I am a parent of a "non-math" kid that is also currently taking Geometry in 8th grade. It is hard going for him and I am proud of "high B" he has in class.
For OP's DC, it might be new issues since they never had to really study/do additional work in math before. The concepts they were doing in class recently did seem more abstract thinking and were somewhat hard for me to grasp (I certainly dont remember doing that in geometry in my day!). I believe they now moved on to more conventional Geometry (ie solving for angles in triangle, etc) Some of it might be the teacher/curriculum too
FWIW DC's entire grade did so bad on the unit test for first quarter (average was 70% or so, per teacher) that teachers decided to push that grade to the next quarter and use the rest of the week to recap/reteach the concepts. So it isnt just your DC!

Anonymous wrote:OP back

A few posts from other sites that got me thinking:

I just don't think kids have the maturity, brain development for Algebra 1 as a 7th grader - some introduction to algebraic concepts, yes, but not the first year of Algebra. Additionally, I don't think a high school junior can master calculus.(from a math major and masters in statistics)

An article from great schools .org "Is your child being tracked in math?" from 2014, noted "To take algebra or not to take algebra, that is the 8th grade question." In five years, that question has been pushed down to 7th grade. Our pediatrician treats a lot of stressed out kids with issues due to school work.

My DC is two years ahead of me in their math classes. Maybe they can handle it. Looks like we will ride it out till the end of the year.

Algebra in 7th is the standard advanced track. The real issue is the teaching style and lack of textbooks. Use the free MCPS tutors and get them help.

OP back

A few posts from other sites that got me thinking:

I just don't think kids have the maturity, brain development for Algebra 1 as a 7th grader - some introduction to algebraic concepts, yes, but not the first year of Algebra. Additionally, I don't think a high school junior can master calculus.(from a math major and masters in statistics)

An article from great schools .org "Is your child being tracked in math?" from 2014, noted "To take algebra or not to take algebra, that is the 8th grade question." In five years, that question has been pushed down to 7th grade. Our pediatrician treats a lot of stressed out kids with issues due to school work.

My DC is two years ahead of me in their math classes. Maybe they can handle it. Looks like we will ride it out till the end of the year.

If he’s an 8th grader, the grade won’t count toward his HS GPA if it will bring the average down. So as long as he learns the material and passes the state exam to meet the graduation requirements, there’s no long-term harm if he ends up with a B or even a C.

But there’s a lot to be gained from learning to push through a challenge and work harder if something doesn’t come easily the first time. Better to learn that lesson now, when the stakes are lower, than in high school or college.

Anonymous wrote:I thought only Honors level Geometry is taught in Middle School. So it wouldn’t really be possible to drop down.

Right, the only option would be Algebra which he presumably took last year. Just tough it out and re-assess when its time for 9th grade course selection.

FWIW - my 8th grader is also struggling with Honors Geometry after having no issues with math up until now.

I thought only Honors level Geometry is taught in Middle School. So it wouldn’t really be possible to drop down.

Agree with other PPs - he just hasn't had to work hard at math yet. Now is the time to learn that skill.

Can he flip between non-honors and Honors classes in high school? For instance, Algebra 2 > Honors Precalc

No

or Honors Algebra 2 > Precalc

Yes

A slower pace course doesn't prepare students for the faster paced course next in the series. They won't have covered the content in as much depth or breadth.

No no no. He’s just unused to effort, and it’s great practice for him to learn how to study now rather than later and not give up when it gets tough. My kid is in Honors Geo and remarks at every new unit that it’s hard, but then she gets it. It’s a good mental exercise!

For some kids, they need a little help or push to ‘get’ it. Find a tutor for him. A teacher or a high school student can do it.

OMG - kid is getting an A and wants to drop down. High achieving kids need to learn that at some point, things will not come super easy to them and they will need to work, study, review for those As.

He's doing very well. Get him a free MCPS tutor from Tutor Me.

Some people have a hard time “getting” geometry, even when algebra and calculus are fairly easy for them. If he’s never had trouble with math classes before I would encourage him to stay in the current class.

My eighth grade DC mentioned recently that he is not understanding the most recent topic in Honors Geometry and would like to drop down to the easier math. It may be that he just needs to learn the new topic and will soon get it. He has always received A’s in his math classes, but there may be some grade inflation going on. He has an interim grade of 92 for Geometry. His seventh-grade spring MAP M was 261 and for fall eighth grade he got a 260.

Math will get more difficult in high school depending on what he takes.

It looks like he has three probably options:

Drop to the easier math this year (is that still an option) then take Honors Geometry in ninth grade and take the Honors route the rest of high school.
Take Algebra 2 next and the non-Honors route.
Stay with Honors Geometry this year and Honors Algebra 2 next year and continue the Honors route.

Can he flip between non-honors and Honors classes in high school? For instance, Algebra 2 > Honors Precalc or Honors Algebra 2 > Precalc

Anybody go through this that has some thoughts?