Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No this isn’t a matter of struggling. This is a matter of executive function, time management, and studying habits. They won’t be any better dropping to easier courses. There is still homework, tests, etc..

They really need to stop making middle school so easy. Failing our kids in high school.

I agree with you. I suspect this is a common problem. At my daughter's public middle school, the math WAY too easy at the level of prealgebra and algebra 1. And there was hardly any homework assigned. Even the math oriented kids can breeze through with high A's without ever consolidating the material. I recognized this was going on, even as my kid was getting A+'s in math without much effort, and I was able to intervene with summer work so that my DD was actually prepared for Algebra 2 and precalc.

Even with an “easy” middle school experience, there are plenty of kids out there who are naturally self-motivated and self-organized enough to keep up with honors Algebra 2 - without parental reminders or pressure, without summer work, and without a tutor. They’re just ready for the class and they meet it head on.

One of my kids is like this. One is not. The one who is like this has excelled on the accelerated + honors track. The other is probably capable of doing the work on that track, but is not yet mature or motivated enough to do so. Which is fine, and they’re progressing well (learning the math and improving the executive functioning skills) on an accelerated but not honors track (what OP is considering.)

We don’t see math as a race. Nor do we see any reason to push them. And we certainly don’t believe in filling their time with summer work or tutors. They set the right pace for them, and both are progressing well. No reason to overthink this one.

Idk, I took AP classes in high school. There was one class that brought down all the rest. It was a horrible, horrible academic year until I dropped that one class. Then everything turned around.

Seemed like I was drowning in that one class, and spent all my energy trying to hide that.

A B in honors algebra II in FCPS is a 3.5. Honors count .5 more, only AP classes count 1.0 more for gpa.

Regardless, drop down. My dd did it and I’m so glad we did.

Is this ninth grade? And is the question ability vs grit?

If the issue is ability and all the stress that comes with that - feeling overwhelmed: not doing as well as peers no matter the effort - would totally step down and find a more appropriate progression of math classes.

If it's lack of effort, that's different. The student needs a reality check about college admissions. Maryland and Virginia are not happening without higher level math classes. You need to be a really special person - rich, connected, URM, recruited scholarship athlete, tuba player - to get into a top 40 school without calculus by senior year.

But maybe that doesn't matter in this situation. Regardless, would use this moment to give the student a heads up. College admissions is incredibly competitive these days. Not taking the more advanced math classes dramatically reduces the potential college list. And a good foundation is the basis for so many careers - engineering, finance, medicine, consulting etc etc. You don't want to close doors at 14/15 if you don't have to.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No this isn’t a matter of struggling. This is a matter of executive function, time management, and studying habits. They won’t be any better dropping to easier courses. There is still homework, tests, etc..

They really need to stop making middle school so easy. Failing our kids in high school.

Agree. They need to give SOME homework in MS (my kid got none, literally).

And to teach some basic typing, homework/study skills, and executive functioning as a required elective.

Alg 2 has 2 high school courses as prereqs. Even if taught at MS, they are following the HS standards.

Yes, I agree. It seems to be the same standard. Unfortunately, the high school courses are too easy as well, and do not prepare the kids for honors algebra 2.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who like math, DD learned this way .. prompted by having a very bad teacher one particular year. DD read ahead and taught herself the next topic (or did he best to). Easier if they are using textbooks or have the material and have a good syllabus.

She taught herself. When the teacher then covered the material in class, it was reenforcement and time to clarify w/questions.

This is how college works. After elementary school you should stop waiting for the teacher to read the book to you.

Are you joking? There aren't books for the students to read in MS and HS.

Yes there are. They are online (Eureka / IM websites and ck12.org, promoted by schools), or your can buy printed books privately. If your class/teacher doesn't promote a book, the book still exists, and you shouldn't handicap your own child's education out of spite.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep. My DD dropped down. No regrets.

If I could do it all over again, I don't think I would have ever had them go the compacted math route.

+1. My younger child is actually stronger in math but was put on the slower track. By the time they get to HS, this is really a blessing in disguise.

It's definitely NOT a blessing in disguise. Kids these days lack grit, resilience, and perseverance. I think there's a TON of value in taking an accelerated and difficult math class and working your butt off for a B minus -- it teaches you how to work hard and how to push yourself. This is especially important for gifted kids (which presumably OP's kid is based off of their description), as they tend to have a lot of unearned academic success.

