Reply to Algebra 1 - In 6th Grade

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It’s absolutely bonkers to waste valuable resources on algebra in 6th grade when they can just take it in 7th.[/quote]

I think the pilot is including far more students than it should but there have been and will continue to be kids who are ready for Algebra 1 in 6th grade, there should be a way of offering Algebra 1 to kids who are ready across the county, not just at the 20 or so schools that made it work. Does that mean that we need 700 kids in the pilot program? No. But if they set the standard based on SOL scores and iReady and there were 700 kids who meet the set threshold, then you let the parents decide if the kid is ready or not. You don't principal place kids into the class. I would argue that you need to have a threshold for returning a kid to 6th grade AAP math that parents cannot challenge. 
 
[b]What some people miss is that the kids in AoPS and RSM are taking those classes because math at school is slow and they are not challenged. Enrichment is a method for keeping a kid capable of more engaged.[/b] DS moved into RSM in 4th grade because the math at school was not engaging. He ended up in the 5th grade math class at RSM as a 4th grader because he was ready for that material. The Math competition class has been challenging and fun for him. Are there kids at RSM and AoPS whose parents place them there because they want to make sure that their kid is selected for classes like A1H as soon as possible? Sure, but it is not every kid. I would argue that it is actually not even the majority of kids. I doubt that the kids in the regular and middle tier of classes at RSM are taking A1H in 6th grade or even in 7th grade.

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This is what parents like to say but we all know it’s gaming the system. These are the Tesla driving, TJ wannabes. They also want the math competitions bc that looks good for TJ. They don’t allow their kids to have a minute’s rest. At school all day and then onto math enrichment. You should see what they do in the summer. I know a family that has their kid get up at 7:30 am on weekend to start homework.[/quote]

We are a white, mini-van driving family whose kid has been in RSM since fourth grade. He loves math competitions and rarely has homework. He chose not to take Geometry in the summer because he likes vacation, it would have been an easy A for him, but he wasn't going to give up summer camps with friends in the name of math acceleration. I am sure that there are kids who are in the classes because TJ is the goal and that they are struggling with their classes and who don't want to be there but I know plenty of kids who are there because they love math.

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