Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh this is why you shouldn't push your kids too fast in math in younger years.....

OP here. I agree. But we didn’t push for it. It was MCPS/his school. He was placed in compact math in 4th grade based on a test he took in 3rd grade. He was fine up until precalc. He actually understands the concepts but is making mistakes. His tutor was impressed with his background math knowledge.

My younger child is on the same path. There is really no way off of it.

Z

I'm a PP, pre-calc was where my oldest ran into trouble, too, but it really just meant there were issues to address that the time spent in earlier classes hadn't helped, so an extra year of that wouldn't be the solution.

From the comments, the tutor will get your DC back on track quickly. The thing is before pre-calc, MCPS math is fairly high level and conceptual. In pre-calc there are lots of new topics, but there's also a lot more symbolic manipulation than in the previous three years. E.g., long ago, when I was in algebra, simplifying radicals and rationalizing the denominator (never leaving a square root in the denominator and instead writing 1/sqrt(2) as sqrt(2)/2) was always required. In MCPS it's actually forbidden until pre-calc (look at the parenthetical notes in the algebra 2 course descriptions: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/curriculum/math/high/algebra2/CCSS.Algebra%202.Unit%201.Functions%20and%20Inverses.InstructionalFocus%20For%20Parents.pdf).

Which is fine, there's plenty of math that doesn't require this skill, and this allows younger students to learn algebra. But in pre-calc these skills become essential, and it's time to play catch up. My DC needed a lot of practice dealing with radicals, keeping track of negative signs, finding common denominators of abstract expression, etc, and made lots of errors. But, we're thankful she discovered these deficiencies as a tenth grader, because she also needed them for SAT/ACT.

My DC then took calc AB followed by calc BC, classes which continue to use symbolic skills heavily, but the conceptual skills taught in the MCPS algebra sequence are essential, too. In the end, my DC was doing symbolic math at about the same time as students a generation ago, it's just that topics and course names have been rearranged. This used to be taught to 9th/10th graders in algebra1/algebra2. Now it's taught in pre-calc, and that's the heart of HS math. These are skills developmentally appropriate to a young teen, and it's key to spend HS years practicing them, if college math is the goal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP. How does Linear Algebra fit in math sequence? Could one take Pre-Calc, Calc AB, then Linear Algebra in 12th grade? How is Linear Algebra viewed by colleges when compared to Statistics AP by colleges?

Linear Algebra is only at the Blair and Poolesville magnets.

Whitman offers it too, I think.

Anonymous wrote:Ugh this is why you shouldn't push your kids too fast in math in younger years.....

OP here. I agree. But we didn’t push for it. It was MCPS/his school. He was placed in compact math in 4th grade based on a test he took in 3rd grade. He was fine up until precalc. He actually understands the concepts but is making mistakes. His tutor was impressed with his background math knowledge.

My younger child is on the same path. There is really no way off of it.

Z

Anonymous wrote:DP. How does Linear Algebra fit in math sequence? Could one take Pre-Calc, Calc AB, then Linear Algebra in 12th grade? How is Linear Algebra viewed by colleges when compared to Statistics AP by colleges?

Linear Algebra is only at the Blair and Poolesville magnets.

DP. How does Linear Algebra fit in math sequence? Could one take Pre-Calc, Calc AB, then Linear Algebra in 12th grade? How is Linear Algebra viewed by colleges when compared to Statistics AP by colleges?

Ugh this is why you shouldn't push your kids too fast in math in younger years.....

sign up for the hardest class possible and apply early action so the transcripts list the course and then transfer out as soon as possible.

Anonymous wrote:I would suggest Calc AB, then AP Stats and/or multivariable senior year.

Calc BC is a tough class. And it would place your student in a very high math class freshman year (Calc 3) if he goes to UMD.

Based on my kid's experience, at least, I would not advise going from AB to multivariable. Math has always been my kid's strongest subject and he is working harder now in multivariable than he did in BC. Granted, he has a super-strict teacher who taught his class so well most of them got 5s on the exam, but they paid for it in blood, sweat, and tears. From AB, either go to BC or take stats, but don't go for multivariable with only AB under his belt.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My senior is in AP Statistics

What did they take in 11th?

Pre-Calc

Your daughter isn’t required to take Calc. Just get through Pre-Cal, and move on.

He is a Sophomore in pre-calc so needs two more math classes.

In addition to statistics there are other math electives other than calc. I just think it would be more harmful GPA wise to force AB Calc if he’s struggling in pre-Calc. Definitely have him talk about his options with his counselor.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/math/high/electives.aspx

Thanks. Unfortunately the counselor is terrible so we can't get advice from him.

Does your school offer calculus with applications? It can be taken before or instead of either AP calc. https://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/CourseDetails/Index/3356

Anonymous wrote:And you only need four math credits to graduate, so if he’s already completed two in middle school, he may be able to skip math as a senior entirely. Though I don’t know it that’s recommended for college applications.

I will say junior year can be difficult and matters a lot for GPA, so I wouldn’t push classes if they are a true struggle.

No. Maryland law requires four years of math in high school. Middle school doesn't count.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My senior is in AP Statistics

What did they take in 11th?

Pre-Calc

Your daughter isn’t required to take Calc. Just get through Pre-Cal, and move on.

He is a Sophomore in pre-calc so needs two more math classes.

In addition to statistics there are other math electives other than calc. I just think it would be more harmful GPA wise to force AB Calc if he’s struggling in pre-Calc. Definitely have him talk about his options with his counselor.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/math/high/electives.aspx

Thanks. Unfortunately the counselor is terrible so we can't get advice from him.

And you only need four math credits to graduate, so if he’s already completed two in middle school, he may be able to skip math as a senior entirely. Though I don’t know it that’s recommended for college applications.

I will say junior year can be difficult and matters a lot for GPA, so I wouldn’t push classes if they are a true struggle.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My senior is in AP Statistics

What did they take in 11th?

Pre-Calc

Your daughter isn’t required to take Calc. Just get through Pre-Cal, and move on.

He is a Sophomore in pre-calc so needs two more math classes.

In addition to statistics there are other math electives other than calc. I just think it would be more harmful GPA wise to force AB Calc if he’s struggling in pre-Calc. Definitely have him talk about his options with his counselor.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/math/high/electives.aspx