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Algebra in 6th grade?


KIN
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My ds will be ready for Algebra in 6th grade on our current track. I've thought about slowing him down and doing the next 2 years of math over 3 years. But, we don't need to slow down, he is doing really well. Anyone here start Algebra in 6th? Where do you go from there? LOL, I only know what I did: Algebra in 8th, Geometry 9th, Algebra II & Trig in 10th and Pre-Calc in 11th. :) I was in advanced math, but my son will be way ahead of that.

 

I guess I'm wondering if a high school student can go past Pre-Calc/Calculus? What do they study? And, will he be able to get high school credit for math done in 6th grade? Or, would you advise slowing down and waiting to start Algebra until 7th/8th? Thanks!

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We did, but I won't be doing that with my next one. Instead, we're going to do a Russian math book Myrtle recommended. I don't think mine is ready to sit and work the long Algebra problems even though she has tested ready. Instead, we'll continue in the Singapore series and do the Russian book (not sure which one, but she gave 2 links way back.) I'd like her to solidify a few skills and to continue to develop her mathematical thinking, etc, before she does Algebra.

 

There are others who have had children start early, but even though my older one did fine, she lacked the discipline needed (and she hates math--if she liked it she would have been ready for Algebra sooner.) I let her do Algebra 1 over 2 years so she wouldn't have to do as many problems per day.

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I guess I'm wondering if a high school student can go past Pre-Calc/Calculus? What do they study?

 

You can put them in community college or online college to study:

 

Accounting

Applied Mathematics for Engineering

Calulus C/D (levels A/B are the usual high school ones)

Statistics

Electronics

Computer Science

Physics

 

And then I have to mention that the Algebra and Geometry taught in high school is not as rigourous as the one taught in college.

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When dd took the MATS last year, she placed into the highest level for recommendations. It recommended Algebra in 6th for those students. She will end up in it in 7th grade, though, just by the way I planned (and she doesn't enjoy math, so it might have been bad anyway.) Now, my younger dd (math crazy) is ready for Algebra next year in 5th, but I am stalling her off until 6th. I plan to slow down if needed or send her over to the CC when she finishes Calc at home.

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We didn't start Algebra I until seventh grade, but I would say that there is no problem finding plenty of math for young people throughout middle school and high school. If you can find a group to do math competitions together, then that is a great way to enrich and deepen your math abilitities. We have done the Elementary/Middle School Math Olympiads, Mathcounts, AMC 8/10, Academic League math competitions, Purple Comet (next week). http://purplecomet.org/

 

Also, there are great online math courses for enrichment-- we're doing the Art of Problem Solving's Number Theory class right now, very enjoyable and mind-expanding. http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/index.php

 

And a new Math enrichment site that I'm going to check out is HeyMath, reviewed in the Economist magazine last issue. Looks like they use a lot of Singapore math ideas-- look at their modules in math competitions and such.

http://www.heymath.com/

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Well I'm a strong believer in following the needs of the individual kid. My son LOVES math and was asking for an Algebra book when he was 7 (we didn't get him one). When he was 8, he already tested well into Algebra despite never having a book. So he did Algebra in "3rd grade" (by age). Yes he's way ahead of the curve but he's very happy. Before I let him move ahead at his pace, we were having lots of behavior problems especially towards his younger siblings. Since I have allowed him to advance beyond what "I" thought was reasonable, the behavior problems have disappeared. Turned out he was just bored. Once I occupied his mind with learning, he stopped thinking of devious ways to torment other family members.

 

So I'm not giving him high school credit at this point, there are lots of other maths out there to study past the precalculus/calculus level. There was 3 levels of calculus when I went to college plus all the other types out there. He will probably go to college quite early (either online or locally) we'll see when we get that far.

 

If your son is enjoying learning and is grasping the concepts than I see know reason not to let him move forward at a normal pace. it really isn't a big deal if it doesn't follow the "traditional" pace of learning.

 

Stephanie

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I agree with letting them go at their own pace--whether it's ahead or behind. My 10yo dd (well, she was 10 most of the year, she just turned 11) is doing pre-algebra this year (6th) and will begin Algebra 1 next year. She did slow down a little this year, but worried that she wasn't getting through the book fast enough. I told her not to worry about that, she needed to learn it well before moving on. So she may still be finishing up Pre-Algebra for the first part of her 7th grade year.

 

Anyway, as the others have said, there are many avenues to pusue as he gets older. He MAY "hit a wall" at some point, and need to slow down a bit. So be aware of that in case it happens. If not, I say let him go at his pace and enjoy the learning!

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My 5th grader (dd) has just started videotext algebra. It encompasses Algebra 1-2. It may take her 2 yrs to complete. She is ready, excited, and motivated.

Why would I NOT allow her begin this? If your child is ready I say go for it. You won't know until you try!

Worst case scenario is backing off and focusing on pre-algebra

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

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Anyone here start Algebra in 6th? Where do you go from there?

 

My ds did. He did algebra I for 6th grade and is now doing geometry for 7th grade.

 

If your kid loves math, don't slow him down! Let him rip with it!

