Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s been surprisingly successful at my child’s school. They have two full classes of 6th grade algebra students (and 2 of 6th grade advanced math).

What I will say is from helping neighbor kids who stayed at the base school, the online version is very, very remedial compared to what is taught in a typical algebra 1 class. If online is the only option, I might hold back.

I think the measure of success will come later. Will these kids be able to handle calculus when they are high school sophomores? What options for math will be available to them as juniors and seniors? How will this impact their college choices?

If they aren't, they can repeat or take ab then bc or stats the bc or stats then ab etc

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they introduced Algebra 1 in 6th grade, to give those kids/ parents who want to be super advanced in math an option to do so.
Since they have changed TJ admissions criteria, this may or may not affect TJ admissions. And may not affect college admissions depending on the major selected.
A student who has competed algebra 1 and geometry with A grade may have an edge over a student who accelerated due to patents pushing just to brag that their 6th grader is in algebra 1 and is a math prodigy, but struggled and got B, B- or C.

What kind of silly reasoning is that? Do you really think FCPS is making decisions based on parents wanting bragging rights? My student and many of their 6th grade friends are doing enjoying Algebra 1. It’s not super or advanced advanced, just a solid challenge that keeps them from getting bored in math.

That's the thing. I haven't heard a reason behind all of this. Where's the research? Where's the why? It seems like a whim.

There is no research to support this endeavor. There is no why? This Superintendent doesn’t have the guts to make a stand and say to Parents that we (FCPS) aren’t doing this because it is not in long term best interest of students. If students are “bored” in mathematics then let’s provide a solution that doesn’t involve hyper-acceleration.

Old research is stale. FCPS parents want to move past outdated thinking. When 600+ 6th grade students are in Algebra 1 and majority are doing well, that’s real, current data right there. About as reliable as it gets!

I beg to differ with you about "old research". There is information that shows how these hyper-accelerated students tend to drop out of honors and higher level mathematics course sequences later on towards the end of high school. But, oh no. Not my child.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they introduced Algebra 1 in 6th grade, to give those kids/ parents who want to be super advanced in math an option to do so.
Since they have changed TJ admissions criteria, this may or may not affect TJ admissions. And may not affect college admissions depending on the major selected.
A student who has competed algebra 1 and geometry with A grade may have an edge over a student who accelerated due to patents pushing just to brag that their 6th grader is in algebra 1 and is a math prodigy, but struggled and got B, B- or C.

What kind of silly reasoning is that? Do you really think FCPS is making decisions based on parents wanting bragging rights? My student and many of their 6th grade friends are doing enjoying Algebra 1. It’s not super or advanced advanced, just a solid challenge that keeps them from getting bored in math.

That's the thing. I haven't heard a reason behind all of this. Where's the research? Where's the why? It seems like a whim.

There is no research to support this endeavor. There is no why? This Superintendent doesn’t have the guts to make a stand and say to Parents that we (FCPS) aren’t doing this because it is not in long term best interest of students. If students are “bored” in mathematics then let’s provide a solution that doesn’t involve hyper-acceleration.

Old research is stale. FCPS parents want to move past outdated thinking. When 600+ 6th grade students are in Algebra 1 and majority are doing well, that’s real, current data right there. About as reliable as it gets!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they introduced Algebra 1 in 6th grade, to give those kids/ parents who want to be super advanced in math an option to do so.
Since they have changed TJ admissions criteria, this may or may not affect TJ admissions. And may not affect college admissions depending on the major selected.
A student who has competed algebra 1 and geometry with A grade may have an edge over a student who accelerated due to patents pushing just to brag that their 6th grader is in algebra 1 and is a math prodigy, but struggled and got B, B- or C.

What kind of silly reasoning is that? Do you really think FCPS is making decisions based on parents wanting bragging rights? My student and many of their 6th grade friends are doing enjoying Algebra 1. It’s not super or advanced advanced, just a solid challenge that keeps them from getting bored in math.

That's the thing. I haven't heard a reason behind all of this. Where's the research? Where's the why? It seems like a whim.

There is no research to support this endeavor. There is no why? This Superintendent doesn’t have the guts to make a stand and say to Parents that we (FCPS) aren’t doing this because it is not in long term best interest of students. If students are “bored” in mathematics then let’s provide a solution that doesn’t involve hyper-acceleration.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they introduced Algebra 1 in 6th grade, to give those kids/ parents who want to be super advanced in math an option to do so.
Since they have changed TJ admissions criteria, this may or may not affect TJ admissions. And may not affect college admissions depending on the major selected.
A student who has competed algebra 1 and geometry with A grade may have an edge over a student who accelerated due to patents pushing just to brag that their 6th grader is in algebra 1 and is a math prodigy, but struggled and got B, B- or C.

What kind of silly reasoning is that? Do you really think FCPS is making decisions based on parents wanting bragging rights? My student and many of their 6th grade friends are doing enjoying Algebra 1. It’s not super or advanced advanced, just a solid challenge that keeps them from getting bored in math.

That's the thing. I haven't heard a reason behind all of this. Where's the research? Where's the why? It seems like a whim.

Real leadership isn’t always about relying on "research", or waiting for a study or a past example to justify every move. Otherwise you just keep repeating the same old outcomes. What Reed is trying to do is break that pattern that only kids with well-off middle class highly involved parents can succeed in advanced math. Instead, FCPS wants to show that students from poor families without that background can do just as well, if only they are provided a similar challenging environment in a public school classroom.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We got the same email. Superintendent Reed has been really pushing to get more kids through Alg I by 8th. So each year one of the requirements is removed. Last year they did away with the Iowa assessment. Now I guess they're nixing the SOL requirement as well. Our kid is in level IV but we opted out of Alg I this year because it would have been virtual at our school (not great for a kid with pretty bad ADHD). But good to know we don't need to stress about the SOL anymore.

