FloridaLisa Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 As if you haven't had enough of these! Argh. Background: ds will be taking a couple of comunity college courses. He's a rising junior. He took the placement test and tested into Calculus. Fine, but he's never had Pre-calculus! He's worked through Saxon I, II, some ALEKS supplements, part of Advanced Math but went back to do Jacob's Geometry this year. So. He'd like pre-calc this year. The (very bossy) gatekeeper at the community college insisted he should go into a 5 credit pre-calc with algebra and trig class. This is the pre-requisite for hard science majors, which ds will probably eventually be. BUT . . . here are my reservations: 1. This is his first experience with community college and I'm not crazy about starting with a 5 credit math class. 2. We're not intending this to meet the pre-requisites for his major. I really want this to "sub" if you will for a solid high school pre-calc course so that he's prepared once he gets into the 4-yr college for the math and science sequence. My instinct is to have him register for the 4-hour pre-calc with algebra class. He definitely wants to do AP Stats next year and probably should take a calc class his senior year as well. Okay. Fire away! We need some guidance counseling! Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cedarmom Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 I'd go with the 4 credit. With his first c.c. class, I would rather have him succeed, then feel as if he is in over his head. Better too easy, and feeling like a breeze then defeated. Plus, if it is too easy and he is bored you could supplement at home with a teaching company course or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 I agree with keeping it easier to build his confidence. I'd also check his potential colleges to see if it will transfer. No sense wasting a college course if you can get credit for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplecow7 Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 I would request a sylabus of both classes from the teacher. So you can get an idea of what the two course look side by side from the teachers who are going to teach. Not sure if this applies but for me I found that sometimes the "harder" classes were easier because the teacher was better and the class had more motivated students in it vs just having to take the required course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryM Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 Lisa, If he doesn't do Trig, when will he cover it? That would be my main concern particularly if physics is in his future. Chances are the addition of trig really won't overwhelm him if he is well grounded in Algebra 2 already. But, if he's already done trig then this is all moot. I wouldn't get blind sided by the number of credits either. They vary so much by school and state. I agree with purplecow 7 that getting the syllabus AND the book they are using will help determine the true nature of the course. I have been worried about some of these college courses on our end being too easy and leaving the wrong impression if you know what I mean. We signed up ds for two dual enrollment courses in the fall which will be his first at a college that isn't distance ed and the chemistry course doesn't even use a textbook. Now when I learned that it sent up numerous red flags. Good luck with the decision! Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 I'm curious whether the community college is on a quarter or semester system. I can't tell you what to do; however, I'll share my teen's experience. She took Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2 (with Lial's for the Algebra classes and Jacobs' for Geometry) at home. She tested into College Algebra at the local cc which is 5 hours on the quarter system. After that she took Trigonometry which is a 4 hour course. She did very well in both classes. (She took two other cc classes the first quarter as well as two AP courses elsewhere.) She's signed up for AP Statistics through PA Homeschoolers for next year. One suggestion, go to the college bookstore and look at the textbooks for both levels. Good luck making your decision! Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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