML starting in 6th grade, and AIME starting in 6th grade.  All of these were incredible experiences for him.  My kid will likely begin taking upper division math classes at the local university starting in 10th grade.  I agree with you that regular public schools can not meet the needs of outliers, and it's not reasonable for the parents to expect the school to be able to do so.

I don't know that there's any benefit in skipping moderately gifted kids ahead to 6th grade Algebra I vs. just supplementing with other activities.  The logistical hassle isn't worth it, the kid will still likely be bored in the higher grade level class, colleges won't care, and the kid might run out of math for 12th grade.  My other child has been perfectly well served with Algebra I in 7th plus a little outside supplementation.    [/quote]

Why would they run out of math by 12th grade? The kid in algebra I in 6th grade can dual enroll in college classes in high school [/quote]

This. Many schools have classes for kids past Calculus and kids can take dual enrollment classes.

Someone asked why people are talking about kids who are not the OP, to share different paths and options for parents with younger kids or kids in MS.

A kid doesn't have to be gifted to need advancement. There are kids who are on grade level in most areas but excel in one specific field, like math or writing or reading. Reading and writing tend to be easier to differentiate for because a lot of that is based on assignments and can be more easily adjusted based on a kids level. You do small group work for most of language arts and you can group the strong readers and writers together. Math is different. Differentiation requires a Teacher to have the time to go deeper and/or faster for the kids who are ahead. I don't think that acceleration is the answer for every kid, but it is clearly something that is needed by some. About half the kids at our school are in Advanced Math in fifth grade, which means that all of those kids are taking 6th grade math in 5th grade. That is not radical acceleration but it is acceleration. It is not hard for me to see that there are probably a few kids in that group who could be taking Algebra in 6th grade with proper support. Most parents won't push for it, at our school it is discouraged, but I can see that there are kids who would do well with that level of acceleration.

For some parents the answer is to ask at the school and to push the school to accelerate the child. For some parents the answer is supplementing at home or with a program like AoPS or RSM. Both are options. And, again, acceleration is probably already happening for LA it is just less obvious because it is easier to do. [/quote]

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