Superintendent Reed is answering the needs of advanced students, as requested by us the parents. You opted out and did what's suitable for your kid. We kept our student in Alg1 since our student felt it's appropriate fit. What seems to be the problem here?

the problem is reid is taking away all previous academic requirements to take it this early. no 91% on iowa, no pass advance, no math 7 assessment before they start. kids who just regular pass shouldn’t be given the option

Those weren’t really "requirements", they were barriers. Genuinely hardworking blue-collar families who didn’t know how the system worked had a harder time getting through those "requirements" barriers, while more well-off, college-educated middle class parents could get around them with purposeful at-home extra help or enrichment places like Kumon.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they introduced Algebra 1 in 6th grade, to give those kids/ parents who want to be super advanced in math an option to do so.
Since they have changed TJ admissions criteria, this may or may not affect TJ admissions. And may not affect college admissions depending on the major selected.
A student who has competed algebra 1 and geometry with A grade may have an edge over a student who accelerated due to patents pushing just to brag that their 6th grader is in algebra 1 and is a math prodigy, but struggled and got B, B- or C.

What kind of silly reasoning is that? Do you really think FCPS is making decisions based on parents wanting bragging rights? My student and many of their 6th grade friends are doing enjoying Algebra 1. It’s not super or advanced advanced, just a solid challenge that keeps them from getting bored in math.

That's the thing. I haven't heard a reason behind all of this. Where's the research? Where's the why? It seems like a whim.

Anonymous wrote:I think they introduced Algebra 1 in 6th grade, to give those kids/ parents who want to be super advanced in math an option to do so.
Since they have changed TJ admissions criteria, this may or may not affect TJ admissions. And may not affect college admissions depending on the major selected.
A student who has competed algebra 1 and geometry with A grade may have an edge over a student who accelerated due to patents pushing just to brag that their 6th grader is in algebra 1 and is a math prodigy, but struggled and got B, B- or C.

What kind of silly reasoning is that? Do you really think FCPS is making decisions based on parents wanting bragging rights? My student and many of their 6th grade friends are doing enjoying Algebra 1. It’s not super or advanced advanced, just a solid challenge that keeps them from getting bored in math.

Anonymous wrote:It’s been surprisingly successful at my child’s school. They have two full classes of 6th grade algebra students (and 2 of 6th grade advanced math).

What I will say is from helping neighbor kids who stayed at the base school, the online version is very, very remedial compared to what is taught in a typical algebra 1 class. If online is the only option, I might hold back.

I think the measure of success will come later. Will these kids be able to handle calculus when they are high school sophomores? What options for math will be available to them as juniors and seniors? How will this impact their college choices?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We got the same email. Superintendent Reed has been really pushing to get more kids through Alg I by 8th. So each year one of the requirements is removed. Last year they did away with the Iowa assessment. Now I guess they're nixing the SOL requirement as well. Our kid is in level IV but we opted out of Alg I this year because it would have been virtual at our school (not great for a kid with pretty bad ADHD). But good to know we don't need to stress about the SOL anymore.

Superintendent Reed is answering the needs of advanced students, as requested by us the parents. You opted out and did what's suitable for your kid. We kept our student in Alg1 since our student felt it's appropriate fit. What seems to be the problem here?

the problem is reid is taking away all previous academic requirements to take it this early. no 91% on iowa, no pass advance, no math 7 assessment before they start. kids who just regular pass shouldn’t be given the option

Parents are probably going to have their kid retake Algebra 1 in 7th anyway to ensure an A. They will see Algebra in 6th as a fun challenge.

It’s been surprisingly successful at my child’s school. They have two full classes of 6th grade algebra students (and 2 of 6th grade advanced math).

What I will say is from helping neighbor kids who stayed at the base school, the online version is very, very remedial compared to what is taught in a typical algebra 1 class. If online is the only option, I might hold back.

I’m on the same page as this PP. DS is in level IV AAP but not a math prodigy and not hard working. I would rather have him take Algebra 1 in grade 7. Also not interested in setting up a path where he has to take AP calculus BC in grade 10.

It is a high school class. There is a lot more work. There are more quizzes, homework, and tests then your kid has seen. The class is going to move faster than AAP math. They need to be able to do the work, keep up with the pace, and retain the knowledge because they have to use that knowledge for pretty much every other math class out there.

There are teachers who have posted about 7th graders who took A1H really struggling with Algebra 2. They didn’t really learn the material. There are 7th graders getting C’s and B’s in A1H who tested into the class, IAAT, SOL, iReady, and struggled. They didn’t expunge the grade and retake it in th grade, they moved on to Geometry, struggled in Geometry, and then really struggled in A2.

That is what people mean when they say that their 6th or 7th grader isn’t ready. Some kids will be ready and will crush it. Others will not and it wil destroy their confidence. Others will be average or get a B, which isn’t a problem when you are on grade level but when you are triple accelerating for a class?

There is 0 rush to do this. It is not going to drastically change college outcomes. You are setting your kid up for two years of college level math, that their college might not accept and they will probably end up retaking. Unless you have a math obsessed, math loving kid who is bored to tears, there is no reason to take A1H in 6th grade.