 

When I sat down to plan out high school for ds, I saw that he would finish calculus and still have time remaining. I did not want to deal with that, so I had to find an extra year of math for him ... hence 8th grade he will do probability & statistics, some special topics, and a review of alg. I. My future plan is algebra II for 9th, trig & analytic geometry for 10th, then off to the local college for calculus in 11th and 12th grades.

 

Karen

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I have been debating starting Saxon algebra in the fall for my dd (who will be in 6th also, but she will be 11 yo). She gets math concepts very quickly, but she is lazy. I do like the idea of taking 2 yrs to complete the book. I have gone from having her do all 30 problems per lesson in Saxon 7/6, to doing odds or evens. She does well on the tests (85%) but more like 75% on daily work. They are all usually stupid mistakes. I am just not sure if she is ready to be careful and spend the time on checking her work. I am not sure of her maturity on being responsible and actually caring about her work. Her mind is amazing but it is still easily distracted! I think my ds will be more ready at her age (because he likes to be right and gets very upset when he makes mistakes...) But she just doesn't care.

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7th grade and he's doing Algebra. He would have been 6th this year if we went by public school cut offs. It isn't a big deal here, he likes it and I do and it is going well. I just keep going at my child's pace and he just keeps learning. I love Algebra myself, he needs the analytical thinking. (My son is 12, I totally mistyped this heading.)

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As a public school math teacher, I have a couple suggestions to consider. First, I think that it is foolish to consider slowing a child down. I think whatever their interest and ability, encourage them to continue learning all that they can. There is plenty of math available to learn and many others have offered good suggestions.

 

One caution that I would offer is that you try to set up your courses so that in his senior year he studies either Calculus AB or Calculus BC or both. I have seen students who complete these courses prior to their senior year, and too many of them end up taking the senior year off as far as math goes. I think that is a mistake.

 

If I were in your shoes, I would let him continue at a natural pace until he finishes Algebra 2 (that would be at the end of 8th grade, I assume). At that point, you have 4 years to complete Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus ABC. I would consider in 9th or 10th grade doing some computer programming (I would check out HTDP.org if you want a free option that is pretty good) and/or Statistics. Perhaps you might find a Discrete Math course that you could do his junior year.

 

In other words, let him work as fast as he can/wants to. Add depth to the curriculum in grades 9-11. Have him complete pre-Calc in 11th and Calculus in 12th.

 

One opinion to add to many others.

 

Mike

 

aleksmath@gmail.com

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I will not be slowing my son down, but I will watch for maturiity along the way. I also really like the advice to do Clac as a senior. My dh and I were both advanced in math and ended up not taking math our senior years.

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Having thoroughly hashed and rehashed this issue. . . I have found that what works great for one child can bomb with another. . . I'm bumbling through this issue with my 11yo / 5th gradedd who finished 6B with flying colors several months ago.

 

At just turning 11, NEM1 started great but we bombed big time in chapter 4. . . We've spent months with the Key To Algebra booklets which are going very easily but not very inspiring. . . DD love the Joy to Mathematics DVDs but they are just watch/explore/think not day-to-day math. . .

 

I just bought Thinkwell Intermediate Algebra and dd is excited about that, so I'm *planning* that for starting soon through 6th grade. After that, who knows.

 

Meanwhile, ds8 / 3rd grade finished 5B months ago and I've been slowing him down with 5B Intensive Practices before lettting him loose on his 6A book b/c I know he'll zip through it in 6 months and then I'll have to deal with him in Algebra as well and I know he's not mature enough quite yet. . .

 

We'll keep muddling through and making it up as we go along. I'll be curious to see if ds experiences similar slow-downs d/t maturity that his sister has or if it's completely different with him.

 

One thing for sure, you'll find that plenty of 10/12 yos do fine with real algebra and plenty didn't. Only you can know what might work best for your dc, but don't hesitate to change course if what you first try doesn't go as well as you'd hoped.

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I have found that what works great for one child can bomb with another. . .

<snip>

but don't hesitate to change course if what you first try doesn't go as well as you'd hoped.

 

There is such an advantage to being early on the timeline. You have time to figure out what's just right for your student. If they hit a plateau, there's no pressure .. . if NEM is ok, but they're going slowly, no sweat ... plenty of time to get through it ... if they need an entirely different approach, that's cool, plenty of time to find it. It's very relaxing in a way LOL :)

Karen

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My son took algebra in 6th grade, geometry in 7th and now algebra 2/trig.

 

The local magnet high school goes through differential equations. The regular high school goes through second year calculus (multivariable). Both of these school go beyond AP offerings. If you homeschool through high school, duel enrollment would at the community college can get you some of these advance math courses.

 

I would just proceed with what your child is ready to do. Watch for maturity issues. If the work is disorganized slow down. There are organizational skills needed to really get the the upper level math.

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Math U See has an advanced book called "Stewardship" that I believe focuses on how to be a good steward of your money and teaches basic principals of money management - personal finance and consumer math. Something like this would be practical and take up a year of curriculum. I like Math U See because it teaches why we do math and not just how to do formulas. You might also want to contact some local colleges and see what they recommend.

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