Algebra for 7th Grader? - Page 3

sb1492 · 08-08-2008, 06:47 PM

In my area, if a child is considered gifted and in a gifted program, then they are required to take Algebra I in 7th grade and Geometry in 8th grade, no questions asked. If you didn't like it, too bad. It was kind of unfair to some kids who didn't like math, especially since a lot of kids ending up getting C's and D's, but that was just the way it went. I didn't mind at all, though, and I will be a junior taking AP Calculus AB in the upcoming year.

JDA 1990 · 08-10-2008, 02:13 AM

I think its great for those kids that are really interested and have the ability. I remember back in the day, I loved math and would work from the back of the book forward (I knew we'd never cover those later chapters) on my own just because I loved math so much. I would have loved to have the opportunity to move faster, but then that was back in the 70's and we didn't have that available to us. I still love to open a new math book and take a deep breath.......such a sweet thing

nemom · 08-19-2008, 10:12 PM

Kids who can speed up in math and want too, should. There can be problems down the road when other schools are unwilling or unable to keep the acceleration going. It can be difficult too, if a child can only keep going by joining classes with much older kids. So , before you start down this path, think i t through a bit.

nemom · 08-22-2008, 11:22 PM

Mine has raced ahead on math. Will take second year calc in 10th grade, and probably real analysis and diff. eq by graduation (or maybe some topology..) The difficulty is finding schools that will support all the way, but if you can manage that, it's great.

Star` · 09-04-2008, 01:17 AM

I'm teaching my younger sister (who just started 6th grade) Algebra... o.o'
She dosen't want to but I'm just teaching her so when she gets to it...it'll be easier =]

momreads · 09-14-2008, 07:59 AM

My youngest son just started Algebra I in the seventh grade. If he continues in the same school district, he will run out of math before his senior year -- just like his brother, who is a senior, did. He had the option of taking an independent study at a local community college but nixed that idea because of travel time to and from the class. He is taking AP physics B as his math/science class this year (already has taken AP BC Calculus, Stat, Bio and Chem).

The main thing that my husband, who teaches math, find is that many of the students taking Algebra I at that age really do not belong in the class. Their folks pushed an administrator to place them in the class. As a result, they struggle all year. These students did not have a solid foundation in mathematics, but their parents were more worried about their child being labeled "gifted in math" than the child's ability to do the math.

vin09 · 09-15-2008, 06:15 PM

I took algebra 1 as a 6th grader, and I was a year young, so basically a 5th grader.

I wouldn't advise doing that, it puts too much pressure on the kid at a young age, they will be less physically and intellectually mature compared to their classmates..it's not a good option.

That being said, I'm a senior now, in AP Stats, and I survived, but take the easier route and stick to the normal path.

FindAPlace · 09-15-2008, 06:44 PM

My S took AP Calculus BC as a sophomore last year. This year, he is taking AP Physics C and already says he's glad he took caluclus before, as opposed to along with, physics.

Full disclosure: His father is a math professor, so he can assist him as he takes his on line class in linear algebra this year, followed his senior year with multivariable calculus.

S is thinking he may want to major in physics in college. He is aware that many colleges will only give credit for the calculus, but may allow higher placement for his work in the other classes. And he knows he needs to be fine with this since, at this juncture, there's been no discussion about where he might be applying to go to college except for USC (where Dad works, since it would be tuition free.)

WordSpinner · 03-28-2009, 06:03 PM

I agree--if your kid can take it, totally put them in the hardest math class they can, but not necessarily for college. I took algebra in seventh grade and it was the first time in my math life I was not bored stiff. I got straight A's, too, and I wasn't the only one. And I liked the company of older students, so in all, it was a very good experience for me. If I could do it again, the only thing I'd have done was try to get the math in place to take algebra in sixth grade, because I believe I could have done it, since sixth grade math was really easy when it wasn't review.

But if you don't think that's your kid? Don't make them take a math class they're not prepared for--get them into a good pre-algebra class. That'll pay off in the long run more than forcing an unprepared kid into Algebra, which will only discourage and confuse them. My sister is taking Algebra now, in eighth grade, and I think that was the best plan for her--the extra year did help her (of course, she goes to a better middle school than I did for sixth grade).

eapattie · 03-28-2009, 06:16 PM

I'm a sophomore in high school, and I took Algebra I in 7th grade. It was great because I actually learned something in that class. I almost would have taken it in 6th grade. I'm in pre-calc/trig right now, will take calc next year, then (since i'm in IB) HL math. If I do well enough in the HL math class, I can pass out of college math classes.

It's better to challenge yourself how (if you actually apply yourself to learn it) then to miss out on the opportunity.

Most people at my school take Algebra I as a freshmen, then the rest tend to take it their 8th grade year, so I'm 1-2 years ahead of most of the students my age. Their is maybe 40 sophomore at the same level as me (not even a 10th of the class), so challenging myself really put me ahead.

CLRN8MOM · 04-25-2009, 07:06 PM

I see this thread has been around for a while, but I just found it and thought I would add my 2 cents. My child did Algebra in the 7th grade, and in retrospect I would not have her do it again. She thought math was ok but did not love it. At that time, I did a search on predictors of success in 7th grade Algebra. The one thing that predicted success was ability to do word problems. If a kid seems mature for age, LOVES math, and can do word problems well, then it is a good idea to do Algebra in the 7th grade. My daughter has lost a lot of enjoyment for math and a lot of self-confidence in math over the years, and I think if we had waited, this would not have happened. It's not that she wasn't smart enough, it's just that her brain wasn't READY. And she could have entered the Honors track in 8th grade and it would have ended up actually being better for her GPA now that she is in HS.

An0maly · 04-26-2009, 02:47 PM

I took Geometry in 7th grade and Alg I in 7th as well, and I have a mixed opinion of it. Both classes were 1 semester each, and I was definitely advanced, but I had mediocre teachers and 18 weeks is not enough for deep understanding. I'm currently a junior and I'll be done with several post BC calculus courses by the time I graduate, and I've loved the accelerated pace, but I wish I could have learned the basics better as a kid.

Premed789789 · 10-07-2009, 05:28 PM

Be careful with this. I was not able to take an accelerated math because I lived overseas in middle school. As a result I will be taking calc in my senior year. However many of my friends were on the path to taking it as juniors and some have done very well, many of them have stopped along the way and are now either retaking classes like pre-calc or are taking even lower level classes. Just something to keep in mind.