I’m considering taking Geometry online over the summer so that I can take Algebra 2, I am an independent learner, and am passing Algebra 1 with a 90%, even though I’m in 7th grade. Would that be a good idea? Or should I just take the class in school?
Don’t take Geometry over the summer. You’re already in 7th grade and taking Algebra 1, there is no rush to get further ahead. Is there a specific reason you’d like to take Algebra 2 in 8th? If not, hold off and take Geometry next year.
I agree with @hjulk7. Math is an area where very much anything that you learn in the future is going to be based on what you learned in Algebra 1 and other previous classes. You want to take it at a reasonable pace and learn each step very thoroughly. You are already ahead.
It is up to you. If you are interested in spending some of your summer vacation studying Geometry, then do so.
Our friend’s son did the online math courses in middle school. He ended up getting done with his high school math classes early and then took more online math courses in high school. It worked for him but he loved math and did exceptionally well in it. My daughter took a 6 week accelerated Algebra 2 summer course in high school so she could get to AP Calculus BC by senior year. Even though she got an A- in the Algebra 2 course, I can tell she didn’t learn some of the concepts very well. I would recommend taking a year to really learn the concepts of Geometry. Don’t get a 90, get a 99. If you’re not challenged in your class, ask your teacher for more challenging problems, etc. Your high school will probably have Honors and AP math classes to keep you challenged.
I love geometry and hate to see it thought of as merely a hurdle to be gotten over on the way to some more important course
^I wish I had liked geometry! I found it frustrating and not very enjoyable. The proofs were really hard for me. Maybe if I had had a better teacher? I loved all my other math classes - that’s why I became an engineer.
If you choose to do Geometry online, make sure that your school recognizes it as a course and will give you credits for it, and let you skip to Algebra 2.
Actually, I’m not a fan of seeing any course as a hurdle to overcome, one to get through online so you can pass a test and get credit and move on to bigger and better things.
Take geometry honors in 8th grade and aim for a 100% (as a goal) and work hard to get away from 90% which is very good for a 7th grader but the fact remains you missed some stuff that may be needed regardless of age.
Aim for algebra2H in 9th, precalculus in 10th, Calculus BC (or dual enrollment college calc 1+2) for 11th, and further math (discrete math, linear algebra…) In 12th. That should be very challenging already.
Spend your summer doing fun things for the sake of it, see what could interest you (drawing anime, knitting…) See if you can volunteer.