Push your kids outside of their comfort zone! This is why I believe that most kids in DMV public schools (unless they have a learning disorder) should be taking the most rigorous course load that their school offers. Kids NEED to be pushed out of their comfort zone.

One B- means UVA is off the table. This is why parents freak out over a single B.

Fortunately, with the rollout of standards based grading, more and more excellent students will have Bs and they will no longer be disqualifying.

Can you say more about this?

Standards (or skills) based grading throttles the number of As and Fs so there is less of a gap between the top and bottom students. So the administration and school board can claim they have improved equity. As this is rolled out to more schools, hopefully the top Virginia colleges will catch on and admit more students with some Bs and Cs, because there will just be fewer kids from FCPS with all As. I am not sure colleges outside Virginia will do this, but FCPS is pretty big, so maybe? I’m sad that my kid is the test case for the program.

Where is the evidence for throttling As? In MCPS the policy changed to rounding grades up to A when quarter grades were A + B.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep. My DD dropped down. No regrets.

If I could do it all over again, I don't think I would have ever had them go the compacted math route.

+1. My younger child is actually stronger in math but was put on the slower track. By the time they get to HS, this is really a blessing in disguise.

It's definitely NOT a blessing in disguise. Kids these days lack grit, resilience, and perseverance. I think there's a TON of value in taking an accelerated and difficult math class and working your butt off for a B minus -- it teaches you how to work hard and how to push yourself. This is especially important for gifted kids (which presumably OP's kid is based off of their description), as they tend to have a lot of unearned academic success.

Push your kids outside of their comfort zone! This is why I believe that most kids in DMV public schools (unless they have a learning disorder) should be taking the most rigorous course load that their school offers. Kids NEED to be pushed out of their comfort zone.

One B- means UVA is off the table. This is why parents freak out over a single B.

Can you please share data confirming that no one with a single B is admitted to UVA? Wouldn’t they care more about overall GPA?

GPA’s are so high now that one ding like that is enough. Kids getting into UVA have 4.6+

Scare tactics. A B in Honors is a 4.0

Yep. Which will bring DOWN the GPA of someone trying to go to UVA, etc. I can tell Math is not your strong suit either.

You used weighted GPA, and I gave you the weight back. There is no top weighted GPA so your number of 4.6 has no actual value besides trying to scare people with a big number.

Median WGPA at UVA is 4.5

B in honors is same as A in regular, so trading between those is no reason to switch courses. GPA protection is achieved by dropping to a lower level Honors course (Geometry), or retaking the Honors course next year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No this isn’t a matter of struggling. This is a matter of executive function, time management, and studying habits. They won’t be any better dropping to easier courses. There is still homework, tests, etc..

They really need to stop making middle school so easy. Failing our kids in high school.

Agree. They need to give SOME homework in MS (my kid got none, literally).

And to teach some basic typing, homework/study skills, and executive functioning as a required elective.

Alg 2 has 2 high school courses as prereqs. Even if taught at MS, they are following the HS standards.

Anonymous wrote:No this isn’t a matter of struggling. This is a matter of executive function, time management, and studying habits. They won’t be any better dropping to easier courses. There is still homework, tests, etc..

They really need to stop making middle school so easy. Failing our kids in high school.

Agree. They need to give SOME homework in MS (my kid got none, literally).

And to teach some basic typing, homework/study skills, and executive functioning as a required elective.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep. My DD dropped down. No regrets.

If I could do it all over again, I don't think I would have ever had them go the compacted math route.

+1. My younger child is actually stronger in math but was put on the slower track. By the time they get to HS, this is really a blessing in disguise.

It's definitely NOT a blessing in disguise. Kids these days lack grit, resilience, and perseverance. I think there's a TON of value in taking an accelerated and difficult math class and working your butt off for a B minus -- it teaches you how to work hard and how to push yourself. This is especially important for gifted kids (which presumably OP's kid is based off of their description), as they tend to have a lot of unearned academic success.

Push your kids outside of their comfort zone! This is why I believe that most kids in DMV public schools (unless they have a learning disorder) should be taking the most rigorous course load that their school offers. Kids NEED to be pushed out of their comfort zone.

One B- means UVA is off the table. This is why parents freak out over a single B.

Can you please share data confirming that no one with a single B is admitted to UVA? Wouldn’t they care more about overall GPA?

GPA’s are so high now that one ding like that is enough. Kids getting into UVA have 4.6+

Scare tactics. A B in Honors is a 4.0

Yep. Which will bring DOWN the GPA of someone trying to go to UVA, etc. I can tell Math is not your strong suit either.

