this accelerated math stuff is getting out of hand. Kids who just stick to the normal math trajectory are basically penalized because their parents never thought of just pushing them ahead in middle school. Plenty of kids could handle the more advanced math earlier, but since they don’t do that, or don’t spend precious summers taking math classes, even if they are good at math they are forever behind these “top” math students.
I am willing to bet that if I quizzed a lot of these “accelerated” math students with simple arithmetic problems that I can do in seconds in my head (like 347 + 749), or asked them to quickly calculate a tip for my dinner bill, many of them would stumble because the foundations aren’t given enough time to develop anymore.
There are most definitely students who benefit greatly from being accelerated in math. But I sort of agree with @joecollege44 that this has taken on a life of its own.
Old timers here will remember that we were the very first parents in our middle school history who actually declined having our kid accelerated in math. When the recommendation came, we asked for a compelling reason why we should do this. The math teacher and math department chairperson couldn’t give us one. So…we thanked them and said no…thus offering up a spot for all those whose parents had already complained that their kid was not selected.
Our kid was a very strong math student…and she actually excelled in the higher level math she took in college. But she definitely benefited from the strong foundation she got in MS and HS.
If this OP has the option of taking precalc as a HS freshman, it sounds like she is more than two years accelerated, right.
I would suggest she have a very serious discussion about this with her current math teacher and the department chairperson at the high school.
I’m still trying to wrap my head around why college algebra would be a choice…maybe someone can explain.
My DS’s high school is trying to do away with Pre-Calc and pushing students to do Alg2 + Trig in one year and then straight to Calc. We have to decide by May if this is a good choice or not. (he’s a Freshman) I am worried about his foundation being rushed. Also his Alg2/Trig teacher is not very good. If you feel your foundation is solid and teachers have prepared you well go for Pre-Calc. Otherwise do not.
I’m trying to pick out my schedule for next year, but I also want to plan the sophomore year so I have a specific course plan.
Freshman:
Pre-Calc
AP Human Geography
Pre-AP Biology
Pre-AP Chemistry
Art
Health
Spanish 2
Pre-AP English
Sophomore:
AP Calc AB
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
Pre-AP World History
Pre-AP World Literature
Drawing
Finance
Intro to Bus
Sociology of Relationships
I don’t have to take chemistry as a freshman, but I do want to eventually do AP Chemistry and Biology, and I heard those are hard so I want to get them over with as a sophomore. They would be 2/3 of the AP’s I would do in 10th grade. I want to do physics as a junior and senior.
I can also switch to just regular classes instead of the Pre-AP ones. Pre-AP is basically “honors”.
I am up for a challenge - I’m currently taking two math classes this year to challenge myself even more (I also love math). But I also play sports so I want to have free time every so often from school and homework. Thanks for helping me!
@Techno13 I actually agree with this. Algebra 2 just needs to be taught right and students can go directly to calc. Precalc is more or less redoing algebra 2 in a “calculus way.” Yes, algebra 2 would become harder but I think integrating calculus into the standard four-year curriculum makes so much sense.
Calculating unweighted high school GPA seems to be a mystery to many posters on these forums.
For good in math students. Students who are just ok in math may not benefit.
Some high schools offer an optional accelerated algebra 2 course for strong in math students who can then take calculus immediately after, but retain a regular algebra 2 and precalculus sequence for other students.
http://www.sfusdmath.org/high-school-pathways.html
Note that this defers the decision about math acceleration to 10th/11th grade, rather than setting the student on a math track in middle school. By 10th/11th grade, it is more likely that math acceleration decisions will be “correct” due to being based on high school math performance, rather than elementary or middle school math performance.