Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 17:21     Subject: Re:Help me understand the new math pathways
Anonymous wrote:Anyone know how MCPS is going to find teachers to teach the new 8th grade course? Most middle school math teachers are not certified to teach Algebra 2. Or does it not matter?


They are going to have to hire a bunch of new math teachers anyway with the new state math mandate to cover the extended classs-- probably about 25-35% more on top of whatever the number of math teachers they have now. So maybe they can make sure those new ones are certified to teach Algebra 2? (Not sure where they are going to find the money to hire that many more teachers, though, but of course MSDE doesn't care about that...)
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 16:37     Subject: Re:Help me understand the new math pathways
Anonymous wrote:Anyone know how MCPS is going to find teachers to teach the new 8th grade course? Most middle school math teachers are not certified to teach Algebra 2. Or does it not matter?


Maybe that’s why MSDE is changing the pathway?
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 16:37     Subject: Help me understand the new math pathways
Disruptive kids…lol
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 16:37     Subject: Help me understand the new math pathways
Anonymous wrote:If your kid is currently in prealgebra in 6th, could they "drop down" to whatever option in 7th so then they could be in the Integrated Pathway moving forward? Or is it better to do Alg 1 in 7th and then Geometry in 8th? Have heard both arguments.


If your 6th grader is doing well, I would stay on their current track. In addition to the right curriculum fit, you have to worry about the behavior of the other kids in the class. Dropping down could be a mixed bag in terms of how many distributive kids are in the room
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 16:35     Subject: Help me understand the new math pathways
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So there is no more Geometry? What is the rationale?


Likely the same rationale that removed Trigonometry


Why would they remove trig. It is useful physics and engineering


Trig has been gone for a long time. Currently kids take Alg 1, Geo, Alg 2, Pre Calc, Calc
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 16:18     Subject: Re:Help me understand the new math pathways
Anyone know how MCPS is going to find teachers to teach the new 8th grade course? Most middle school math teachers are not certified to teach Algebra 2. Or does it not matter?
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 16:15     Subject: Help me understand the new math pathways
Anonymous wrote:If your kid is currently in prealgebra in 6th, could they "drop down" to whatever option in 7th so then they could be in the Integrated Pathway moving forward? Or is it better to do Alg 1 in 7th and then Geometry in 8th? Have heard both arguments.


I would do the full sequence of algebra, geometry and algebra 2. This new plan is a really bad idea.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 15:29     Subject: Help me understand the new math pathways
If your kid is currently in prealgebra in 6th, could they "drop down" to whatever option in 7th so then they could be in the Integrated Pathway moving forward? Or is it better to do Alg 1 in 7th and then Geometry in 8th? Have heard both arguments.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 14:16     Subject: Help me understand the new math pathways
Anonymous wrote:Welp, this is going to be a ton more business for me as a private tutor. There are many kids already who have difficulty in Algebra in 8th grade (which is at grade now), and those kids are often the same ones who struggle in Alg 2 and precalc, but it’s not because they need integrated algebra and geometry - that’s not going to fix anything.

I am old enough to remember when MCPS offered “Unified Math” to bright kids in middle school and HS. It didn’t last long.

I really don’t understand why we keep reinventing the wheel in an effort to teach kids math. The math curriculum itself is not the problem.

This is also stupid from the perspective of SAT and ACT performance, which does not require precalc or even Algebra 2. It’s hard enough to for an 11th grader to remember Alg and Geom now, it makes no sense to push it earlier (and further away) in the memory bank. Same goes for Chemistry and Physics, which require a lot of algebra and geometry. Kids who take those in 10, 11 and 12 will have weaker math skills.

Also not great for a good chunk of college math and science majors.

I guess it’s good if your kid wants to take math classes after Calc - but right now that is a tiny fraction of kids, and not at all necessary for entry into top tier colleges.



I also tutor and agree. This desire to rush rush to a very specific end is misguided for most kids. They could slow down and put a ton of geometry into k-8. I find a lot of kids LOVE geometry. It’s too bad they will be short changed.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 14:07     Subject: Help me understand the new math pathways
Welp, this is going to be a ton more business for me as a private tutor. There are many kids already who have difficulty in Algebra in 8th grade (which is at grade now), and those kids are often the same ones who struggle in Alg 2 and precalc, but it’s not because they need integrated algebra and geometry - that’s not going to fix anything.

I am old enough to remember when MCPS offered “Unified Math” to bright kids in middle school and HS. It didn’t last long.

I really don’t understand why we keep reinventing the wheel in an effort to teach kids math. The math curriculum itself is not the problem.

This is also stupid from the perspective of SAT and ACT performance, which does not require precalc or even Algebra 2. It’s hard enough to for an 11th grader to remember Alg and Geom now, it makes no sense to push it earlier (and further away) in the memory bank. Same goes for Chemistry and Physics, which require a lot of algebra and geometry. Kids who take those in 10, 11 and 12 will have weaker math skills.

Also not great for a good chunk of college math and science majors.

I guess it’s good if your kid wants to take math classes after Calc - but right now that is a tiny fraction of kids, and not at all necessary for entry into top tier colleges.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 13:58     Subject: Help me understand the new math pathways
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So there is no more Geometry? What is the rationale?


Likely the same rationale that removed Trigonometry


Why would they remove trig. It is useful physics and engineering


+1. How will you be able to teach physics without trig?
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 13:32     Subject: Help me understand the new math pathways
Anonymous wrote:Will they improve math literacy in ES? They really need to do something because most kids appear to be missing the fundamentals


They put an RFP out for a new math curriculum... hopefully it will be better than Eureka.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 12:59     Subject: Help me understand the new math pathways
Anonymous wrote:Will they improve math literacy in ES? They really need to do something because most kids appear to be missing the fundamentals


That is what the state says they are trying to do. But it doesn't look like ES math is changing that much. I think part of the problem is that many ES teachers don't understand the math well themselves and are not particularly good at teaching it. They. need more training and coaching. I don't see that changing anytime soon.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 12:29     Subject: Help me understand the new math pathways
Will they improve math literacy in ES? They really need to do something because most kids appear to be missing the fundamentals
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 12:27     Subject: Help me understand the new math pathways
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So there is no more Geometry? What is the rationale?


Likely the same rationale that removed Trigonometry


Why would they remove trig. It is useful physics and engineering