You used weighted GPA, and I gave you the weight back. There is no top weighted GPA so your number of 4.6 has no actual value besides trying to scare people with a big number.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep. My DD dropped down. No regrets.

If I could do it all over again, I don't think I would have ever had them go the compacted math route.

+1. My younger child is actually stronger in math but was put on the slower track. By the time they get to HS, this is really a blessing in disguise.

It's definitely NOT a blessing in disguise. Kids these days lack grit, resilience, and perseverance. I think there's a TON of value in taking an accelerated and difficult math class and working your butt off for a B minus -- it teaches you how to work hard and how to push yourself. This is especially important for gifted kids (which presumably OP's kid is based off of their description), as they tend to have a lot of unearned academic success.

Push your kids outside of their comfort zone! This is why I believe that most kids in DMV public schools (unless they have a learning disorder) should be taking the most rigorous course load that their school offers. Kids NEED to be pushed out of their comfort zone.

One B- means UVA is off the table. This is why parents freak out over a single B.

Can you please share data confirming that no one with a single B is admitted to UVA? Wouldn’t they care more about overall GPA?

GPA’s are so high now that one ding like that is enough. Kids getting into UVA have 4.6+

Scare tactics. A B in Honors is a 4.0

Yep. Which will bring DOWN the GPA of someone trying to go to UVA, etc. I can tell Math is not your strong suit either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep. My DD dropped down. No regrets.

If I could do it all over again, I don't think I would have ever had them go the compacted math route.

+1. My younger child is actually stronger in math but was put on the slower track. By the time they get to HS, this is really a blessing in disguise.

It's definitely NOT a blessing in disguise. Kids these days lack grit, resilience, and perseverance. I think there's a TON of value in taking an accelerated and difficult math class and working your butt off for a B minus -- it teaches you how to work hard and how to push yourself. This is especially important for gifted kids (which presumably OP's kid is based off of their description), as they tend to have a lot of unearned academic success.

Push your kids outside of their comfort zone! This is why I believe that most kids in DMV public schools (unless they have a learning disorder) should be taking the most rigorous course load that their school offers. Kids NEED to be pushed out of their comfort zone.

Are you sure a kid who worked their butt off and ended up with a B- really understood the subject? How will that impact math in the following year since so much is cumulative? Your ideas don’t sound like they have much application to real schooling today.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep. My DD dropped down. No regrets.

If I could do it all over again, I don't think I would have ever had them go the compacted math route.

+1. My younger child is actually stronger in math but was put on the slower track. By the time they get to HS, this is really a blessing in disguise.

It's definitely NOT a blessing in disguise. Kids these days lack grit, resilience, and perseverance. I think there's a TON of value in taking an accelerated and difficult math class and working your butt off for a B minus -- it teaches you how to work hard and how to push yourself. This is especially important for gifted kids (which presumably OP's kid is based off of their description), as they tend to have a lot of unearned academic success.

Push your kids outside of their comfort zone! This is why I believe that most kids in DMV public schools (unless they have a learning disorder) should be taking the most rigorous course load that their school offers. Kids NEED to be pushed out of their comfort zone.

One B- means UVA is off the table. This is why parents freak out over a single B.

Can you please share data confirming that no one with a single B is admitted to UVA? Wouldn’t they care more about overall GPA?

GPA’s are so high now that one ding like that is enough. Kids getting into UVA have 4.6+

Scare tactics. A B in Honors is a 4.0

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep. My DD dropped down. No regrets.

If I could do it all over again, I don't think I would have ever had them go the compacted math route.

+1. My younger child is actually stronger in math but was put on the slower track. By the time they get to HS, this is really a blessing in disguise.

It's definitely NOT a blessing in disguise. Kids these days lack grit, resilience, and perseverance. I think there's a TON of value in taking an accelerated and difficult math class and working your butt off for a B minus -- it teaches you how to work hard and how to push yourself. This is especially important for gifted kids (which presumably OP's kid is based off of their description), as they tend to have a lot of unearned academic success.

Push your kids outside of their comfort zone! This is why I believe that most kids in DMV public schools (unless they have a learning disorder) should be taking the most rigorous course load that their school offers. Kids NEED to be pushed out of their comfort zone.

Faster does not mean better. It’s actually better to take time to understand the subject and let kids brains develop rather through getting from quiz to quiz with superficial understanding.

But you do you.