Anonymous wrote:Here is another thing. Do you know that starting in Algebra, your child's grade goes in HS diploma. Will your child be mature enough to turn in all HWs, do team projects (with much older kids), quizzes and tests with As?
Will your child be mature enough for FINALs? PARCC for Algebra?
You may feel proud with 5th grader getting B in Algebra, but you will kill child's GPA...

+1

I think this is the most important point here. OP - I'm really glad that your principal recognizes your child's exceptional abilities. That's fantastic. As the parent of a normal bright but not profoundly gifted kid, I can't really relate but I'm genuinely happy for you. However, I think PP makes a great point about the GPA and high school transcript issue. It sucks that you need to worry about a 5th grader's grade, but it is a legitimate concern. I'd slow it down just a big, as PPs suggest, and give your child the chance to mature by one more year before tackling a difficult course that will appear on his college application transcript.

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's really an option in the way you might think. MCPS did away with acceleration in math with the new curriculum and most principals seem to stand their ground in this regard. Also her child sounds very exceptional. There are always those 1:100,000 amazingly gifted kids.

+1 A teacher told me during one of the Open House that she knew of one ES kid taking math in a HS. I think they can recognize when a child is truly advanced in math vs. just being able to do some harder equations. The vast majority of advanced math kids are in the latter category, which is why mcps is very hesitant to push these kids too far too quickly.

But OP's kid does sound like an outlier since it's mcps recommending it. OP, see if you can find a support group that can provide some insight on how it would be for a 4th grader in a math class with 6/7th graders. When the time comes, you should also talk to the MS math teacher to get the teacher's advice.

GL.

Here is another thing. Do you know that starting in Algebra, your child's grade goes in HS diploma. Will your child be mature enough to turn in all HWs, do team projects (with much older kids), quizzes and tests with As?
Will your child be mature enough for FINALs? PARCC for Algebra?
You may feel proud with 5th grader getting B in Algebra, but you will kill child's GPA...

+1

I'm the PP whose son is now at Blair after having taken algebra in 6th at TPMS. I forgot to mention, OP, that he started at Takoma before 2.0 and already his math cohort was small. Post-2.0, the number of kids taking algebra in 6th has gone down a lot from an already-small number (see above PP who notes that this year only a handful of 6th-graders are in algebra).

Could be a trolll?

Don't know if this is OP's school--but, a situation like this is going on at Potomac ES. Not sure how the parents accomplished this, it certainly isn't something that I would have ever imagined would be accommodated (given my personal experience and what I hear from other parents).

Also remember the state requires 4 years of math taken during high school..not high school level. What level of math would that be for your child? Three courses after calculus? Not even sure what that is.

I can't believe this is happening in mcps. My child was really gifted and every teacher recognized that. But until he entered HGC, he didn't get any real acceleration. Even in HGC, he is still complaining. It's not fair.

I don't think it's really an option in the way you might think. MCPS did away with acceleration in math with the new curriculum and most principals seem to stand their ground in this regard. Also her child sounds very exceptional. There are always those 1:100,000 amazingly gifted kids.

This is fascinating to me. My kid is in 5th at an hgc and no one is in IM (and I don't think any 4th graders are in his compacted 5/6 class, but now I am going to ask him!). I didn't even know this is an option.

Op, would you mind telling us the cluster?

I would not do compacted now. Your child would be the only child even in Takoma Magnet with such speed.
Currently in Takoma there are only four kids who are taking Algebra in 6th grade. Nobody takes Geometry in 6th grade! These kids will have to go to Blair in 8th grade for Math.
Elementary math is slow and simple for smart kids, but once they hit Algebra it is different level. Do not set up your child for failure.
I would put child in regular slower 4th (in 2rd) and 5th (3rd grade), then 6th (unfortunately in MS for 4th, or you even can do second year of compacted 5/6 in 4th to keep child in ES), then drive your child for IM in 5th grade.
That is more than enough math even for mathy kid.
Here is another thing. Do you know that starting in Algebra, your child's grade goes in HS diploma. Will your child be mature enough to turn in all HWs, do team projects (with much older kids), quizzes and tests with As?
Will your child be mature enough for FINALs? PARCC for Algebra?
You may feel proud with 5th grader getting B in Algebra, but you will kill child's GPA...

If your child is dying for advanced math, do Art of Problem Solving classes (in future)/books. They have great new books for little kids.

Wow. This is highly unusual coming from MCPS.
I am very happy that the school has recognized your child's abilities, OP, despite the logistical hassle it may bring down the line. Many of us have children languishing and getting to hate subjects they previously loved.

This would never happen at our home school. My kid is at HGC now and there is one kid in IM (in 5th). He has to go to the middle school in the morning and it sounds like a real mess. So from that perspective, we sort of glad our home school is so inflexible. I will say thought it is irritating that kids are given different opportunities not based on ability or test scores but how flexible the principal is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you share which school is being so accommodating of a gifted student? My child was in ES when acceleration supposedly ended as was just forced to repeat the year in math 2x.

I understand that it is unusual, but I feel that my principal may have gone out on a limb by offering such an acceleration. My son was put in the 3rd grade math class on a trial basis, before it was officially approved by enrichment and acceleration. I feel that sort of tied their hands, since he did well with the placement they couldn't justify moving him back to first. Out of gratitude for the staff being accommodating and my son's own privacy, I'd prefer to not publicize the school.

I just hope you don't end up with a less accommodating principal someday that forces a multi-year repeat..."because MCPS would not allow anything else"