<p>ok, well im done with freshman year, pretty much breezed by it and i cant wait until sophomore year, anyways, i took algebra 1 in 8th grade, and barely passed with a C+, this year i take it again and finish with an A+, which completely shocked me, but then i took geometry this year and i ended the trimester with an A+ (100% where i live), im wonderin how i passed a higher level of math after sucking at it my whole life, which brings me to my question, am i doing the same work as a kid taking the same class as me in a better school, while im at my 5th worst school in the state setting? p.s i didnt study anymore than i usually do. (i just need a mature, honest opinion which is why i posted in this forum. aha)</p>
<p>The explanation might be brain development. At your age your brain is still creating new neural pathways, and there are studies that suggest that algebra uses pathways that aren’t usually developed yet by middle school. Think of it in terms of paving roads, and you’re trying to get somewhere but the roads don’t go there yet. A year later, the roads are in place and suddenly getting there is a breeze. There is no definitive research saying this is all true, but it’s one possibility.</p>
<p>Having a very good - or very easy - teacher may also be an answer :-). How did the rest of the class do?</p>
<p>that sounds pretty reasonable spdf, and i was one of the only 7 students to get an A+ in there out of her 2 advanced classes, the rest got b’s, c’s and d’s, some f’s too.</p>
<p>There’s a lot to be said for mental development. Some kids just don’t “get it” until the brain is ready.</p>
<p>Do you think you’re paying attention and/or studying more? Doing the homework? If you keep up with the subject as the year goes by, it doesn’t get any harder because you’re building on a solid foundation. That can also be the result of maturity. ;)</p>
<p>I do not know why you did so much better, hopefully its because you have a better understanding of the material. But to answer your question, it is certainly possible that because of the nature of your school that the expectations in your class were lower.</p>
<p>I am not a teacher, but I was just talking about this subject on Friday with a math teacher while reviewing textbooks. Some people find geometry very easy, even in they struggled with algebra. In return, there can be some kids that struggle with geometry but have no problem with algebra or calculus.</p>
<p>spdf is exactly right. Your brain has to be ready for advanced math. Many times at age 13, it just isn’t ready to think that way. I know it wasn’t until about age 18 that I really started to comprehend math. Almost like a switch turned on in my brain and I went from nearly flunking to getting a B plus in college algebra.</p>
<p>As far as how you would compare to others in “better schools” I can’t be sure. I would definitely look at how the other students fared - if there were a majority of A’s perhaps the teacher was giving out easy points for homework etc… But if there were more B’s and C’s than A’s I wouldn’t think that would be the case as much. So your improvement could have a number of factors such as maturity, motivation and a better teacher! Don’t worry too much about it though, if you are getting 100% then you are definitely on the right track and are comprehending the material very well.</p>
<p>Math courses are related in someway but they are still very different from each other. It’s just like history. You can love world history and do fantastic but hate US history and do terrible. </p>
<p>Just keep in mind that you are not bad at math. You just weren’t taught in a way where it “clicked” for you. </p>
<p>I also agree with MizzBee. I’ve come across many students that really struggle in geometry but do fantastic in algebra, trig., and eventually calc.</p>
<p>Orangeblood, I’m a parent that’s also a teacher…
Looks like you did two things right: took a not-so-favorite class (algebra) a second time AND enjoyed your geometry class. These two are very different types of math. One of my sons hated algebra, but loved Geometry. Maybe you do too? Taking a class a second time probably really helped too. You understood it more that second time around and this time, what your teacher was talking about made sense.</p>
<p>Besides that, growing up (aka maturing) probably helped plus getting a teacher you liked made a difference too. Now you should tell us what you think made the difference.</p>
<p>I don’t see algebra as ‘more advanced’ that geometry. Apples and oranges. One can be good with one or like one, but not the other. </p>
<p>But it’s great you did well on the second one. It is why so many parents object to ‘early tracking’. Kids develop at different rates, develop different skills, interests, and motivations, they have different teachers and grading systems and curriculum. For those reasons, it seems such a shame for kids to self-identify as “bad at X” so early on…you are living proof that some early grade doesn’t mean much going forward.</p>
<p>Congrats on those great math grades! </p>
<p>Sometimes there are bright kids that do better with courses/teachers that base grades heavily on test grades instead of homework. If that happens to be a factor for you, make sure that you keep careful tabs on your assignments next year.</p>
<p>As Mizzbee and others have said, this is likely because Algebra and Geometry are very different types of math. In fact, most students I’ve met are good at one or the other. (With the exception of students who are just really gifted in math)</p>
<p>Personally, I breezed through Algebra and Calculus in high school but struggled A LOT with geometry. (Though this could be because I spent most of the hour in Geometry passing notes with the cute boy behind me. ;-))</p>
<p>Orange, have you ever watched Khan Academy videos, by any chance? Anyhow, Salman Khan gave a TED talk a while back and your post made me think of something he said. If you’re not interested in watching the whole thing maybe jump ahead to around 13:35 when he starts leading up to a point he makes maybe a minute later. Interesting thought…
<a href=“http://www.ted.com/talks/salman_khan_let_s_use_video_to_reinvent_education.html[/url]”>http://www.ted.com/talks/salman_khan_let_s_use_video_to_reinvent_education.html</a></p>
<p>Here’s the link to the Khan Academy site if you’re not familiar with it. Lots of people love the math videos (free).
[Khan</a> Academy](<a href=“http://www.khanacademy.org/]Khan”>http://www.khanacademy.org/)</p>
<p>^I heard an interview with him on NPR. Thanks for mentioning him & his videos. I hear they’re wonderful and I plan to check them out myself! (not needing to use math, I think I have forgotten everything I learned <em>cough</em> years ago…</p>
<p>His idea is that keeping everyone at the same pace in math (or trying to) is really detrimental to people who may work at a slower pace. They fall behind and start feeling stupid, when that is not the case at all. Working at your own pace with videos, or computer-aided technology, is so much better.</p>