I am surprised so few kids take foreign language in 6th. I thought this was the norm for higher achieving kids. Is that not right?

I'm the PP with the 8th grader who took IM in 6th.

Can't really recall whether the work increased as the year went on. Mostly what I noticed about 6th grade was how much more homework there was overall, compared to elementary school.

As for the time commitment, that may have something to do with my kid, who can be very slow and careful with his work. But even now, in geometry in 8th grade, that is easily the heaviest homework class he has.

Meanwhile, my 5th grader is doing math 6 and gets a worksheet most days. Hardly anything and I am afraid she is in for a rude awakening next year.

My 6th grade IM only gets a minimal worksheet. I'd say 20 minutes would be above average time wise. She does quite well so I am not concerned she needs more practice. Since Pyle is the Whitman feeder, maybe they teach it at a much higher level?

PP with 8th grader that took IM. Does the workload increase as the year goes on? My 6th grader is in IM and we are not seeing tons of homework. Nothing compare to the amount of homework she got in 4th grade doing Math 5 --that was at least 60 minutes a night. Some nights in IM are 45 minutes but usually around 20. I don't check any of it so maybe DD isn't showing all work, ect....

Wow my child is completely bored in IM..considers it a repeat of math7. I am not seeing large quantities of homework. Maybe they have cut it back per curriculum 2.0?

I have a current 8th grader and a current 5th grader, middle school is Pyle. My impression is that in the couple of years since my 8th grader started middle school, they are recommending many fewer kids for IM. My 5th grader did not get recommended for IM and I am not going to contest that placement. IM is a very demanding course, with a lot of homework and some pretty advanced concepts. My 8th grader was fine with it, but probably not a great fit for my younger kid.

As for reading, I think it's a worthwhile class, even for a 99th percentile kid. It reinforces good reading habits and gets kids accustomed to higher level writing and analysis. And since many parents are reluctant to have a 6th grader do a full year foreign language anyway, you can mostly "make up" the reading by doing foreign language A/B as a 7th grader. Again, worked well for my older child and I plan to have my younger child do reading in 6th as well.

Getting the idea that there are differences in the MS offerings. No advanced reading at our school. If you don't take a language you are in a heterogeneous reading class. English has two levels but both levels are taught in the same class...even though one is advanced with a different class number.

****PP sorry for typos

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for your input. For pp with IM vs M7 DD, boredom and loss of interest is my concern with M7, especially since there is some exposure to M7 in the current M6 course. Also interesting to hear that about 15% of kids went into IM, if I understand you correctly.

Yes, at our Middle School about 15% of 6th graders are in IM. Maybe there isn't much difference between IM and Math 7, I just know my DD who always received A's in school BUT wasn't not extraordinarily high standized test (MAP-M and MSAs) is getting high A's in IM. So it seems like it was appropriate to have her take IM, which I almost pulled her down from the recommendation since I was worried it mugh be too hard. Also, some of the PPs are confusing English with Reading. All 6th graders take English (which is labeled Advanced English) the better Readers do not take Reading in 6th but rather take a foreign language. Advanced Reading in 6th garder is all for all the 6th graders NOT recommended for Foreign Language including my DD. For OP, if you think you kid is ready for both IM and Foreign Language, I think you can probably get your child in both. Many 6th graders -- close to 15% of the class at our school and from reading other posts it seems like some MS are even higher % of 6th graders in these advanced tracks (our MS is not a top school, but above average). Bottom line in my book is that you are your kid's advocate and know them best. Be careful not to overextend and you definitely do nbot want to put them in a class they are no ready for BUT you certainly know better what they are ready for than anyone else. And that goes for pushing them up OR down from the recommendations.

Anonymous wrote:IM only has two topics that are not included in Math 7. My 6th grade DD is totally bored in it. Can't wait for algebra.

I know this wasn't the OP's question but someone on this thread asked about the difference between Math 7 and IM. My child did Math 7 in 5th grade and is taking IM this year. His 5th grade teacher recommended all but two of her students take IM in 6th grade (the other two were placed into algebra). DS does not feel like he is learning much in the way of new material but he is not bored either. I am pleased to have him in IM this year because I think it is crucial to spend a little more time on basic arithmetic and pre algebra before he jumps into Algebra next year. Also, right now his pathway has him taking two AP Math/stats courses in high school. If he had taken Algebra in 6th grade, he would have to take three AP math/stats courses in order to graduate from high school.

To address the OP's concern, since my child does not see much difference between IM and Math 7, perhaps it does not matter too much where your child is placed next year since both courses should prepare your child for Algebra.

IM only has two topics that are not included in Math 7. My 6th grade DD is totally bored in it. Can't wait for algebra.

My child's class is also labeled advanced english however there are children in the class who are taking the regular course. There is no seperate class. I don;t know if all schools work that way. There are different class numbers but they are in the same classroom.

Thanks for your input. For pp with IM vs M7 DD, boredom and loss of interest is my concern with M7, especially since there is some exposure to M7 in the current M6 course. Also interesting to hear that about 15% of kids went into IM, if I understand you correctly.

Anonymous wrote:English is differentiated within the classroom. SO your child might be in advanced english and mine in regular English in the same room. The assignments/tests/books are different (not that much though)

I don't think that's how they do it at our school (TPMS). For 6th, 7th, and this year in 8th, my DC has been in a class titled 'Advanced English.' Do all schools not offer the same option?

At our MS, the "Advanced Readers" approximately 20% of the class are recommended to take a foreign language instead of Reading in 6th Grade. If you were not in this high group, you were recommended for "Advanced Reading 6th Grade" which is the same class but some diffentiation is done within the class. IM was similar for the "Advanced Math" kids and about the same %, maybe slightly lower like 15%. My DD was recommeded for IM but not Foreign Language, which we thought was appropriate. If you feel strongly about going moving your child up or down, talk to their 5th grade teacher. We thought about moving DD down from IM after talking with other parents and knowing DD. Glad we didn't, the class is good level for DD and she easily gets A's in IM. She would have been bored in Math 7th. Never thought about pushing for Foreign language. DD not a top reader. But ultimately if your feel strongly, try to get it changed. Be proactive.