indigomama Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 My oldest DS 12 is in 7th grade. He works at or above grade level in all things, except math. He is just starting MM 6B, so that puts him behind by a year. We are debating on putting him in PS for high school, but now I'm wondering if being behind in math is going to be a big problem. Any advice? Should we stick with MM and just keep plugging away where he's at. Should we switch after he's finished with MM6? Will it throw things off if he enters 9th grade needing Algebra? We live in CA and he's like to attend a CSU or UC in some sort of Humanities major. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extendedforecast Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 I would try to work in some prealgebra after MM, and he should be fine. My oldest DD is a senior now, but she went into PS in 8th grade. She completed 5b in 6th grade, went back to Saxon because level 6 wasn't out yet I think, and then went into PS where she took prealgebra. She did so well, her teacher recommended she take honors algebra in 9th grade. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 (edited) MM7 *is* prealgebra. Prealgebra is on grade level for 8th grade. He will be ready for algebra 1 in 9th. In that light, he is not behind in math. However, Common Core 8 is another matter. If PS is a possibility, I strongly suggest finding out what math program the high school uses, how the courses are structured (traditional or integrated), and when the placement test would be (e.g. April or August). If the school follows Common Core, there are a few additional topics from CC8 to include prior to the placement test (e.g. functions and function notation, maybe even systems of equations). Edited January 16, 2017 by wapiti 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indigomama Posted January 16, 2017 Author Share Posted January 16, 2017 MM7 *is* prealgebra. Prealgebra is on grade level for 8th grade. He will be ready for algebra 1 in 9th. In that light, he is not behind in math. However, Common Core 8 is another matter. If PS is a possibility, I strongly suggest finding out what math program the high school uses, how the courses are structured (traditional or integrated), and when the placement test would be (e.g. April or August). If the school follows Common Core, there are a few additional topics from CC8 to include prior to the placement test (e.g. functions and function notation, maybe even systems of equations). Friends with kids in PS have all said their kids are taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade here. I will try and find out what program they use here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCB Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 Just want to say that my dd did through MM 5 and then we started Dolciani Prealgebra this year, 7th gr. She seems to be doing fine and I'm fairly sure that she will be ready for Algebra 1 next year when she is in 8th. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mabelen Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 Friends with kids in PS have all said their kids are taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade here. I will try and find out what program they use here. That may be the case but it doesn't necessarily mean Algebra 1 in 8th is the standard path. Your friends' kids may well be in the advanced track. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 My oldest DS 12 is in 7th grade. He works at or above grade level in all things, except math. He is just starting MM 6B, so that puts him behind by a year. We are debating on putting him in PS for high school, but now I'm wondering if being behind in math is going to be a big problem. Any advice? Should we stick with MM and just keep plugging away where he's at. Should we switch after he's finished with MM6? Will it throw things off if he enters 9th grade needing Algebra? We live in CA and he's like to attend a CSU or UC in some sort of Humanities major. He can always take his maths at the community college and transfer those credits to UC or CS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 Copied from my school district math description. Hope it helps. "W***** High School Algebra 1 COURSE DESCRIPTION Algebra 1 is a one-year course that builds on arithmetic skills and algebraic concepts taught in the earlier grades. A grade of "C" or better is required for continuation to Geometry and for admission to the University of California. ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE Upon successful completion of this class, students will be able to: • Understand and perform the operations of multiplication, division, addition and subtraction over the set of rational numbers • Add, subtract, multiply and simplify algebraic expressions (special emphasis on the distributive property) • Solve linear equations • Translate simple linear relationships into equations • Factor first and second degree polynomials • Understand and apply the properties of proportions and percents • Graph linear equations and inequalities in the coordinate plane • Analyze linear equations and find equations of lines • Understand appropriate terminology and notation used to define functions and their properties (including but not limited to domain and range) • Translate simple linear relationships into equations • Use various methods to solve systems of equations and inequalities (graphing, substitution and eliminations) • Understand the properties and basic theorems of whole number roots • Simplify numerical radicals • Solve quadratic equations using the quadratic formula and factoring TEXT California Algebra 1, Prentice Hall (publishers) MATERIALS NEEDED DAILY Pencil and eraser Notebook (journal) Textbook" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 (edited) Emphasising Wapiti here... "Common Core 8 is another matter." My DD is enrolled in a CC6 math course that uses EngageNY's materials (which are challenging). She completed SM through grade 5 and part of DM7CC before I switched her over to full time enrollment. DD is handing the material like a champ because this is her second time through it, but kids who had standard courses previously, or even less rigorous CC-aligned textbooks, are struggling with the depth of the questions. DDs teacher told me that the 7th and 8th graders are hovering at 70% and 60% pass rates respectively. At DD's school, Algebra 1 BEGINS with factoring quadratics (which means it's introduced in Math 8 and reviewed in Algebra 1). If you can, find out what materials the school is using and get a cheap used copy on Amazon so you can see what DC will be expected to know. Edited January 17, 2017 by Sneezyone 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 Algebra in 8th grade is the standard path in many affluent school districts. But I cannot imagine a public high school that isn't teaching plenty of sections of Algebra I for him to take. And I don't know of any state where - assuming he does reasonably well as he goes - he won't have plenty of time to finish all the requirements for graduation. Yeah, it may not be ideal for him to be in a different math than his friends, but in many places, it's really not unusual to take Algebra I in 9th grade. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Here you can do Algebra 1 in 9th even in the IB program, so certainly many kids are doing it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Friends with kids in PS have all said their kids are taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade here. I will try and find out what program they use here. Correct. Almost all CA students take CC Algebra in 8th now. This course is much harder/more advanced than the Algebra 1 of my day. Today's CC Algebra 1 is more like Algebra 1.5 (with many topics covered that used to be covered in Algebra 2/Trig, plus the reasoning skills of CC). My son is doing CC Algebra 1 now (in a rare accelerated 7th-grade program) and it is a pretty tough course. Bill 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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