<p>OP, your son his not even a senior in junior high school. You need to calm down. You shouldn’t be obsessing over his SAT essay scores and whether or not he will get into Duke. The kid probably hasn’t even hit puberty yet. What you are doing now will probably hurt him more than help him. This pressure ruins kids. You see what happens to celebrity children when they are in the spotlight and under so much pressure? If you don’t stop, your son is gonna head down that path. I know you want the best, but it doesn’t even seem like your son is doing this because he wants to.</p>
<p>In all honesty, you shouldn’t even be on this site yet. Once your kid is a rising junior, fine. The biggest problem is that you are the one forcing him to do this. Prodigies are made from the inside. You can’t force your child to be one. Let him be a kid. </p>
<p>I find it hard to believe your son is even ready for Physics B because of his SAT math score. If he got a score like that in basic math, surely he isn’t ready for advanced physics. </p>
<p>Do what you want with your child, but think about who is the one who actually wants this. And even more, think about what this will do to your relationship with him in the future. If you push him too hard in school now, you might end up pushing him away forever. That is all. Good luck.</p>
<p>@moonchild It doesn’t seem like he is a math prodigy with his SAT score. It seems like he’s good at it, but making him do the camp is just too much </p>
<p>Agree with the earlier point that algebra based physics is a lot of memorization. Calculus-based physics is more conceptual and involves much less memory work. D did a hs algebra-based course (hated it because of all of the formula memorization) and a two semester calculus based in college (loved the creative, problem solving nature of it). In order to do the calculus based physics, one has to be fairly abstract in their thinking (a skill that evolves as the brain physically matures and the child is challenged in a developmentally appropriate way).</p>
<p>Our school system noted that many young kids who took algebra I as 6-7th graders struggled as 9th-10th graders in calculus B-C.These were very bright kids but the simply weren’t developmentally ready for calculus at that age. Many had gotten through algebra and geometry bu massive memorization efforts but had not really masters the conceptual thinking.</p>
<p>I don’t think it is true. Students should have the ability to derive the formula based on several basic formula. This is important. Calculus based physics won’t help kid understand physics better. Many public school students only have time to take AP physics C ME which focus on Mechanics, which just cover some narrow topics. In my personal opinion, CB should only offer AP Physics 1 &2 and cancel AP physics C (ME and EM). </p>
<p>"Students should have the ability to derive the formula based on several basic formula. " Is this what you say to your son when he comes home with 99 instead of 100? </p>
<p>To think that Physics is just a series of formulas is probably blasphemous to the physics community. Physics is more complex than that, as is calculus. And to think of it as such is a huge over simplification of both courses. Maybe this is why you are being so hard on your son. You don’t understand the true complexity and rigor of what he is learning.</p>
<p>The OP’s ds seems like he might be a bright child, but he has only finished through pre-alg as a 7th grader. He is not advanced in math by any stretch and the OP is approaching science illogically by not letting math drive science sequence. And is putting her child in the exact position you describe above. He is most likely solving via formulaic approach vs actual understanding of what he is doing bc he lacks the mathematical foundation.</p>
<p>(Though in general I disagree with the quote bc it is simple generalization. How did they control for the effects of their own teaching methodologies for focus on formulas vs. conceptual understanding? Bc there are most definitely kids that are capable of taking alg up at young ages. The AoPS forums are full of them. )</p>
<p>OP’s not really listening. I get the idea she is trying to strategize without a full picture. So be it. You can do what you want, but if you assume the top colleges will be as impressed by your scheme as you are, you will be in for an awakening.</p>
<p>You have told us nothing that indicates he likes your plans, you come back in circles. I have no issue with a bright kid getting this training (many of these programs are actually quite supportive,) But like many hs kids, you are assuming more than you know. Arguing as if it will make you right. </p>
<p>He will need more than your scheme. Are you taking care of that, too? In the right ways? </p>
<p>Something else that comes up with this sort of mega-control parenting: it isn’t about YOU. </p>
<p>@wzg69g, a physicist doesn’t solve a problem by using a bunch of formulas.</p>
<p>Newton’s second law is a second order differential equation. Calculus is automatically embedded in physics. In the first two semesters of college physics, you are basically solving boundary value problems with your initial conditions/constraints varying by the situation. You solve these problems by expressing these constraints and identifying the conserved quantities from the symmetries of the problem. You really barely need to memorize any formulas for this.</p>
<p>You really can’t even attempt to understand physics without calculus although many students think they do. Algebra based physics is an okay intro to the topic when one doesn’t have the math machinery, but in the latter half of high school, if someone is really interested in physics they should take the calculus course.</p>
<p>I have concerns since he is young and this class has very fast pace. He did well on his homework and quiz. He got A in the first 2 weeks. No stress. But he do need spent 2-3 hours on homework and I need to check his homework and correct his concept where he made mistakes and discuss with him. I saw he uses his intelligence in his HW which exceed my expectation. He build a very good study habit through this class. </p>
<p>Hmm. Sounds to me like he’s learning that he needs his mom to hold his hand, correcting his mistakes and discussing everything with him in order to understand the material- not good study habits.</p>
<p>You are correct in this point. But in so fast pace, student has no time to made mistake and correct it. We choose summer school only because we have no better choice. He only can wait for AP phsics C ME only in 11th grade</p>
<p>Why is this a bad choice? It’s what most students do- even the very bright ones who go to Harvard, Princeton and Duke. </p>
<p>If you want him to have more math and science experiences for enrichment, it would be much better to look into some of the academic summer camp-type programs that are designed for bright kids like yours. He would meet other kids who love the sciences, and there would be no grades and no pressure to master material before he had the background. There would be a lot of variety, and a lot of fun. He would actually learn much more than he will be learning this summer taking this one class.</p>
<p>Did you read what you wrote? He spends how much time in class (an hour? two hours? four hours?) and then he spends 2-3 HOURS on homework AND you need to check it, and then discuss the coursework with him to correct “his concept” or in other words, reteach him the concepts. This poor child is spending how many hours on a high school level class he does NOT NEED TO TAKE??!!</p>
<p>Beyond the issue of whether or not he’s academically ready for this class, who are the other students in this physics class? Are there other rising 8th graders, 12 year olds? Or are the other students all in high school? Socially, if he is the only 12 year old, he cannot be having fun. It’s lonely to be the sole preteen in a class of high schoolers. You’re short; you haven’t hit puberty yet, you can’t drive, you don’t date, you probably can’t even go to the movies as the other students. </p>
<p>This just doesn’t sound like a fun summer (six weeks!) for a 12-year-old boy even if he were a math/physics wunderkind. </p>
<p>I agree with others that it’s great that he wants to learn physics and do well in math (if that is what he wants) but there are more age and grade appropriate camps and programs for a rising 8th grader (he’s not even in high school yet!). The child just finished up the school year and he’s STILL stuck in a classroom, with several hours of homework. Where’s the joy in this? </p>
<p>Finish out this class and then acknowledge that maybe it was too fast too soon. And then let him enjoy the rest of summer. </p>